COSMIC WISPER :
Gerard Higgins
Current position:
Postdoc
Affiliation:
Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), Vienna, Austria
Field of research:
Magnetically-levitated superconductors for dark matter searches
What is your career trajectory to date?
During my PhD and first postdoc I built a novel platform for quantum information technologies: trapped Rydberg ions. Then I did a postdoc developing magnetically-levitated superconductors – this platform should allow us to probe quantum physics using large masses in the coming years. Now I have started my own project, to develop magnetically-levitated superconductor systems to search for dark matter.
What are the most exciting open questions in your research area?
Can we measure the motion of magnetically-levitated superconductors at the standard quantum limit using superconducting circuits? This will enable quantum physics experiments with large masses and excellent sensitivities to different dark matter candidates.
What role do you think a network like COSMIC WISPers can play in developing WISP searches in Europe?
It will help spread knowledge and foster new collaborations.
