Research Associate for Conceptual Design for UK XFEL Low Energy Electron Line

​​​​​​​Applications are invited for the position of Postdoctoral Research Assistant for the design of a space charge-dominated, low-energy section of the United Kingdom X-ray Free Electron Laser (UK-XFEL).

This will be for a 24-month Research Associate position at the University of Manchester, aimed from 1st February 2023 fully funded by STFC through the Cockcroft Institute (CI) of Accelerator Physics and Technology, one of the two accelerator institutes in the UK.

As the core activity, the post will contribute to the recently funded effort for the preparation of the Conceptual Design Report for UK-XFEL in collaboration with the Accelerator Science and Technology Centre (ASTeC) – department of UKRI – within the low energy injectors work package. The Research Associate will be expected to contribute to other activities regarding low-energy electron injector beam dynamics and diagnostics as briefly introduced below.

The first phase of UK XFEL conceptual design studies will focus on identifying and investigating the applicability of different technologies such as superconducting, cooled normal conducting and room temperature normal conducting radio-frequency cavities for the design of the Low Energy section of the XFEL  that includes electron injector and electron initial booster linac, eventually with longitudinal compression scheme, and might also include further acceleration stages.

Therefore, the Research Associate will focus on one or more design options that will be under consideration for the UK XFEL low-energy section. This includes the electron injector and initial booster linac and might include further acceleration stages. One such example can be, the exploration of beam dynamics for a large parameters space for hybrid frequency scenarios where an electron source, a buncher and a booster linac are set at combinations of different frequencies at S- and X-band in collaboration with RF experts in Lancaster University, another partner institute of the CI. The effort will provide key insight into this national facility’s baselining and prototyping process. The Research Associate will extensively explore beam dynamics within operating parameters for an XFEL driver. This will include characterising the performance of a particular design option via 6D phase space properties providing feedback to RF design and performing parts of the optics design. These studies will be conducted using one of the existing simulation frameworks that include tools for charged-particle optics in accelerator structures and beamlines. The Research Associate will document these results as journal articles and have the chance to contribute to writing the UK XFEL Conceptual Design Report.

In addition to the studies described above, the Research Associate will contribute towards bunch length diagnostics development potentially beneficial for the UK XFEL through the ongoing efforts for the CERN-lead AWAKE Run II electron diagnostics as a part of the AWAKE-UK project. This includes commissioning the previously developed bunch-length diagnostics such as Cherenkov diffraction radiation and electro-optic sampling set-ups. Both diagnostics were already procured and installed at CERN, some parts are currently being tested at CLEAR in a collaboration between Manchester, and Royal Holloway Universities. The Research Associate will expand on these previous achievements and carry out further tests toward the maturation of these systems. They will take part in shifts in the control room for data-taking and beam characterisation using these devices at CLEAR where possible.

The School/Department is strongly committed to promoting equality and diversity, including the Athena SWAN charter for gender equality in higher education. The School/Department holds a Silver Award which recognises their good practice in relation to gender; including flexible working arrangements, family-friendly policies, and support to allow staff achieve a good work-life balance. We particularly welcome applications from women for this post. All appointment will be made on merit. For further information, please visit:http://www.physics.manchester.ac.uk/about-us/equality-and-diversity/  

Our University is positive about flexible working – you can find out more here

Blended working arrangements may be considered

Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries, accept CVs or applications from Recruitment Agencies.

Enquiries about the vacancy, shortlisting and interviews:

Name: Dr Oznur Apsimon

Email:  [email protected]

General enquiries:

Email: [email protected]

Technical support:

https://jobseekersupport.jobtrain.co.uk/support/home

This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date.

Please see the link below for the Further Particulars document which contains the person specification criteria.