A3496 - Research Associate in Terahertz waveguides for particle acceleration – simulation and design (Cockcroft Institute)

View All Vacancies Engineering
Salary:  

£28,331 to £32,817

Closing Date:  

Friday 20 August 2021

Interview Date:  

To be confirmed

Reference:  

A3496

Applications are invited for a Research Associate position in the Cockcroft Institute for Accelerator Science and Technology. The Research Associate will work on electromagnetic structures and waveguides for THz driven particle beam acceleration, joining a collaborative project involving Lancaster University, University of Manchester and STFC Daresbury National Laboratory. The position is offered by the Engineering Department of Lancaster University, with the post-holder to be based in the Cockcroft Institute at STFC Daresbury National Laboratory.

High-field THz pulses produced with ultrafast optical lasers in non-linear crystals hold long-term potential to revolutionise high energy particle accelerators in the fields of ultrafast electron diffraction, in x-ray free-electron lasers, and in linear colliders for particle physics. The scaling from traditional few-GHz RF acceleration to sub-picosecond THz frequency pulses offers control of beams on femtosecond scale, while >100MV/m acceleration fields offer promise for  significant reductions in the km scale of current state-of-art linear accelerators. 

You will join a research team developing novel acceleration concepts using laser-generated THz pulse and working towards several proof-of-concept demonstrations of THz acceleration of relativistic beams. You will carry out work in the optimisation of multi-MV/m mm-scale accelerating structures, the design of systems and simulations to support the experimental demonstration of acceleration of relativistic beams using the research particle accelerators at STFC Daresbury National Laboratory. 

The post holder will be with the Engineering Department at Lancaster University and will be a member of the Cockcroft Institute. The post will focus on the development of THz waveguides for interacting with the beam, potentially utilising dielectric lined waveguides. The post is a computational simulation focussed role but will perform simulations to support a parallel experimental programme.

Ideally,you should have a PhD in Electronic Engineering or Physics and experience in electromagnetic simulations of THz/optical or RF waveguides or cavities, linear accelerators or accelerator physics. Excellent communication skills are essential. 

You will join us on an indefinite contract however, the role remains contingent on external funding which, at this time is for 24 months. The posts will be based at the Cockcroft Institute of Accelerator Science and Technology, at Daresbury National Laboratory but you will be expected to spend a minimum of one day at Lancaster Engineering every fortnight. 

The Cockcroft Institute is a collaboration between Lancaster University, University of Manchester, University of Liverpool and the Science and Technology Facilities research Council, dedicated to research and development of particle accelerators.

Applicants are encouraged to contact Dr Rosa Letizia ([email protected]) or Prof. Graeme Burt ([email protected]) to obtain additional information about the position.

We welcome applications from people in all diversity groups.

Further details:
Please note: Unless specified otherwise in the advert wording, all advertised roles are UK based.


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