Three PhD Student Positions and Scholarships in Atomic Physics, Hadron Structure and Nuclear Structure

KVI, Groningen

The Kernfysisch Versneller Instituut (KVI, Groningen, the Netherlands) is a national centre for research in nuclear and atomic physics and the related areas. The KVI is supported by the University of Groningen and the Stichting voor Fundamenteel Onderzoek der Materie (FOM), and by the Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung (GSI, Darmstadt, Germany) for joint research and development in the framework of the future FAIR project at GSI (www.kvi.nl/gsi).

The KVI-GSI FAIR activities are concentrated in four different directions, namely accelerator physics, atomic physics, hadron structure and nuclear structure. These activities are described in various projects to be found on this site.

Presently we are looking for candidates for graduate studies in three fields: atomic physics, hadron structure and nuclear structure. More specifically, we invite applicants for positions in the following subjects.

1. Production and characterization of spin-polarized targets

For detailed understanding of the electron dynamics in interactions of Highly-Charged Ions with atoms, it would be of great advantage to have polarized atomic samples. This research project will focus on the production and characterization of the polarization degrees of laser-cooled and trapped targets. Initial research will be done on Na. To observe effects of polarization on charge transfer reactions, the polarized, laser-cooled and trapped Na will be used as an electron donor target for slow multiply-charged ions.

2. PWANDA: Partial-wave analysis for PANDA

Theoretical tools will be developed for a partial-wave analysis of experiments with the PANDA detector. The extraction of resonance parameters in a multichannel background will be studied. Model-independent physics input derived from effective field theories and lattice QCD will be employed, and the interplay of quark-gluon and hadron degrees of freedom will be investigated. The methods will be applied to specific key channels where exotic hadrons can be produced in a gluon-rich environment. An important example is the production of antihyperon-hyperon pairs, which embeds the process of antiquark-quark creation and which offers the possibility to extract spin observables due to the self-analysing weak decay of most hyperons. The process is the prototype reaction to study the mechanism of strange-quark pair creation. The creation of two and three pairs can be studied via the reactions. Charmed hyperons within reach at PANDA allow for detailed comparisons between the strangeness and the charm creation processes. Close collaboration is foreseen with the physics simulation group of the PANDA experiment.

3. Development for Instrumentation for the EXL experiment

The EXL experiment, which is part of the NuSTAR project for Nuclear Structure, Astrophysics and Reactions studies with radioactive ion beams, is aimed at studying exotic nuclei in light-ion induced reactions at the NESR storage ring. A universal detector system providing high resolution and large solid angle coverage in kinematically complete measurements is foreseen and will be installed at the internal target at the NESR storage-cooler ring. The apparatus comprises a silicon target-recoil detector for charged particles, completed by gamma-ray and slow neutron detectors, located around the internal gas-jet target, forward detectors for fast ejectiles (protons and neutrons) and an in-ring heavy-ion spectrometer. The proposed research is part of a collaborative project involving KVI, GSI and many other universities and research institutes in Europe, Japan and USA. The successful candidate will work on the forward detectors for fast ejectiles and the in-ring heavy-ion spectrometer, performing simulations and building test setups for the detectors. He/she will set up and perform experiments both at KVI and GSI at the existing ESR.

Academic training
The young researchers will receive a thorough training within the international research school FANTOM, which was recognised in 1994 by the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences (KNAW). The research assistant will profit from the structured and multidisciplinary training and research programme. She/he will have the opportunity to experience many international contacts, among others in the biannual general FANTOM study weeks and in a work placement at a foreign laboratory.

Scholarship
This research will be done on the basis of an agreement regarding doctorate training with a scholarship in the Ubbo Emmius programme of the University of Groningen, for a period of four years. Research results may lead to a PhD degree. For information on the scholarship, please contact the personnel department of KVI, e-mail pa@kvi.nl