Magnetic fields are a main issue for several precision experiments like HeXeEDM and PanEDM, which measure the electric dipole moments (EDM) of a gas mixture and the neutron. The results of these measurements can then be used to further explain the excess of matter vs. antimatter in the Universe.  To reduce the uncertainties it is necessary to map the fields with a non-magnetic field mapper.

Bachelor Thesis:
One part is the mapper head. It contains a magnetometer, whose offset is canceled by rotating the fluxgate. Before testing several issues has to be eliminated like optimizing a non-magnetic sliding contact and an optical encoder, as well as calibrating the sensor.

Master Thesis:
The other part is a cable-driven parallel robot to move the mapper head with an absolute accuracy of 55 μm and 7 · 10⁻⁴ rad in inclination. The task is to set it up and test it afterward in our lab in Garching.

If you are interested, please contact peter.fierlinger(at)tum.de.
 

Master Thesis Opportunity

We are looking for a master thesis student to build the science module for a pico-satellite at a 450 km orbit, to map the magnetic field of the earth at 92 km altitude in the mesosphere through laser spectroscopy of sodium atoms.

Large telescopes use laser beams at the sodium wavelength pointing into the sky to generate a bright dot, an artificial star, in the mesosphere through fluorescence of sodium atoms. This dot is used to correct for atmospheric fluctuations to improve imaging.

Our project uses this knowledge, but for a different purpose: we mount the laser on a satellite and point downwards to the earth. When the light hits the mesosphere, a bright spot is generated. If the light is modulated at the electron spin resonance frequency corresponding to the magnitude of the earth field, this is a direct measure of the magnitude of the earth’s magnetic field.

The thesis work will be the test of the laser system in the lab, generating fluorescence, detecting the fluorescent light with a silicon photomultiplier and prepare components for a space exposure test at the international space station. Here you will learn atomic and particle physics techniques and applications. If you always wanted to build your own satellite and learn how satellite technology works, contact Florian Kuchler (florian.kuchler(at)tum.de)

Master thesis opportunity

We are building a new platform for high sensitivity biomagnetic field mapping in a magnetically ultra-quiet environment. The setup allows flexible sensor arrangements around biological samples or phantoms and is ideal for mapping weak magnetic signals such as those generated by the human heart (magnetocardiography) or brain (magnetoencephalography).

This thesis focuses on the experimental realization and characterization of biomagnetic measurements, with an optional extension towards source reconstruction based on multichannel data.

Main objectives:

• Set up and calibrate a biomagnetic test system inside a magnetically shielded room
• Development of sample holders, phantom sources and sensor technology for the reconstruction of source movements etc.
• Acquire and map spatio-temporal biomagnetic signals from synthetic or biological sources
• Reconstruct current source distributions from measured field data (e.g. via dipole modeling or inverse solutions)

You will gain hands-on experience with optical magnetometry, biomagnetic instrumentation, and data reconstruction.

If you are interested or want to learn more about this topic – feel free to contact philipp.wunderl(at)tum.de!

Master Thesis Opportunity

At our lab we are currently building an electrostatic particle storage ring, initially for a dark matter search (https://arxiv.org/pdf/2211.08439.pdf). During this year, we are setting up the hardware for the first stage: a 30 kV barium ion source and the whole experimental hardware of the ring with 2 m side length, here in the lab at our chair in Garching. This includes a vacuum system, electrodes for keeping particles on their trajectories and means for monitoring the particle beam. To perform a dark matter search, we polarize the Ba+ with lasers and lock the electron spin precession to the cyclotron frequency of the beam, effectively forming a crazy magnetic field sensor. Dark matter or other exotic physics would modulate the precession, and we can observe this via laser spectroscopy.

If you are interested in this project, it’s a great time to join the project: all parts are coming in right now, and there is a lot of different physics to learn and work on. During the course of the thesis, the experiment should be assembled and tested with first particles in the ring. Depending on the interests, the work can be more focused on practical aspects or simulations of the details of the ring.

