Thesis on the Development of Diagnostics for Relativistic Electron Beams Accelerated by Laser-Plasma Wake (M/F)
PhD @French National Centre for Scientific Research posted 2 days agoJob Description
General information
Job title: Thesis on the Development of diagnostics for relativistic electron beams accelerated by laser-plasma wake (M/F)
Reference: UMR8578-BRICRO-006
Number of positions: 1
Work location: ORSAY
Publication date: Thursday, June 5, 2025
Type of contract: Fixed-term contract Doctoral student
Contract duration: 36 months
Thesis start date: October 1, 2025
Workload: Full
Remuneration: The remuneration is a minimum of €2,200.00 per month
Section(s) CN: 04 – Physics of atoms, molecules and plasmas. Optics and lasers
Description of the thesis subject
The proposed thesis project focuses on the design and development of diagnostics to characterize the relativistic electron beam from a gas cell, in position and time, at each shot. The required precision is of the order of a micron for positioning in the transverse direction to propagation and of the order of a femtosecond in the longitudinal direction. The developed diagnostics will be tested during laser-plasma experimental campaigns on French and European facilities.
Participate in the design of electron diagnostics for experiments with plasma cells, carry out experimental campaigns with intense lasers (in the 100TW to PW range depending on laser time allocation), contribute to optimization using artificial intelligence methods, analyze the results and write progress reports, publish the results.
Skills:
General knowledge of Physics, optics, electromagnetism, plasma physics
Interest in experimental physics and technical developments involving optics, lasers, the interaction of waves with matter.
Ability to program in relation to experimental developments (data analysis, remote diagnostic control)
Interest in teamwork
ability to communicate analyses and results (written reports, oral presentations)
Autonomy and organizational skills, good knowledge of English
Work context
The proposed work is part of the European PACRI project, which aims to advance plasma accelerator technologies. This activity is also closely linked to the EuPRAXIA project, which plans to build the world’s first high-energy plasma accelerator with industrial beam quality and user areas. LPGP is a partner in the PACRI and EuPRAXIA projects and contributes to the definition of acceleration concepts and laser-plasma techniques that will be used to create and characterize relativistic electron beams.
The laser-plasma wake mechanism accelerates electrons using the wave generated by an ultra-short laser pulse, on which the electrons “surf.” This futuristic method has many advantages over traditional electrostatic techniques. Acceleration gradients are much higher, so electrons with energies in the GeV range can be achieved in devices a few centimeters long. It provides intense, short-duration relativistic electron beams in compact devices. It has many potential applications, particularly in particle physics and medicine.
However, this technique is still under development. It is particularly important to achieve better stability and reproducibility of beam characteristics. The use of laser-plasma wake therefore requires the development of non-destructive shot-by-shot diagnostics for the beam.
The ITFIP team, within which this thesis is proposed, has developed a plasma cell to obtain good quality electron beams with adjustable energies in the 100-200 MeV range. The injection of this electron beam into a second plasma to reach even higher energies is currently being studied.
The position is located in a sector covered by the protection of scientific and technical potential (PPST), and therefore requires, in accordance with the regulations, that your arrival be authorized by the competent authority of the MESR.
Constraints and risks
N / A
