Development of a Micro Mirror Array-based Beam Halo Monitor (Marie Curie Early Stage Researcher in ITN Project on optimisation of particle accelerators)

The optimization of the performance of any Particle ACcelerator (oPAC) is the goal of this new network within the FP7 Marie Curie Initial Training Network (ITN) scheme. oPAC aims at developing long term collaboration and links between the involved teams across sectors and disciplinary boundaries and to thus help defining improved research and training standards for recruited fellows. The network will also offer a broad international training program consisting of international schools, topical workshops and conferences.

Liverpool University is aiming to recruit motivated ESRs with an outstanding degree in physics or related discipline. This post is for 3 years and it is expected that the fellow will register for a PhD. Excellent salaries will be offered in line with Marie Curie ITN rules.

The successful candidate will be based at the Cockcroft Institute, Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus, Keckwick Lane, Daresbury, WA4 4AD and will undertake a project based on the following research:
An understanding and possible control of beam halo is important for all accelerators. It is crucial for the operation of high energy accelerators, where beam loss can cause critical damage to machine components and deteriorate the quality of the experimental data. Many different effects leading to halo formation have been analyzed, but a comprehensive study of halo generation processes and transport through different accelerator structures is missing. Within this project, a beam monitor for halo propagation mechanisms will be developed. This work is based on a micro mirror-based halo monitor that was developed by groups at CERN, the Cockcroft Institute and the University of Maryland over the past few years. It uses Texas Instruments' DMD technology and has already demonstrated that it is suitable to measure beam profiles with a dynamic range of better than 105 [3,4]. Within this PhD project this monitor shall be substantially improved by using the latest high definition mirror matrix, providing even higher frame rates and better spatial resolution, and by combining, for the first time, several such monitors in the same accelerator to investigate halo propagation directly and to benchmark numerical predictions.

The fellow will work within an international group and benefit from a wide ranging training program that will take advantage of both local and network-wide activities, as well as of schools, conferences, and workshops.

This position is available immediately and the successful candidate must be able to commence by the end of November 2012.

Comment/web site for additional job details: http://www.liv.ac.uk/opac/

Recruitment video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU2BJfVYa3s&feature=youtu.be

Application details can be found at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/opac/vacancies/

oPAC is funded by the European Commission under Grant Agreement Number 289485