‘All My Time Is Devoted to My Dissertation’

University of Science and Technology of China

Photo: 深鸣 / Wikimedia Commons

Ilya Venediktov graduated from the Master’s programme at the HSE Tikhonov Moscow Institute of Electronics and Mathematics through the combined Master’s–PhD track and is currently studying at the HSE Doctoral School of Engineering Sciences. At present, he is undertaking a long-term research internship at the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, where he is preparing his dissertation. In this interview, he explains how an internship differs from an academic mobility programme, discusses his research topic, and describes the daily life of a Russian doctoral student in China.

Before the Doctorate

I completed my Bachelor’s degree at Moscow Pedagogical State University’s Institute of Physics, Technology, and Information Systems in the Fundamental Physics (English-taught) programme founded by Grigory Goltsman. This programme allowed me to begin conducting research and publishing my first academic papers while still an undergraduate, which provided an excellent foundation for my Master’s studies. It also helped me develop professional technical English skills, which are essential for undertaking an international research placement. I then enrolled in the Master’s programme in Nanoelectronics and Quantum Technologies at HSE MIEM. Since I was studying on the combined Master’s–PhD track, the question of choosing a doctoral programme never really came up. During my Master’s studies, I began working with my academic supervisor, Vadim Kovalyuk, and it was at that stage that my research specialisation was determined: Electronic Component Base of Micro- and Nanoelectronics and Quantum Devices. My educational programme is Electronics, Radio Engineering, and Communication Systems.

Ilya Venediktov

Photo courtesy of Ilya Venediktov

On Preparing the Dissertation

A decisive factor in choosing this track after my Bachelor’s degree was the presence at MIEM of the Quantum Optics and Telecommunications Joint Department with Scontel, a company working precisely in the research field that interests me. My dissertation focuses on studying photon-number-resolving mechanisms in an integrated optical format. In other words, I am developing superconducting single-photon detectors capable of resolving photon numbers. Grigory Goltsman, head of the department, has had a significant influence on me as an early-career researcher.

My scientific objective is to fabricate and study a superconducting single-photon detector on a waveguide using a lithium niobate platform. This material possesses a strong electro-optical effect, which makes it possible to create fast and energy-efficient light modulators, as well as sources of squeezed light states. In practical terms, lithium niobate offers the possibility of building a fully integrated photonic quantum computer. Such a computer consists of three key components: a photon source (the qubits themselves), modulators for photon transformation (where quantum gates and operations are implemented), and photon detectors used to measure the final state of the qubit. Lithium niobate enables all three of these components to be integrated onto a single chip, creating the potential for a fully integrated quantum computer on one crystal with excellent compatibility and scalability. Photon sources and highly energy-efficient, fast modulators based on lithium niobate have already been demonstrated. The final missing component is the detector—precisely the element I am working on.

University of Science and Technology of China

Photo courtesy of Ilya Venediktov

Choosing a University for Internship

My research is currently at the experimental stage, which requires specialised technological equipment. The structures we work with are large and involve significant variation in element size—from tens of nanometres to tens of microns. Designing them requires electron-beam lithography systems with high resolution, large writing fields (or highly accurate field stitching), radiation dose correction, and excellent alignment precision, since we need to fabricate a detector measuring hundreds of nanometres on a waveguide that is only 1–2 microns wide.

We found this equipment at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in Hefei. Another crucial factor was that Scontel has maintained a long-standing partnership with the university, where Professor Xiao-Ye Xu’s research group operates. This group previously purchased multi-channel superconducting single-photon detector systems from Scontel for its own research. Professor Xiao-Ye Xu and his colleagues use these systems to resolve photon numbers from squeezed-state photon sources they are developing. In this context, my research task also has practical significance for the work of our Chinese colleagues: the university provides us with access to technological equipment, while in return it receives finished detectors and the opportunity to develop expertise in designing and manufacturing them.

