Fundamental Physics Probed by Antihydrogen

You will work within the ALPHA experiments which carries out its experimental programme at CERN in Geneva. ALPHA now routinely produces neutral antihydrogen and has tools to study it with high precision, including laser–spectroscopy for 1S-2S (anti)atomic transition, Lyman–alpha transition, and (anti)atomic spin transitions using microwaves. In addition, the ALPHA–apparatus is currently being upgraded to allow precise studies into the gravitational behaviour of antimatter.

ALPHA R&D directly addresses fundamental questions such as matter-antimatter imbalance in the universe (i.e. CPT -test), as well as tests of how antimatter behaves in a gravitational field (WEP -test).

ALPHA’s physics programme combines several fields in physics and engineering: nuclear, plasma, accelerator, computational and theoretical physics, as well engineering for integrating data readout and control systems.

You will get the unique opportunity to work within the ALPHA collaboration and gain a deep understanding in these fields. The main emphasis will be on the development of advanced antimatter detection techniques; this will include data analysis (and modelling) of results from the Liverpool-built Silicon Vertex Detector, transfer beamline monitoring systems and data analysis of Time Projection Chamber–detectors. You will use machine learning and filtering algorithms to enhance track identification, vertex reconstruction efficiency and resolution, as well as cosmic background rejection to advance our understanding of the underlying physics principles.

Contact Prof Carsten P Welsch ([Email Address Removed]) for further information and informal discussions.