Missions

The MORA experiment aims to highlight possible violations of fundamental CP symmetry in the beta decay of radioactive ions, a potential explanation for the asymmetry between matter and antimatter observed in the Universe. The person recruited will be responsible for data analysis and experimental developments for MORA.

Activités

Main activities:
• Analysis of MORA data acquired at the University of Jyväskylä: development of measurement analysis tools, evaluation of systematic effects, data analysis and publication, with members of the MORA team at GANIL
• Development of a motorised mirror system at Jyväskylä, enabling control of the transverse components of ion polarisation – evaluation of associated systematic effects
• Supervision of the development of the stacking trap for ion beam purification at Jyväskylä

Compétences

Skills
PhD in experimental nuclear physics
Know-how:
• Data analysis: proficiency in Monte Carlo simulation codes, such as GEANT 4 or PENELOPE. Bayesian statistics.
• Laser polarisation system: appetite for experimental physics, experience with lasers not required but would be a bonus.
• Communication: Oral and written communication in English.

Soft skills:
- Ability to work in a team and international collaborations
- Organization
- Autonomy, initiative

Contexte de travail

The MORA experiment aims to search for possible violations of the fundamental CP symmetry in the beta decay of radioactive ions. It is based on the measurement of the D angular correlation [1,2] between the recoil nucleus and the emitted positron in the decay of highly polarized ions. The experiment uses a transparent Paul trap, which enables the polarization of radioactive ions through their interaction with pulsed laser beams. The effectiveness of this innovative technique was recently demonstrated online [2,3] at the IGISOL facility of the University of Jyväskylä (Finland). The conditions are now in place to begin the measurement of the D correlation and the search for CP violation, focusing on two key isotopes: ²³Mg⁺ and ³⁹Ca⁺.
The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to the analysis of data acquired at IGISOL with these two isotopes and to the development of a system for precise control of the transverse components of the laser polarization. These components can generate significant systematic effects that must be carefully studied. The work will be carried out jointly between the GANIL and the University of Jyväskylä, and will also involve contributing to the design, construction, and commissioning of the accumulation trap. This trap will enable purification of the IGISOL ion beams, in particular ³⁹Ca⁺, using a Multi-Reflection Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (MR-ToF-MS) to achieve a sufficient number of ions in the MORA trap for the D-correlation measurement.
The successful candidate will be based at GANIL, within the FINDS group of the DPHY division, and will join the international MORA collaboration, coordinated by GANIL and involving the University of Jyväskylä, LPC Caen, KU Leuven, and IJCLab. A third-year extension jointly funded by GANIL and the University of Jyväskylä through the Magnus Ehrnroot Foundation may be considered.
The ANR ACCLAIM_MORA project is preparing the MORA experiment to reach unprecedented sensitivity to CP violation in nuclear beta decay, first at Jyväskylä on the IGISOL facility, and later at DESIR.

The Grand Accélérateur National d'Ions Lourds (GANIL) is a national research infrastructure based on the use of ion beams. Its fields of research are fundamental research in nuclear physics and nuclear astrophysics, the study of materials under irradiation and nanostructuring, molecular collisions and the interstellar medium, radiobiology and innovative techniques for imaging and therapy of certain cancers.
GANIL (about 290 people) is located in France, in the city of Caen, in Normandy. It is managed jointly, within an Economic Interest Group (GIE) by the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA/DRF) and by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS/IN2P3). As a national research infrastructure, GANIL serves the national, European and international scientific community of about a thousand users.
The person recruited will be attached to the CNRS Support and Research Unit (UAR 3266) at IN2P3 within AR (Activité de Recherche) group, with 25 permanent physicists, about 20 PhD fellows and a ten of post-doctoral fellows.
This group is part of the Physics Division, which also includes the DELPH (Detection and Lasers for Physics) and GTA (Acquisition Techniques Group) groups.
The division's staff are responsible for hosting experiments at GANIL by an international scientific community. They also lead an R&D program on detection techniques, laser techniques, data acquisition techniques for experiments, and the manufacture of targets and thin films.
The person engaged by the CNRS will be entitled to 53 days' leave with a 40-hour working week, and will benefit from the advantages offered by the social action committee for CNRS staff at GANIL.
[1] P. Delahaye et al., “The MORA project”, Hyperfine Interact 240, 63 (2019), https://doi.org/10.1007/s10751-019-1611-x
[2] N. Goyal et al., “Performance of the MORA apparatus for testing time-reversal invariance in nuclear beta decay”, Eur. Phys. J. A 61, 221 (2025). DOI: 10.1140/epja/s10050-025-01694-3
[3] IN2P3 news, 29tn of October 2025, https://www.in2p3.cnrs.fr/fr/cnrsinfo/premiere-mesure-du-degre-de-polarisation-dions-radioactifs-avec-lexperience-mora
[4] Web site of the MORA experiment, https://mora.ganil-spiral2.eu/

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 Installation (INB), the position is eligible for specific work constraints related to potential exposure to ionizing radiation.
The hired person shall be authorized to work in a supervised and controlled area in compliance with the regulations and procedures applicable to nuclear security and safety.