Doctoral student in Physics with focus of the HIBEAM/NNBAR program at the ESS (PA2024/502)

Currently, the project includes two employees, one senior lecturer, one researcer and a doctoral student from the department of nuclear- and particle physics at the Department of Physics in Lund. The Lund University team is responsible for the design of the beamline, Time Projection Chamber and detector simulation.

Work duties

The HIBEAM/NNBAR collaboration proposes a two-stage program of experiments at the European Spallation Source (ESS) in Lund to conduct high-precision investigations into neutron conversion across various baryon number violation (BNV) channels. The program addresses key open questions in modern physics, such as the origin of the observed matter-antimatter asymmetry and the nature of the 'missing matter' in the Universe, commonly referred to as 'dark matter'.

Critical to the project is the in-house infrastructure and capability for high-precision magnetic control systems. The primary duty of the Ph.D. student will be to simulate and develop a prototype of the HIBEAM magnetic structure. The prototype will be assembled and tested at the ESS and will be used for initial axion-like particle searches at the ESS.

The responsibilities of the student will include the simulation of this infrastructure, its construction, testing, and the analysis of data from these experiments. The project will be carried out at the ESS and Lund University The Ph.D. position is funded by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research.

The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The work duties can also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

Entry requirements

Admission requirements

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if he or she:

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third-cycle studies in Physics if he or she has:

• passed an independent project (e.g.degree project) of at least 30 credits in a relevant subject

Equivalent knowledge acquired through corresponding programmes will be assessed individually. In order to enable interdisciplinary initiatives and important specialisations in certain areas, students with qualifications in subjects other than Physics may be considered for admission.

Finally, the student must be judged to have the potential to complete the programme.

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• Basic knowledge of neutron physics

Other assessment criteria:

• Experience with neutron transport code such MCNP/PHITS
• Experience with detector simulation code like GEANT4

Basis of assessment

Selection to postgraduate studies is based on the expected ability to perform well in the studies. The evaluation of the ability to perform well is based primarily on the results of studies at the basic and advanced levels, in particular:

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant, through his or her experience and skills, is deemed to have the abilities necessary for successfully completing the third cycle programme.

Terms of employment

Only those admitted to third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. A doctoral studentship is a fixed-term employment of a maximum of 5 years (including 20% departmental duties). Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

Instructions on how to apply

Applications must be written in Englishand include a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the position and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background. The application must also contain a CV, degree certificate or equivalent, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.).