Please contact Peter Fierlinger (peter.fierlinger@tum.de) if you are interested!

Master Thesis Opportunity

Atomic magnetometers use non-linear effects in laser-driven electron-spin-resonance in Alkali atoms. Such sensors can measure Femto-Tesla level magnetic fields and have a variety of applications in fundamental physics as well as in applications, for example remote sensing or medicine.

In this project we will set up an array of atomic magnetometers, record the ambient magnetic field and analyze it for spurious effects. As the availability of robust and reliable sensors at this quality is rather new, a yet unexplored parameter region for new physics can be investigated in this way. We are in particular interested in ultra-light axion-like dark matter and dark photons. To be sensitive for such this type of new physics, sensors ultimately need to be placed at a remote and electromagnetically silent location. While some of the sensors are already operational, the experimental work will contain reliable operation of several sensors, as well as developing a mechanism to relate the individual channels e.g. by applying artificial reference signals.

In contrast to laboratory experiments with individual sensors, here the interesting aspect is the analysis of an array of sensors placed in the ambient earth magnetic field, with correlations between sensors, directional information and new possibilities for background suppression and signal identification, e.g. using independent component analysis. We expect to find new challenges in the analysis, but also a much larger amount of information. The data will be fun to interpret, as almost everything is magnetic at the Femto-Tesla scale!

Please contact Peter Fierlinger (peter.fierlinger(at)tum.de) or Florian Kuchler (florian.kuchler(at)tum.de) if you are interested.

Master thesis opportunity

In high-precision spin clock experiments—such as the ongoing HeXe EDM experiment—even tiny magnetic field variations can limit sensitivity and cause systematic errors. Understanding and controlling these effects requires detailed spatial knowledge of both external disturbances and experimentally generated magnetic signals. 

We are currently developing a 4π magnetometer array, consisting of multiple highly sensitive magnetic field sensors (e.g. optical magnetometers or fluxgates) arranged around the experiment. This array enables full 3D spatial reconstruction of magnetic fields and offers two key applications: 

1. Detection and classification of magnetic disturbances: 
    The array can detect stray fields, local gradients, or fluctuations from active elements (e.g. spin-flip coils, shielding currents). This helps identify and reduce systematic errors in spin clock data. 
2. Direct spatial measurement of spin-precession signals: 
    The array can capture the evolving magnetic signature of precessing spins (e.g. from ³He or ¹²⁹Xe) in space and time, allowing advanced reconstruction and model validation. 

Thesis objectives include: 

• Design of the 4π array and its integration with the experimental setup 
• Calibration and alignment of sensor positions and orientations 
• Implementation of spatial signal reconstruction (e.g. beamforming, model fitting, ICA) 
• Application to real-world data, including spin clock runs and controlled test sources 
• Analysis of how magnetic inhomogeneities and field drift affect precision measurements 

The project offers an excellent opportunity to combine experimental physics, signal processing, and precision measurement techniques. 

If you are interested or want to learn more about this topic – feel free to contact philipp.wunderl(at)tum.de! 

Master thesis opportunity

Fetal magnetocardiography (fMCG) offers the possibility of monitoring the heartbeat of fetuses in the mother's womb. This can close a significant medical gap, enabling the detection and treatment of heart defects or diseases even before birth. 

Following the successful development of a large fMCG prototype, our group is working towards a smaller, more compact version.

Possible thesis (sub-)projects are:

• Investigation and optimization of various active compensation methods for magnetic fields
• Simulation of electromagnetic shielding
• Signal processing and data analysis of noise-afflicted multidimensional data

The students learn various skills, such as handling different types of magnetic field measurement, using magnetometers, conducting simulations with COMSOL, laboratory work, and various analysis methods.
If you are interested or want to learn more on this topic - feel free to contact lena.wunderl@tum.de!

