Postdoc Position at IPHC Strasbourg

Post-doctoral position (18 months)
« Electromagnetic transitions as a probe of clustering in nuclei »
Position to be filled as of March 1st, 2014

This position is supported by the USIAS1 fellowship awarded to Dr D. Jenkins for 18 Months, but
there is a possibility for extension.

Nuclear physics is presently undergoing a renaissance with the availability of intense radioactive
beams. Allied to this are key developments in detector technology which promises a step change in
what is achievable. The structure of the  nucleus  and  how  it behaves in different circumstances
may be understood as a complex interplay between the individual, single-particle structure and
collective structure where  the  nucleons  act coherently. A further way of describing the nucleus 
is  the  so-called  alpha  cluster  model, where nuclear states in some light nuclei are considered
as built up from building blocks of alpha particles rather than individual protons and neutrons.
Clustering in nuclei has traditionally been explored principally via nuclear reaction studies. This
project will address some key issues associated with alpha clustering using a new approach based on
searching for electromagnetic transitions connecting cluster states. The availability of the PARIS
calorimeter, in which the nuclear physics group at IPHC in Strasbourg has played a leading role,
promises to revolutionise our ability  to  study  electromagnetic  transitions.  This calorimeter
makes use of the novel scintillator material, lanthanum bromide, which has excellent energy
resolution. Experiments are anticipated at IPN Orsay and at the iThemba laboratory in South Africa.
This project will be carried  out  in  close  collaboration  with  the cluster group at the IPHC in
Strasbourg. The project has the potential to open  up  new directions in nuclear physics and may
have important applications to nuclear astrophysics – the origin of the chemical elements.

1 The University of Strasbourg Institute for Advanced Study (USIAS) aims to support innovative,
original research, and to enable reflection and synthesis at the highest level.
For more information see http://www.usias.fr

Role description
They will support the project :
-­‐       performing numerical simulations of physics cases associated with the project
-­‐         designing  the  corresponding  experiments
-­‐        testing  detectors  and  setting  up  electronics
-­‐      analysing the data
-­‐       publishing results in peer reviewed journals and international conferences
They will be based at IPHC (Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, Strasbourg, France) and
supervised by Dr S. Courtin and Dr D. Jenkins (Reader at the University of York, UK, on secondment
at IPHC as a USIAS Fellow).

Profile
The applicant should hold or be close to finishing a PhD in experimental nuclear Physics. Essential
skills :
-­‐          gamma-ray   spectroscopy   and/or  charged  particle  spectroscopy,
-­‐        experience  with  analysing  complex  data  sets,
-­‐       willingness to travel and participate in experiments at national and international
facilities.
Desirable skills :
-­‐      Background in nuclear reaction studies, lations  using  GEANT4,
lations using GEANT4,

-­‐      C++

-­‐      Ability to work in a team,
-­‐        Good  communication  skills.
Procedure
Applications (letter of motivation + CV + 2 letters of reference) are to be sent to Dr David
Jenkins and Dr Sandrine Courtin not later than November 30th 2013. Interviews should take place in
the week of January the 6th 2014.
Contact :
Dr David Jenkins : david.jenkins@york.ac.uk
Dr Sandrine Courtin : sandrine.courtin@iphc.cnrs.fr

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