Instrumentation and technique development for resonant experiments at extreme conditions

The project is focused on designing the instrumentation, developing techniques and using them for resonant X-ray scattering at the extremes of pressures and temperatures. Resonant X-ray diffraction is a synchrotron radiation facility-based technique which is highly sensitive to electronic or structural periodic arrangements. It provides an insight into the interplay between the magnetic, orbital and lattice degrees of freedom and is a fast developing technique in the advanced materials research. The Materials and Magnetism I16 beamline at the Diamond Light Source (DLS) synchrotron is a unique, world-class single crystal X-ray diffraction facility fully optimised to combine high flux and high resolution over a wide and continuously tuneable energy range for studying a diverse range of materials. High pressure is an important parameter which can be used to tune or change completely various properties of materials, often leading to the formation of new exotic structural, electronic and magnetic states.

This project aims to develop equipment and techniques to enable studies of materials at high pressure using the resonant X-ray scattering. A number of technical challenges are to be overcome including the issues with the absorption of the beam by the material used in the construction of the equipment as well as the need to couple the high-pressure cell to the existing cryogenic equipment to enable measurements at low temperatures. Once the equipment and the techniques are developed they will be used for studies of a number of advanced materials such as novel and technologically promising multiferroic materials, frustrated magnetic and other strongly-correlated systems.

This is a joint project between the Centre for Science at Extreme Conditions(CSEC) at the University of Edinburgh and DLS and the successful candidate is expected to spend a significant proportion of his/her time working at Diamond.

For more information about the instrumentation development group at CSEC and the I16 beamline at Diamond please see the following pages:
http://www.csec.ed.ac.uk/members/dr-konstantin-kamenev
http://www.diamond.ac.uk/Home/Beamlines/I16.html
http://www.diamond.ac.uk/Home/Science/Expertise/AlessandroBombardi.html

Please apply by clicking the "Apply Online" button below.
Select the Research Area: "Materials & Processes" and clearly state on your application form which project you are applying for and the relevant supervisor.