Master thesis opportunity

We are currently developing a novel free-space cesium magnetometer for integration into the panEDM experiment at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble. The sensor will be placed directly in the central region of the experiment, between the high-voltage electrodes, enabling precise mapping of magnetic fields and field disturbances at the location of the neutron precession. 

This project involves: 

• Designing and testing a suitable magnetometer vapor cell
• Developing an optimized sensor geometry and mounting system
• Characterizing the magnetometer performance under realistic experimental conditions, including operation near HV electrodes 

The thesis offers an excellent opportunity to gain experience in sensor design, laser optics, magnetic shielding, high-voltage-compatible systems, and data acquisition. 

If you are interested or want to learn more on this topic – feel free to contact philipp.wunderl(at)tum.de and maximiliandominik.huber(at)tum.de! 

Master thesis opportunity

The HeXeEDM experiment successfully determined a new limit on the electric dipole moment (EDM) of the isotope 129-xenon in 2019 using a dual species spin-clock. 

The principal measurement method involves polarizing nuclear spins of noble gases via spin-exchange optical pumping and transfer into a high-performance magnetically shielded room, where  Larmor precession in simultaneously applied magnetic and electric fields is observed. The highly sensitive (noise level below 10 fT/sqrt(Hz)) detection of spin-precession is based on superconducting sensors located close-by but immersed in liquid helium.  

We are now developing an new version of the experiment (HeXe2) implementing several improvements on now well understood systematic effects. 

A thesis within this project involves a selection of the following developments, techniques and experimental methods: 

• polarization of noble gas nuclei via spin-exchange optical pumping using high power IR lasers 
• sensing of ultra-low magnetic fields and gradients using fluxgates, optically pumped magnetometers, SQUID sensors 
• generation of stable, low noise magnetic fields and high precision spin-flip pulses  
• new measurement cell development using glass and silicon bonding techniques 
• working in a large, world-class magnetically shielded environment 
• liquid helium handling for operation of highly sensitive SQUID sensors  

Please contact florian.kuchler@tum.de for more information and possible thesis projects. 

Student Project

We are looking for a student to assemble and commission a drone with 5 kg payload, to be used for areal magnetic field sensing. The sensors to be used are two self-oscillating Rubidium magnetometers or optionally fluxgate magnetometers, hanging on drone on a 10 m long cable. By recording GPS data together with magnetic field signals, the sensors can be used as differential probes to provide information about local magnetic field distortions underground. Applications can be (industrial) geology, archeology, finding dud shots or mines. All hardware is here, you can start immediately!

Please contact Peter Fierlinger (peter.fierlinger(at)tum.de) if you are interested!

Master thesis opportunity

Our group is actively developing optical atomic magnetometers, a type of sensors using light-atom interactions to detect magnetic fields.This approach, sitting on the junction of laser-optics, quantum-optics and atom-physics, offer a wide range from theoretical approaches to practical experiments.

Possible thesis (sub-)projects are: 
- Implementation and Characterization of a non-magnetic Optical Atomic Magnetometer Array at the panEDM Experiment (at ILL) 
- Development of a non-magnetic Free Space Cesium Magnetometer 
- Development of an Optical Earth Field Cesium Magnetometer 
- Characterisation and Improvement of Cesium Vapor Cells and Upgrading 
- Characterisation of a Magnetically Shielded Test Chamber for Magnetometers. 

Students can learn a variety of skills, such as handling laser optics and different measurement systems, designing sensors, or developing operating and analysis software. 

If you are interested or want to learn more on this topic - feel free to contact philipp.wunderl@tum.de! 

Bachelor Thesis Opportunity

Atomic magnetometers use non-linear effects in laser-driven electron-spin-resonance in Alkali atoms. We develop and work with such sensors, ranging from fundamental particle physics (dark matter searches and time-reversal-symmetry breaking electric dipole moment searches) to applications (novel medical diagnostic methods).

