PhD: Electron Source & Beam Shaping for Future Accelerators

ETH Zurich; Villigen; On-site; CHF 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

ETH Zurich’s research group at PSI Villigen invites a PhD candidate to develop electron sources for future accelerator facilities and contribute to the FCC and SwissFEL upgrades. Based at PSI Villigen with teaching assistant duties at ETH Zurich, you will commission a new electron source test stand and explore beam-shaping techniques to optimize performance.

You will work on laser shaping, RF compression, and data analysis with interdisciplinary collaboration and access to state-of-the-art

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in physics, accelerator science, electrical engineering, photonics, or related field.
• Experience in beam dynamics, lasers/optics, numerical modelling or scientific programming is an advantage.
• Independent and analytical working style with enthusiasm for interdisciplinary collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Commission a new electron source test stand and demonstrate pulse-to-pulse modulation of bunch charge, beam size, and laser pulse energy relevant to the FCC-ee electron source concept.
• Compare laser-shaping techniques through beam measurements, build a prototype for photocathode operation, and investigate machine-learning/AI-based optimisation to improve performance.
• Study photocathode and laser performance, including the lifetime of semiconductor photocathodes at bunch charges of up to 5 nC.
• Measure gains in beam brightness from both photocathode laser shaping and RF compression with applications to a SwissFEL upgrade (SwissFEL+).

Skills

Accelerator physics

Electron sources

Beam dynamics

Lasers/optics

Numerical modelling

Scientific programming

Education

Master’s degree in physics or related field

Job description

ETH Zurich’s research group at PSI Villigen invites a PhD candidate to develop electron sources for future accelerator facilities and contribute to the FCC and SwissFEL upgrades. Based at PSI Villigen with teaching assistant duties at ETH Zurich, you will commission a new electron source test stand and explore beam-shaping techniques to optimize performance.

You will work on laser shaping, RF compression, and data analysis with interdisciplinary collaboration and access to state-of-the-art