Nicolaus Copernicus University

The Nicolaus Copernicus University's cold atoms group brings world class expertise in both experimental and theoretical atomic physics. The main areas of research cover ultra-cold and degenerate matter, Bose-Einstein condensation, quantum states engineering, ion traps, ultra-cold molecules, cavity ring-down spectroscopy, optical frequency combs and optical lattice atomic clocks. One of the key activities at NCU is the development and operation of a system of two optical lattice strontium atomic clocks at KL FAMO. Within QuRIOUS the Torun group will collaborate with the Amsterdam, Vienna and Innsbruck groups to build a continuously operating superradiant frequency standard, operating on the Sr clock transition.

One of the key activities in UMK is the development and operation of a system of two atomic strontium optical lattice clocks. The laboratory has two optical frequency combs connected to a direct 330 km-long stabilized fiber connection to two caesium fountains at SRC PAS and 20 km-long stabilized fiber connection to the 32 m radio telescope of the VLBI network. Development of the infrastructure in the laboratory is secured by several national and European grants. Moreover, UMK is developing a continuous active optical frequency clock based on the superradiance and a transportable strontium optical clock.

Team members

​Michal Zawada is the Associate Professor in UMK and the PI of the ultra-cold matter experimental group in KL FAMO. His group, inter alia, designed and build the first Bose-Einstein condensate set-up, created the first ultra-cold molecules, and designed and build the first two Optical Lattice Clocks in Poland. His group reported the most accurate, at that time absolute, measurement of the 1S0 − 3P0 clock transition in neutral 88Sr made over the 330 km-long stabilized fibre optic link. In parallel, his group develops and operates the dual species HgRb magneto-optical trap. More recently, his group is focused on the study of positive detection of dark matter with the optical atomic clock, and on improving limits on the Higgs-portal coupling between dark scalars particles, topological defects and Standard Model matter. His group holds the 2017 Polish Ministry of Science’s Award.

Contact: [email protected]
​Sławomir Bilicki is an assistant professor at Nicolaus Copernicus University (UMK). He earned his PhD from Paris VI, LNE‑SYRTE, where he developed strontium optical lattice clocks. During his doctoral research, he took part in the first international remote comparison of optical clocks via fiber links and contributed to the first contribution of optical clocks in Temps Atomique International (TAI).
Sławomir joined Michał Zawada’s team at KL FAMO in 2018, driving research on the transport of ultracold atoms in hollow-core fibers.  
His work embraces frontier technologies, from international optical clock comparisons, searching for dark matter with clock networks to developing transportable optical clocks. In 2022, he collaborated with Florian Schreck’s group at the University of Amsterdam, advancing the development of the superradiance clock.
Beyond his science, Sławomir finds inspiration cycling and tending his garden, reflecting his passion for discovery both in and out of the lab.

Contact: ​[email protected]
Funded by the European Union (QuRIOUS, G.A. 101227522). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.