After completing all the necessary arrangements, I travelled to China, where I am currently based under the auspices of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with scholarship support from both the academy and USTC.

The University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) is a state research university located in Hefei, Anhui Province. It is one of China’s leading scientific and educational institutions and is considered one of the country’s key innovation centres.

Current Stage of Internship: the Next Stage Is in the Cleanroom

At present, my work mainly consists of electrical and optical simulations of the detector, detector design development, and occasional technological testing. During the previous stage of my internship, we successfully fabricated a fibre-based superconducting photon-number-resolving detector, a process spanning approximately three months. After all testing stages, the detector array itself was produced on the first attempt in just one and a half weeks, and measurements conducted in Russia showed that most of the devices were functional. This stage has been extremely valuable for our future work on the waveguide detector, as we now understand the full range of technological nuances involved in the fabrication process.

We are currently working on producing a waveguide detector using silicon nitride. Lithium niobate will be the final stage once the detector’s functionality has been verified on the silicon nitride platform.

Most of my work is done on a computer. In many cases, I work from my dormitory and only go into the office when in-person discussions are necessary—usually when WeChat is no longer sufficient for communication. As a result, my schedule is relatively flexible at the moment.

However, everything will change once we begin the waveguide detector fabrication stage. At that point, work in the cleanroom will begin—an environment I became familiar with during the first phase of my internship while testing the waveguide detector. Based on last year’s experience, this means the working day begins around 8–9 am in order to secure available shifts on the required equipment, after which there are effectively no strict time limits. There were days when we arrived at 8 am and did not leave until 2 or 3 am, although such cases were exceptions. More typically, the schedule ran from approximately 9 am to 9 pm. Work can also continue at weekends if equipment slots are available and my Chinese colleagues have access to them.

Throughout this period, we remain in the cleanroom, fabricating structures or conducting tests. Psychologically and physically, this can be rather difficult. The cleanroom is essentially a long corridor with yellow lighting and no windows. In addition, you are dressed in a protective suit, mask, and gloves, so even simply remaining there for extended periods—let alone working—becomes a challenge in itself.

I remember that during the most intensive fabrication phase, when I returned to the dormitory in the evening or late at night, I often had enough energy only to go straight to sleep. Hopefully, this year will be a little easier.

University of Science and Technology of China

Photo courtesy of Ilya Venediktov

More About the Work Routine: What Comes Next

Compared with an academic mobility programme, the main difference is the absence of classes in their traditional form—lectures, seminars, and similar academic activities. All of my time is devoted entirely to dissertation research. As a result, the schedule is relatively flexible, with my routine primarily determined by the timetable of the cleanroom facilities where the structures are fabricated.

My internship is expected to end in mid-August. By that point, the goal is to produce superconducting single-photon detectors with photon-number-resolving capabilities on both silicon nitride and lithium niobate waveguide platforms. I truly hope that everything proceeds according to plan.

Beyond Research

At the moment, nearly all of my time is occupied by work. I have not yet had much opportunity to deliberately explore local landmarks or interesting places. I have visited many cities, but these were mostly airport stopovers during transfers. My supervisor in China, Professor Xiao-Ye Xu, actively encourages me to at least explore Hefei itself, but so far, I simply have not had the time. Travelling alone over longer distances here—beyond the dormitory, university campus, or nearest grocery shop—still feels somewhat intimidating. I expect I will have the opportunity to travel more shortly before my final departure back to Russia.

The local cuisine has been a very pleasant surprise. Hefei offers excellent food for every taste. I was particularly amazed by the sheer variety available in the university canteen—there are so many dishes that even a year-long internship would not be enough to try them all. Naturally, one has to be cautious not to accidentally choose something too spicy, but Chinese colleagues are generally quick to warn you about that. Some of the most obvious advantages include consistently large portions, very affordable prices, and unlimited free rice. So, food has certainly not been a problem here. Overall, the conditions for work and daily life are extremely comfortable.