Dr V Averbukh
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)
About the Project
Theoretical/computational PhD studentship is available in the area of attosecond physics with free-electron X-ray lasers, in the group of Dr Vitali Averbukh within the Quantum Optics and Laser Science (QOLS) at the Department of Physics of Imperial College London.
X-ray free electron lasers (FELs) are sources of intense coherent X-rays that have very recently broken the attosecond barrier and are now able to generate pulses shorter than 1 femtosecond. Our theoretical group is devising and simulating quantum mechanically the new ways to measure attosecond many-electron dynamics in atoms and molecules irradiated by X-ray FELs. We are also predicting new ultrafast physical phenomena occurring in ionised atoms and molecules. This PhD project will focus on the theoretical modelling of attosecond spectroscopies of hole migration - a spectacular effect where electron hole created by an attosecond laser pulse moves across a polyatomic molecule. We are theory partners in the international collaboration led by the experimental team at the LCLS X-ray FEL facility at Stanford, where the highly competitive beamtime has been allocated to the hole migration experiments of our team in the end of 2020.
During this PhD project, you will be trained in many-body quantum mechanics, numerical methods, coding of numerical algorithms, high performance computing (parallel computing, optionally - dataflow computing). No previous experience in computational physics or computer programming is required. There is a scope for participation in experimental beamtimes at the leading facilities world wide (LCLS, Stanford; European XFEL, Hamburg; Fermi@Elettra, Trieste).
Successful candidate will have a 1st or upper 2nd class degree (or equivalent) in Physics or a related discipline, with a strong interest in theoretical and computational physics, as well as good programming skills. The studentship will commence in October 2020. For additional information, please contact Dr Vitali Averbukh ([Email Address Removed]).
To apply online, please follow the guidance at the QOLS web page:
http://www.imperial.ac.uk/a-z-research/quantum-optics-and-laser-science/postgraduate-training/phd-opportunities/
Please mention the attosecond theory as a subject and Dr Averbukh as a supervisor in your application. For help with the online application procedure, please contact Ms Marcia Salviato, [Email Address Removed] Tel: +44 (0)207 594 7862
Committed to equality and valuing diversity. We are also an Athena Silver SWAN Award winner, a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Stonewall Top 100 Employer 2011.The Department of Physics is also an IoP JUNO Champion and Athena Silver Swan Award Winner.
Valuing diversity and committed to equality and opportunity.
Funding Notes
Full funding is available for UK candidates only. Exceptionally strong EU candidates are advised to contact the supervisor to clarify the available funding opportunities.
References
Molecular Auger Interferometry, Physical Review Letters 122, 233001 (2019);
Ultrafast Molecular Three-Electron Auger Decay, Physical Review Letters 116, 073001 (2016);
High-order harmonic generation spectroscopy of correlation-driven electron hole dynamics, Physical Review Letters 111, 123002 (2013);
Time-resolved measurement of interatomic Coulombic decay in Ne2, Physical Review Letters 111, 093402 (2013);
Single-photon laser-enabled Auger spectroscopy for measuring attosecond electron-hole dynamics, Physical Review Letters 111, 083004 (2013).
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