Postdoktor i laser fysik med extremt hög intensitet

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LTH forms the Faculty of Engineering at Lund University, with approximately 9 000 students. The research carried out at LTH is of a high international standard and we are continuously developing our teaching methods and adapting our courses to current needs.

The Department of Physics is with a staff of about 350 scientists and educators one of the largest departments within Lund University. There are seven research divisions and a number of research centra within the department. The research activities at the department cover a broad spectrum of modern physics. www.fysik.lu.se/english.



Job assignments
The main duties involved in a post-doctoral posistion is to conduct research.

Teaching may also be included, but up to no more than 20% of working hours. The position includes the opportunity for three weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning.

The research for this postdoctoral position will be experimental and in the area of fundamental short-pulse laser-matter interactions using intense and ultrashort laser pulses. The long-term goal of the research project is increased efficiency of laser-acceleration of ions and increased quality of laser-produced ion beams. The individual experiments will contribute to increase our understanding of relevant physical process involved, and to explore novel laser pulse concepts, target material and target designs. The experiments can include advanced optics for laser-pulse manipulation of ultra-intense femtosecond laser pulses (tailored pulses), ultrathin solid targets, such as graphene, and nonlinear and/or transient phenomena in laser-produced plasma.  The majority of the experimental work will be performed at the Lund High-Power Laser Facility, Lund University. The work includes participation in the day-to-day operation of the 10 Hz multi-terawatt laser system, design and implementation of experimental setups, including target preparation and diagnostics, performing experiments and data analysis. The research is pursued in a team including senior researcher, PhD and diploma students and post-doctoral researchers. In addition, this team frequently hosts international visiting researchers as collaborators. The post doctor is assumed to participate in the supervision of students in the team.

Eligibility/Entry Requirements
Qualified for the position as postdoctoral fellow is a person who holds a doctorate or a foreign degree that is deemed equivalent to a doctorate and who has completed the degree within the three years prior to the last date for applications, unless there are valid reasons. The candidate should have a PhD degree in physics, or equivalent, and documented experience of experimental research with short-pulse terawatt or multi-terawatt lasers and ultra-intense laser-matter interactions. Experience from laser-plasma-based acceleration of charged particles is considered a strong merit.

Since most of the experimental work is done as teamwork, and many times in collaboration with international collaborators, very good social competence and ability to collaborate is therefore mandatory. Very good knowledge in English is a further requirement.

Basis of Assessment
Basis for assessment is a good ability to develop and carry out high-quality research as well as teaching ability, with focus on the ability to perform research. The selection to the postdoctoral position will be based upon the evaluation of skills and documented experience related to experimental research with high intensity lasers. While documented experience of experimental research in the field of ultra-intense laser-matter interactions, using terawatt or multi-terawatt lasers, is a requirement, experience of laser-driven ion acceleration is evaluated a strong additional merit. In addition, other experiences e.g. in optics, plasma physics, programming, data analysis, automation and mechanical design will be evaluated.

Important personal qualities are, beside creativity and a curious mind, the ability to work both independently and in a group and experience in the scientific interaction with researchers from other disciplines and in other countries.

Terms of employment
This is a full-time, fixed-term employment of a maximum of 2 years. The period of employment is determined in accordance with the agreement “Avtal om tidsbegränsad anställning som postdoktor” (“Agreement on fixed-term employment as a post-doctoral fellow”) between Lund University, SACO-S, OFR/S and SEKO, dated 4 September 2008.

Instructions on how to apply
Applications shall be written in English. Please draw up the application in accordance with LTH’s Academic qualifications portfolio – see link below. Upload the application as PDF-files in the recruitment system. Read more: http://www.lth.se/index.php?id=71223

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