Doctoral student in attosecond physics Full-time

Doctoral Student In Attosecond Physics

Lund University, The Faculty of Engineering, Department of Physics

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world's top universities. The University has around 46,000 students and 8,500 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.

The research at the Division of Atomic Physics is centered on different applications of optics and lasers, including atomic and molecular physics with ultrashort light pulses, high-intensity laser-plasma physics, quantum information, and biophotonics. The Division operates the High-Power Laser Facility, including several advanced femtosecond laser systems, and collaborates with several free-electron laser facilities. It is a central part of a major interdisciplinary research environment within Lund University, the Lund Laser Centre, LLC. The division is also heavily involved in undergraduate education, especially within the Photonics program.

Being a doctoral student

As a doctoral student, you are both admitted as a student and employed at Lund University.

As a doctoral student, you will be trained in a scientific approach. In short, you will be trained to think critically and analytically, to solve problems independently using the right methods, and to develop an awareness of research ethics. In addition, you will have the opportunity to work on projects, to develop your leadership and pedagogical skills. Throughout your studies, you will be guided by supervisors. Doctoral studies end with a thesis and a doctoral degree.

More about being a doctoral student at LTH on lth.se.

Subject and project description

A major research area of the division of Atomic Physics is the generation and application of extremely short light pulses in the attosecond and extreme-ultraviolet regimes. The activities span ultrafast laser technology and extreme nonlinear optics, as well as studies of electron dynamics in atoms and molecules using attosecond light pulses. The division of Atomic Physics is now looking for (at least) two PhD students for the projects described below.

The first project is called: Ultrafast quantum metrology with photoelectrons. The project is based on a novel photoelectron quantum state tomography scheme developed in the group, combining attosecond pulse trains with spectrally tailored femtosecond infrared pulses. The goals of the project are (1) to investigate, using this method, how the quantum state of photoelectrons emitted from atoms and small molecules is influenced by the quantum state of the ionizing light and the properties of the target, and (2) to reconstruct the ultrafast entanglement and decoherence dynamics in the system. The project is mostly experimental but it can also have a theoretical component. The project might also include experiments at free electron laser facilities and/or at other laboratories in collaborating universities.

The second project is called Manipulation of ultrashort laser pulses from an industrial ytterbium laser for high-order harmonic generation and photoemission electron microscopy of nanostructured samples. The project's goals, based on a unique industrial laser platform, are (1) to control the generated XUV light by shaping the driving laser field spectrally, spatially, and temporally using ultrafast nonlinear optics, and (2) to explore phase-matching regimes, design innovative gas targets and laser-driven generation geometries to increase XUV yield. Successful achievement of these goals promises to revolutionize XUV light generation in research environments, contribute to a deeper understanding of high-harmonic generation, and provide important tools in materials science, with applications in photoemission electron microscopy.

The third project is called Attosecond pump-probe spectroscopy of charge dynamics in molecules. The project is based at the intense attosecond beamline at the Lund High-Power Laser Facility, where intense attosecond pulse trains are available. The goal of the project is to generate intense, isolated attosecond pulses at this beamline and use them for pump-probe studies of attosecond charge dynamics in molecules and for the study of the dynamics of nonlinear processes in atoms. The project includes: (1) development, optimization, and characterization of the beamline for the generation of intense isolated attosecond pulses; (2) development and implementation of pump-probe measurement techniques based on photoelectron-photoion covariance imaging, and (3) experimental studies of charge dynamics and nonlinear processes. The project might also include complementary experiments at international free electron laser facilities.

Work duties

You will primarily devote yourself to your doctoral programme, which includes participation in research projects as well as third cycle courses, seminars and conferences. The duties may also include participation in teaching and other departmental work (however, no more than 20% of working hours).

Qualifications

To be eligible for admission and employment as a doctoral student, you must fulfil the requirements below.

Admission requirements

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if the applicant:

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in physics if the applicant has:

• At least 30 second-cycle credits of relevance to the subject, of which at least 15 credits shall comprise a second-cycle degree project, or
• An MSc in engineering physics or an associated field, or a Master's degree in physics or associated field.

Additional requirements

In order to complete the doctoral programme in question, the following are also required:

• good ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.
• good written and oral communication skills
• good ability to cooperate
• very good knowledge of English, spoken and written

Other qualifications (advantages)

For the doctoral programme in question, the following are considered as other qualifications:

• Femtosecond lasers and ultrafast optics
• High-order harmonic generation and attosecond physics
• Pump-probe experiments
• Experimental studies of molecular dynamics
• Photoion-/photoelectron spectroscopy
• Other skills, e.g. instrumentation programming, data analysis, vacuum techniques, mechanical design

We offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme.

More about working at Lund University on lu.se.

About the employment

The employment is a fixed-term employment at full time, starting as agreed. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. In the case of teaching and other departmental duties, the employment is extended accordingly. Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

More about terms of employment for doctoral students on Lund University's Staffpages.

How to apply

Applications shall be written in English and include:

• CV and a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the doctoral programme/employment and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background.
• Copies of issued study certificates and/or awarded degree certificates. These must confirm that you meet the general and specific admission requirements for the doctoral programme and show that you have the subject knowledge required for the doctoral programme project.
• Other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.)

We welcome your application!