Postdoctoral Research Associate on Pyroelectric Accelerator Technology

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Full-Time, Fixed term contract (Until 31 March 2025).

Applications are invited for the post of Postdoctoral Research Associate on Pyroelectric Accelerator Technology in the Department of Physics, within the School of Engineering, Physical and Mathematical Sciences (EPMS) at Royal Holloway, University of London.

The John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science at Royal Holloway has established a Pyroelectric Accelerator facility to delve into the intricate properties of pyroelectric materials under extreme excitation conditions. This unique facility enables the generation of charged particles and X-rays by thermoelectric conversion and unveils critical insights into the pyroelectric effect, necessary to develop compact and efficient sources.

The pyroelectric accelerator technology applies a temperature change to a lithium tantalate crystal (LiTaO3) within moderate vacuum conditions (<10-2 Torr) to generate electric fields of 105 - 106 V/cm. When the crystal becomes polarized in response to a temperature gradient, the intense electric field triggers field electron emission and impact ionization of the surrounding material and residual gas molecules. The resulting electrons are accelerated within the electric field and interact in matter to produce bremsstrahlung and characteristic X-rays.

This technology may find application in various fields such as material identification and elemental analysis, X-ray fluorescence and nano-structural analysis, or for use as an alternative to electron irradiation in medical applications, ion mass spectroscopy, and for calibration of neutrino and dark matter detectors.

The post-holder will aim to further develop the pyroelectric facility, supervise BSc and MSci students, publish the results in peer-reviewed journals, maintain the equipment, and perform advanced simulations of the particle dynamics in the pyroelectric accelerator.

This fixed-term position is funded by John Adams Institute core grant until 31 March 2025. The postholder will be supervised by Dr. Pavel Karataev. The successful applicant will have a track record of excellence in pyroelectricity and pyroelectric accelerators, hardware automation and complex data acquisition systems and be qualified with a doctorate in a relevant field.

The Department of Physics has a record of outstanding research, recognised with a 100% world-leading and internationally excellent research environment in REF21. We host established research groups in particle physics, theoretical physics, nanotechnologies and ultra-low temperature physics and astronomy. Research is supported by GRID computing facilities, the SuperFab nanofabrication facility, the London Low Temperature Laboratory and the John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, with collaborations at CERN, LIGO, SNOLAB, SURF, LNGS, J-PARC, CLIC, KEK, ESS and the Diamond Light Source, and in the SEPnet and the NExT Institute for Particle Phenomenology research networks.

The Department of Physics is committed to reducing gender inequality, as recognised by the award of Athena SWAN silver status and the renewal of Physics Juno Champion status in 2022, and strongly welcomes applications from groups under-represented in physics.

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Royal Holloway offers a highly competitive rewards and benefits package including:
Generous annual leave entitlement
Training and Development opportunities
Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution
Various schemes including Cycle to Work, Season Ticket Loans and help with the cost of Eyesight testing.
Free parking

The post is based in Egham, Surrey where the University is situated in a beautiful, leafy campus near to Windsor Great Park and within commuting distance from London.