Help make the first measurement of how a proton and a hydrogen atom bind into a molecule. With extreme-UV lasers and ion traps, you will study the most fundamental atomic collisions and find out how the first antimatter molecules could be made.

Your Function

When a proton meets a hydrogen atom, the pair can emit a photon and stay together as H₂⁺. This is how the first molecules formed after the Big Bang, and it is one of the proposed routes to the first antimatter molecule, yet it has never been measured. In this project, you will study these collisions one quantum state at a time: instead of colliding atoms, we use lasers to prepare a hydrogen molecule at the moment of a collision and watch it fall apart. You will be part of a small group in which experiment and theory go hand in hand.

Your tasks

• excite H₂ with two tunable extreme-ultraviolet lasers (60–205 nm), built in our lab and unique in the Netherlands, and image the fragments with velocity-map imaging
• aim for the first spectroscopic observation of the excited electronic states of H₂⁺, calculated by Edward Teller in his PhD thesis in 1930 and never seen since
• trap H₂⁺ ions and use millimetre waves and magnetic fields to control how they come apart
• work towards the first measurement of radiative association: joining a cold proton and a cold hydrogen atom with light, next to a crystal of laser-cooled Be⁺ ions
• compare your data with multichannel quantum-defect theory and scattering calculations, and contribute to the theory yourself if you like
• develop your skills in lasers and nonlinear optics, ultrahigh vacuum, electronics, CAD design and scientific programming
• present your results at international conferences and publish them in peer-reviewed journals

Your Profile

• an MSc degree (or close to completing one) in physics, physical chemistry or a related field
• affinity with quantum mechanics and atomic, molecular and optical physics, and an interest in lasers and electronics
• good command of spoken and written English
• most important: you are curious, enjoy building things that work, like working in a team, and want to spend four years on a question nobody has answered yet

As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognising that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our teaching, research and service. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset.

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

What do we offer

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

• a salary of minimum € 3.204,00 (PhD) and maximum € 4.051,00 (PhD) gross per month, on a full-time basis. This is based on UFO profile PhD candidate. The exact salary depends on your education and experience.
• a position for at least 0.8 FTE. Your employment contract will initially last 1 year. Afterwards, the possibility of expansion exists.

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:

• A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• contribution to commuting expenses
• group insured for partial disability with employer contribution of 50% of the premium
• optional model for designing a personalized benefits package

About us

Quantum Metrology and Laser Applications (QMLA), LaserLaB Amsterdam
The Quantum Metrology and Laser Applications group in the Department of Physics and Astronomy is a very international group of some 20 strongly collaborating senior and junior scientists. The group carries out precision measurements on atoms and molecules, using advanced laser techniques and methods to cool their motion. It shares the infrastructure of LaserLaB Amsterdam, with lasers ranging from ultrastable to ultrafast, connected to atomic clocks and frequency combs. The aims are to test fundamental theories such as quantum electrodynamics, to determine fundamental constants such as the proton-to-electron mass ratio, and to search for physics beyond the Standard Model.

Molecular Ions group
Within QMLA, the Molecular Ions group led by Dr. Max Beyer studies the simplest molecules there are, with one, two, three and four electrons: H₂⁺, H₂, He₂⁺ and He₂. These systems are simple enough to be calculated with extreme precision, so every measurement is a direct test of theory, and we do both: experiments and ab initio, quantum-defect and scattering calculations. In the lab we laser-cool molecules, trap ions and use light from across the electromagnetic spectrum, from the extreme ultraviolet through the visible and infrared to millimetre waves. More at www.molecularions.com.

Interested?

Do you want to be the one who makes this measurement? Then we look forward to your application. Please include:

• a detailed CV
• a cover letter describing your background, motivation and skills (max. 1 page)
• transcripts with all your grades from your BSc and MSc studies
• your MSc thesis, or a draft if it is not finished yet
• your diploma(s)
• the names and contact details of two references

Applications will be considered until the position is filled.

Tagged as: Physics