Here we look for a motivated student to set up a atomic magnetometer for operation at a remote site on a mountain without human generated noise to search for ultra-light axion dark matter or dark photons. Such phenomena would appear as tiny magnetic signals at the Femto-tesla level and cannot be found in the lab, as they would be shielded by the same electromagnetic shielding, which is needed against human generated noise.

The project consists of setting up, testing and characterizing an already operational sensor in the lab and make it run and take data autonomously with batteries. Once it works reliably, it is placed at a silent, remote location on a mountain and records data. Afterwards, the data is analyzed for signs of data matter. Depending on the quality of the data, this relatively new approach can lead to a publication.

Please contact Peter Fierlinger (peter.fierlinger(at)tum.de) or Florian Kuchler (florian.kuchler(at)tum.de) if you are interested.

The quest to detect neutrino-less double beta decay (0𝜈𝛽𝛽) stands as a top priority in contemporary particle physics. Discovering this process, which violates lepton number conservation, would not only reveal the absolute mass scale of neutrinos but also offer valuable insights into Grand Unified Theories and helps in understanding leptogenesis in the early universe. Liquid scintillator (LS) detectors, like the currently commissioned SNO+ and JUNO experiments, are highly sensitive instruments in the hunt for this very rare process. The detection method offers several advantages, including extremely low background radiation, flexibility in detector shape and size, and the capability to incorporate a large quantity of the 𝛽𝛽-decaying isotope directly within the LS.

The method currently used in the R&D project at TUM involves synthesizing an oil-soluble tellurium compound (Te-diol) using telluric acid and an organic diol (1,2-butanediol). Furthermore, N,N-dimethyldodecylamine is used as a catalyst and stabilizer in the process. To ensure good transparency, light yield, chemical stability and radiopurity of the final scintillator samples, all educt compounds need to be well purified. Therefore, distillation is foreseen among other procedures like chromatography. The construction and commissioning of a suitable fractionated vacuum distillation system for the production of purified laboratory samples of DDA and BD are the subject of this thesis. Testing the transparency of these samples using UV/Vis spectroscopy are also foreseen.

Contact:
Dr. Hans Th. J. Steiger
Hans.Steiger@tum.de

Our group is actively developing optical atomic magnetometers, a type of sensors using light-atom interactions to detect magnetic fields.This approach, sitting on the junction of laser-optics, quantum-optics and atom-physics, offer a wide range of possibilities for undergraduate and graduate students, from theoretical approaches to practical experiments.
Possible student trainee positions and thesis projects are:

• Characterization of a non-magnetic Optical Atomic Magnetometer Array
• Development of a non-magnetic Free Space Cesium Magnetometer
• Development of an Optical Earth Field Cesium Magnetometer
• Manufacturing and Characterisation of Cesium Vapour Cells
• Building an Multivoxel Magnetometer

If you are interested or want learn more on this topic - feel free to contact maximiliandominik.huber@tum.de and philipp.roessner(at)tum.de!

Many topics for Bachelor and Master thesis are currently available! If yor are interested contact peter.fierlinger(at)tum.de

Student trainee positions and thesis projects are available on all aspects of the project:

• Passive magnetic shielding from mumetal
• Active magnetic compensation
• Detection of magnetic signatures with optically pumped magnetometers
• Analysis of existing data
• Simulation of bio-magnetic signals
• Ongoing work with patients in fMCG acquisition

Please contact lena.wunderl(at)tum.de if you are interested!

Several possibilities for Bachelor and Master theses are available, please contact florian.kuchler(at)tum.de

Several possibilities for Bachelor and Master theses are available, please contact peter.fierlinger(at)tum.de

Several possibilities for Bachelor and Master theses are available, please contact florian.kuchler(at)tum.de

Several possibilities for Bachelor and Master theses are available, please contact hans.steiger(at)tum.de .

Several possibilities for Bachelor and Master theses are available, please contact peter.fierlinger@tum.de