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"Hi, I'm Sergio. Thanks for stopping by."
I am a NSF Graduate Fellow and Physics PhD student in the Vuletic group at the MIT. My interests include experimental atomic physics and quantum optics as it pertains to quantum information processing. The focus of my PhD so far has focused on studying photon-photon interactions. In vacuum, the interaction between individual photons is completely negligible: laser or light beams simply pass through one another. However, we have recently created a new optical medium with an exquisitely strong nonlinearity, so strong in fact, that two photons bind together and form a bound state, a molecule consisting of two photons. We are working towards expanding this effect towards larger clusters of photons, and hope to be able to create matter analogues with light, e.g., a crystal consisting of photons. While at MIT I have also developed a strong sense of community and education. I have volunteered in different educational initiatives, from science-communication to science education in latin america. Outside of lab my interests include Cooking, Brewing Beer, Raspberry Pi, Machine Learning and all their possible combinations.
I have traveled the country and abroad teaching physics and programming. I am always looking for new teaching opportunities.
If I am not in lab, I am probably thinking about the next meal to cook. Food brings us together, and I love mastering new techniques.
We have ported our full experiment to python! We have full stabilization and control of the laboratory as well as remote control!
I have had the fortune of designing most of our hardware in the laboratory. Understanding the inner-working of a lab is great.
Dealing with large amounts of data, I have learned to appreciate the art of visualization. A picture can be worth a thousand words.
I am always looking for ways to add machine learning techniques to improve my everyday life. Check my Github soon for examples.
I have always enjoyed playing videogames with my family. It is a big part of my life. Even if I am not very good.
I am an avid brewer. I am always interested in learning new recipes. Specially love reading about brew-pi proyects.
I am studying my PhD in experimental atomic physics at The Masachussetts Institute of Technology, in Cambridge, MA. I graduated Magna Cum Laude at The University of Texas at Brownsville (now The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley) where I obtained dual Bachelors of Science in physics and mathematics.
During my PhD in the Vuletic Group at the Center for Ultracold Atoms (CUA) I have been focused on studying photon-photon interactions. Realizing robust quantum phenomena in strongly interacting systems is one of the central challenges in modern physical science. Although photon−photon interactions are typically negligible in conventional optical media, hybridizing light with ensembles of strongly interacting particles has emerged as a promising route toward achieving few-photon nonlinearities. Our approach is to interface light with highly excited atomic Rydberg states by means of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT), an approach which allows to induce strong long-range interactions between freely propagating photons in the form of polaritons. Recently, these interactions have enabled the observation of photon blockade and bound states of attractive photons, as well as the implementation of single-photon transistors with robust phase shifts.
As a Bridge Student at MIT in the Vuletic Group, I spent most of my time learning atomic physics techniques to complement my strong background in optics. I succesfully implemented an optical lattice-assisted trapping and cooling technique known as Resolved Raman Sideband Cooling. RSC removes the vibrational quanta of motion of atoms by confining them into a tightly confined periodic potential so that their vibrational energy levels in combination with optical pumping lead to a population transfer to a low energy eigenstate. This technique has allowed us to reach the lowest temperature yet in the laboratory of 3 microKelvin.
I received a dual Bachelor of Science at UTB in Physics and Mathematics, were I graduated Magna Cum Laude. As an undergraduate I worked extensively at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) in Hanford, WA. LIGO is a large-scale detector capable of direct observation of gravitational waves from various astrophysical sources. Besides that, I was fortunate to be involved in the following research projects:
During my research I have learned, among other things:
Nth-Order Correlation Functions, Statistical Methods, Monte-Carlo Simulations.
Electromegnetism, Quantum Mechanics, Waves and Optics, Non-linear Physics
Non-linear Fitting, Principle Component Analysis, Machine Learning
Lasers and optics equipment, Feedback, Optimization and Control
Circuit Design, Machining, Lab Conditioning.
Matlab, Mathematica, Python, Numerical Methods.
Lectures, Teaching Assitanships, Public Engagement.
Bachata, Salsa, Cumbia.
Taught course in contemporary Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics. I had a great experience designing the curriculum for both online and in situ students.
2017I became the president of MITMEX in 2017. The mission of MITMEX is to create community among the Mexican and Mexican American MIT students and MIT affiliates. We also very actively connect with other students across the greater Boston Area.
2017Taught a one-week hands on worhshop on laser communication, laser science and basic encryption techniques. The Science Club’s primary purpose is to help increase the representation of Latinos in the sciences. Their approach is to bring scientists and engineers from all over the world to Mexico for one week where they get to teach a workshop to undergraduate students. These workshops teach research/laboratory techniques that students wouldn’t be able to learn otherwise.
2014 and 2015I was awarded an NSF Fellowship to pursue my PhD studies in the summer of 2016. As per the NSF website :"The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) helps ensure the vitality of the human resource base of science and engineering in the United States and reinforces its diversity. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions."
2014Decided to join the Vuletic group for my graduate studies.
2014Joined the communicating science conference, COMSCICON as a volunteer. In this conference, there is a strong emphasis for scientists (primarily graduate students) to strenghten their communication skills for all different levels of audience.
2013Development of an electrochemistry-free ionic liquid ion source (ILIS) for applications in space propulsion devices. The project approach entailed the introduction of silica colloid-based materials, specifically silica aerogel and a silica foam ceramic into a bipolar ILIS and the characterization of the emissions of the modified structures for future optimization.
2011Constructed a prototype interferometric displacement sensor using frequency and intensity stabilization techniques. Optical feedback design of the experiment as well as the control system of opto-mechanical components to achieve the desired stabilization results.
2010Characterization and fabrication of triangular Fabry-Perot resonators. Design of optical mechanical components for optical setup. Characterization of 500 mW 1064nm Nd:YAG laser. Studied and Implemented the Pound-Drever-Hall technique for phase stabilization in a laser system.
2008-2009At the Center for Gravitational Wave Astronomy, I conditioned a classroom into a optics lab, setup a computer cluster for theoretical experiments. Simulated the resonance stability of triangular ring resonators using novel ray tracing and Gaussian propagation techniques. Studied and modeled photonic crystal structures and related phenomena (i.e. Negative Index of refraction, Perfect mirrors, and silicon ring resonators).
2008-2012
