[UK] PhD Reseach at University of Wales
University of Wales, Swansea
PhD Research Studentship Experimental Antimatter Physics Physics Department
A Ph.D. project on antihydrogen is on offer in the fundamental atomic physics group at the Physics Department of Swansea University. The groupconsists currently of 5 permanent staff, 3 post doc. and about 8 Ph.D. students. The group plays a leading role in the ALPHA antihydrogen experiment at the international lab CERN in Geneva, Switzerland ( http://alpha.web.cern.ch/alpha/). The position on offer here will be mostly based at CERN.
Antihydrogen is a bound state of an antiproton and a positron. By comparison with hydrogen, antihydrogen promises the ultimate test of the CPT theorem of quantum mechanics. The aim of this experiment is to trap cold antihydrogen in preparation for such precision spectroscopy.
The prospective student will spend most of his/her time at CERN. This is a challenging and enriching environment. The atmosphere is very international mand busy, and the antihydrogen experiment involves many subfields of physics and offers many opportunities for the engaged student. Apart from antihydrogen trapping itself, in which all students will be involved, we
focus on plasma physics work. We are currently in the process of trying to use plasma control to improve the control of the antihydrogen formed, an area where there is plenty of room for innovation and independent contributions.
The student will work on the plasma physics aspects of the antihydrogen formation. Using rotating electric fields it is possible to control the size and density of the positron and electron plasmas used in the experiment as well, as possibly, the antiprotons. The aim of this project will be to study how the parameters of the plasmas influence the formation of antihydrogen,
and ultimately how this influences the trapping efficiency.
Starting date is as soon as can be arranged.
The PhD studentship will pay home/EU fees + an enhanced bursary of £20,000 per annum.
Enquiries are invited from those with an outstanding research or academic record and with an interest in applying advanced computational methods in a practical engineering environment. Please send your CV or informally contact: Dr. Niels Madsen, email: N.Madsen@swan.ac.uk, Phone : +41 76 487 0835.
