Missions

Contributing to the scientific program associated with the EXOGAM spectrometer.
Participating in the experimental program and in the operation of the EXOGAM spectrometer.
Contributing to the scientific program with the AGATA spectrometer at the LNL laboratory in Italy
Developing R&D activities around AGATA in the Pulse Shape Analysis Team (PSA)

Activités

The selected candidate will be involved in the scientific activities of the STARS group devoted to the study of the nuclear structure using high-resolution gamma ray spectroscopy with the EXOGAM and AGATA spectrometers. The current activities are related to the study of exotic nuclei close to the N~Z line or in neutron rich nuclei. Several programs are on going or will be started in the next years.

First, the group is involved in developing an experimental programme using the fast neutrons of the NFS facility at GANIL and the (n,Xn) reaction to reveal unknown structures in exotic nuclei. The first experiment will investigate the 58Ni(n,3n)56Ni reaction. A PhD student (starting October 2023) will be in charge of the analysis. It is expected that the selected candidate will contribute to the supervision of the data analysis.

Secondly, in 2020, an experiment was performed at GANIL using the AGATA –MUGAST –VAMOS setup to perform a lifetime measurement in 20O using the 19O(d,p)20O reaction. The experiment was successful and new lifetimes of excited states of 20O, in the fs-range, are submitted for publication. The experiment reached also excited states in 20O beyond the neutron threshold coupled to proton and gamma-ray spectroscopy. This part of the analysis remains to be completed and is proposed to be taken in charge by the candidate.

The group is also involved in the AGATA campaign at the LNL laboratory in Italy. Several programs will be initiated in the framework of the 0° degree campaign (starting 2025) such as the structure of N=Z nuclei to probe the T=0 pairing or the use of transfer to probe the shape coexistence in the vicinity of Z=40 as preparatory work of the SPES campaign. These programs will be submitted soon to the LNL PAC and the candidate is expected to join these experiments if approved.

The selected candidate will have also the opportunity to propose experiments at LNL using AGATA or EXOGAM at GANIL in coherence with the activity of the group.

As part of the STARS group, the selected candidate will be involved in and will be expected to take responsibilities for the following activities:
1) The installation of detection devices and associated electronics, and support for experiments during the EXOGAM experimental campaigns at GANIL
2) The analysis of data obtained during experiments scheduled during the EXOGAM experimental campaign in 2024-2025 at LISE and VAMOS
3) Join the experimental effort of the AGATA campaign at LNL

The permanent researchers of the group are also highly involved in the AGATA development. The project faces several milestones in terms of development of the Pulse Shape Analysis activity. In particular, the Machine Learning approach or similar framework are proposed to enhance the AGATA sensitivity. If he candidate is relevant for the topic, he is invited to join the PSA team of AGATA.

Compétences

Expertise : Experimental nuclear physics

Skills:
Expertise in:
- Experimental Nuclear Physics,
- Germanium detector
- semi-conductor detectors,
- associated readout electronics,
- associated data acquisition system,
- associated data analysis expertise
- Data Analysis (ROOT),
- Physics: Experience in particle and gamma spectroscopy

Soft Skills :
- Teaching skills and the ability to drive less senior scientists (Ph.D. and master students)
- Team-work ability

Contexte de travail

The Grand Accélérateur National d'Ions Lourds is a national research infrastructure based on the use of ion beams. His fields of research are fundamental research in nuclear physics and astrophysics, the study of materials under irradiation and nanostructuring, molecular collisions and the interstellar medium, radiobiology and innovative imaging and therapy techniques for certain cancers.
The GANIL (about 290 people) is located in Caen in Normandy. GANIL is located on the future EPOPEA science and innovation park site of the urban community of Caen la Mer. It is managed jointly, within an Economic Interest Group (EIG), by the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA/DRF) and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS/IN2P3). As a research infrastructure, GANIL serves a national, European and international scientific community of a thousand users.
The person recruited on a fixed-term contract will be attached to the team STARS of the Research Activities Group (GAR) composed of ~60 people (researchers, postdocs, doctoral students, visitors) placed under the responsibility of a group leader. This group is integrated into the Physics Division where the DELPH (Detection, Laser for Physics) and GTA (Group of Technics for Acquisition) groups are also located. Physics Division staff are responsible for hosting external teams while conducting their own research programs.

The EXOGAM spectrometer is a high-resolution gamma radiation spectrometer permanently installed at GANIL and used in 50% of the experimental program. The spectrometer can be coupled to a magnetic spectrometer (VAMOS), a separator (LISE), a charged particle detector or neutron detectors, which offers many possibilities in science, ranging from nuclear dynamics to the nuclear structure of exotic nuclei.

Le poste se situe dans un secteur relevant de la protection du potentiel scientifique et technique (PPST), et nécessite donc, conformément à la réglementation, que votre arrivée soit autorisée par l'autorité compétente du MESR.

Contraintes et risques

As GANIL is classified as a basic nuclear facility (INB), the position is subject to specific work constraints linked to potential exposure to ionising radiation. The candidate must be authorised by GANIL's medical department to work in a supervised and controlled area, in accordance with the regulations and procedures applicable to nuclear safety and security.