PhD Research Studentship Experimental Antimatter Physics Physics Department

PhD Research Studentship Experimental Antimatter Physics Physics Department

*(Enhanced bursary (£20.000), international posting)*

A Ph.D. project on antihydrogen is on offer in the fundamental atomic
physics group at the Physics Department of Swansea University. The group
consists 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
and 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@..., Phone : +41 76 487
0835.