Laser-driven ultrafast electron diffraction

Lancaster Physics department and partners in the Cockcroft Institute are world leading in the use of femtosecond lasers and non-linear optics for manipulating electron beams. This project will use femtosecond lasers to compress 100 keV electron beams to ten’s of femtosecond in duration (it takes light 300fs to cross the width of a hair). Having demonstrated compression of electron beam, time-resolved electron-diffraction will be undertaken to observe coherent phonon motion in solids. The work will be undertaken with femtosecond lasers and 100keV electron beams available in our lab at Daresbury National laboratory.

The project encompassed lasers and ultrafast optics, condensed matter physics, electromagnetism and electron-dynamics. We do not require or expects candidates to have taken undergraduate courses in all of these areas. The Cockcroft Institute post-graduate lecture programme in particle accelerator science and engineering will be part of the PhD training offered to students.

For more information contact Prof Steven Jamison

Laser and terahertz acceleration group: www.thzag.uk

The Lancaster Physics Department holds an Athena SWAN silver award and Institute of Physics JUNO Championship status and is strongly committed to fostering inclusion and diversity within its community.

We particularly encourage applicants with an interest in cross-disciplinary experimental physics. Applicants are expected to have the equivalent of a first (1) or upper second (2.1) degree class in Physics or Astrophysics, supplemented by a relevant Master's-level qualification. Potential applicants are invited to apply to the physics department through this link: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/physics/study/phd/ stating the title of the project and the name of the supervisor.