A studentship is available from October 2021 on the development of a novel beam diagnostic, so-called betatron radiation spectroscopy to characterise the output beam for the AWAKE Run 2 experiment at CERN. AWAKE is the world first and only proton-driven plasma wakefield acceleration experiment and it has successfully demonstrated the electron acceleration up to 2 GeV in a 10 m long plasma. AWAKE Run 2 will continue this initiative and demonstrate the high-quality beam generation from proton-driven plasma wakefield. The student will be taking a leading role in the development of this novel beam diagnostic for the project. The betatron radiation in plasma accelerators is emitted by the drive and trailing electron bunches due to the transverse wakefields in the ion cavity acting upon the electrons. These forces are proportional to the transverse displacements of the electrons with respect to the propagation axis and result in oscillating trajectories. Through detecting the spectra of emitted photons from betatron radiation, the injected beam size, mismatched propagation and beam centroid oscillation can be obtained and the beam emittance can be deduced. For AWAKE Run 2, a relativistic, ultrashort and high charge electron bunch will be externally injected into a specific phase of wakefield for a further acceleration. Knowing the exact injection position and phase are critical for the success of experiment. In addition, the most important aim of AWAKE Run 2 is to prove high-quality beam generation, the characterisation of final beam emittance from plasma is therefore a key. Betatron radiation diagnostic will provide such important information.
The applicant will be expected to have a first or upper second-class degree in physics or other appropriate qualification. A full graduate programme of training and development is provided by the Cockcroft Institute and CERN. The student will be based primarily at CERN and Cockcroft Institute at Daresbury.
Potential applicants are encouraged to contact Dr. Guoxing Xia ([Email Address Removed]) for more information.
UKRI studentships cover a student stipend but do not cover the full costs of international tuition fees and the Cockcroft Institute cannot waive the excess. However, we aim, but cannot guarantee, to cover full fees for successful international applicants.
You can find out more about being a PhD student at the Cockcroft Institute here, where you can download an application form and also find out about the other PhD projects available at the Cockcroft. To apply for this project, fill in the application form and email it with your CV to [Email Address Removed].
This position will remain open until filled.
Anticipated Start Date: October 2021 for 3.5 Years.