Location: Tubize, Belgium
Thales people architect solutions at the heart of the defence-security continuum. Interoperable and secure information and telecommunications systems for defence, security, and civil operators, are based upon innovative use of radiocommunications, networks, and cybersecurity. We are ground breaking new digital technologies such as 4G/5G mobile communications, cryptography, cloud computing and big data for use in physical protection systems, and critical information systems.
Thales Belgium SA, Belgium competence center of Thales, is a company located on 2 sites, one in Tubize (near Brussels) and the other one in Herstal (near Liège). Thales Belgium, which employs more than 280 collaborators, is specialized in the design, development and supply of critical information systems for customers in the sectors of Defense, Security (including Cyber) and Aerospace.

This document outlines the proposal for a six-month internship opportunity at Thales Belgium (TBE) in the Hardware Department. The purpose of this internship is to provide a framework of the activities to be carried out, define the goals, and set the expectations for the student and the company. More precisely, the Hardware Department at Thales Belgium is seeking exceptional students in Physics to join our team for a six-month internship. This internship will focus on improving a Python code [1] used for simulating several complex phenomena related to Rydberg physics in alkaline earth atoms. The intern will be involved in enhancing the code to simulate:

• Alkali Rydberg States and Stark Maps: Computation of highly-excited atomic states and their energy shifts under external electric fields.
• Pair-State Interactions for Alkaline Earths: Modeling the interactions between pairs of Rydberg atoms, which is crucial for understanding entanglement and other quantum effects.
• Perturbative van der Waals C6 Calculations: Calculations within manifolds of energy-degenerate states to understand long-range interatomic forces.
• Inter-Species Pair-State Calculations: Simulating interactions between different types of atoms in Rydberg states to explore multi-species systems.
• Sensitivity analysis : Simulating the sensitivity of Rydberg atom based sensors to electromagnetic fields.

Background on Rydberg Physics
Rydberg physics is a field focused on highly-excited electronic states where an electron orbits far from the nucleus, creating atoms that are exceptionally large and sensitive to external influences. These "gentle giants" of atomic physics have unusual properties:

• High Energy and Long Lifetimes: Rydberg atoms are created with high energy and have longer lifetimes compared to other atomic states.
• Large Size and Sensitivity: Their large size makes them extremely sensitive to their environment, allowing even a single photon to affect the behavior of numerous Rydberg atoms over observable distances under an optical microscope.
• Common Characteristics: Whether in atoms, molecules, or solids, Rydberg states exhibit features that are well described by the Rydberg formula, which outlines the energy levels of highly-excited hydrogen atoms.

Internship Focus: Electromagnetic Field Sensing Using Rydberg Atoms
The primary focus of this internship will be on the simulation of electromagnetic-field sensing using Rydberg atoms in vapor cells. The goal is to improve the simulation's capability to predict the sensitivity of Rydberg atoms to external electromagnetic fields, with the ultimate aim of developing ultra-wideband sensors. These sensors could have applications in fields such as telecommunications, security, and scientific research.
Key elements of this research include:

• Electromagnetically Induced Transparency (EIT) Spectroscopy: This is a nondestructive optical detection technique used to detect signals from Rydberg atoms in the gas phase. EIT has been successfully implemented in both cold atomic gases and room-temperature vapor cells, making it a versatile tool for studying Rydberg states.
• Simulation of Sensitivity to Electromagnetic Fields: The intern will work on simulating the response of Rydberg atoms to various electromagnetic field conditions, exploring their potential as ultra-sensitive detectors that can operate across a wide range of frequencies.

Expected Outcomes
By the end of the internship, the student is expected to achieve the following:
Enhancement of Simulation Code: Improve the existing Python code to enhance its accuracy, efficiency, and scope for simulating Rydberg physics phenomena. Development of New Algorithms: Develop and implement algorithms for simulating new types of interactions or field effects that have not yet been explored in the current framework. Analysis and Reporting: Conduct detailed analyses of simulation results, compare them with experimental data, and document findings in a clear and concise manner. Research Contribution: Contribute to the ongoing research efforts at Thales Belgium by collaborating with physicists and engineers, potentially leading to publications or presentations in scientific conferences.

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