Team

Group leader: Dr. Peter Schüffelgen

My team and I are working with novel quantum materials that exhibit either superconducting or topological properties. Our goal is to build the hardware for future quantum computers from these materials. Explicitly, our contribution to the second quantum revolution is to develop novel topological quantum chips and to significantly improve superconducting quantum circuits.

Postdocs:

During my time as a PhD student, I conducted research on hybrid systems of superconductors and semiconductors for integration in voltage-controlled superconducting qubits.
My research interests at Jülich are the investigation of new material systems for superconducting qubits as well as superconducting qubits using topological insulators.

My focus is modeling the electronic transport properties of materials with exotic properties, such as topological materials.
At PGI-9, I focus on modeling and simulation of (hybrid) nanoelectronic devices based on topological materials in close collaboration with experimental research groups in the field to realize topological qubits and quantum computing applications.

My work at FZJ primarily focuses on the growth of superconducting devices via Thermal Laser Epitaxy (TLE) and Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE). I am particularly interested in nitride superconductors due to their array of interesting properties. With the aid of TLE and MBE, we can produce extremely pure thin films of superconducting material that we can combine into superconducting devices like detectors and qubits.

I am working to better understand the growth of certain magnetic topological insulators fabricated with molecular beam epitaxy.

With this information, we should be able to develop high quality samples that are well suited for future applications.

The focus of my work is the experimental investigation of induced superconductivity in nanostructures of topological insulators.

A special interest is the integration of hybrid structures of topological insulators and superconductors in circuits of superconducting qubits.

As a postdoc in Jülich, I work at our molecular beam epitaxy facilities and produce thin film hybrid systems with nanometer-thick films of topological insulator crystals, superconductors and dielectric materials. Using advanced lithography processes, I produce samples which are then characterized by cryogenic electrical measurements with the goal of using them as a material basis for topological quantum computing.

Scientific Assistant:

My work covers all the steps involved in the fabrication of nanostructures in cleanrooms. I support my team in the development, standardization and documentation of new as well as already practiced techniques and processes in fabrication.

PhD students:

During my PhD at Forschungszentrum Jülich, I am working on hybrid qubits, combining the already proven advantages of superconducting systems with the unusual properties of topological materials. The focus is on both fabrication and measurement of these samples.

As part of my PhD research, I am exploring alternative fabrication techniques and new material systems for superconducting qubits. I transfer our in-situ stencil lithography technique to new material systems compatible with the extremely high temperatures of up to 2000°C in our thermal laser epitaxy facility. I then characterize the quantum chips at millikelvin temperatures in our brand new cryo lab.

My research focus is the characterization of nanostructures consisting of topological insulators and superconductors to study exotic states in these hybrid systems.

For this purpose, I perform electronic transport measurements in a mixing cryostat.

During my master's thesis at PGI-9, I started studying magnetic topological insulators (MTIs) and their behavior in conjunction with superconductors.

As a PhD student, my research focus is the fabrication of MTI nanostructures, with the goal of using them for Majorana qubits.

The focus of my work is to find signs of Majorana particles. Therefore I build samples by combining different superconductors and topological insulators in the form of Josephson junctions in the cleanroom. And afterwards characterize their properties via electrical transport measurements in a dilution refrigerator.

As part of my doctorate, I am fabricating and researching nanostructures with topological insulators and superconductors as the core element. The characterization of the samples is carried out in a mixed cryostat with a focus on tunneling spectroscopy.

Master's and Bachelor's students:

Alumni(s):

Master's Student - I am a master's student at the University of Siegen, Germany, pursuing my degree in nanoscience and nanotechnology.
I have recently started my master thesis in Jülich, where I am working on the growth optimization of the topological insulator Sb2Te3, mainly in terms of crystal structure and optimization of transport properties.

Master's Student - I am studying physics in the master's program at RWTH Aachen University, where I am focusing on nanoelectronics.
As part of my master's thesis at Forschungszentrum Jülich, I am involved in both the fabrication and subsequent measurement of qubit samples containing hybrid structures of topological and superconducting materials.