Joint PhD-student position at the Université du Maine (Le Mans) and Université Paris Nord for 3 years (to begin in January 2012) “Experimental investigation of elastic and acoustic behaviour of condensed matter at ultrahigh pressures using LU-DAC technique” Description of the work: Knowledge of the pressure-dependences of the sound velocities and elastic moduli of liquids and solids is of extreme importance for a few branches of natural sciences such as condensed matter physics, physics of Earth, seismology, and planetology, as well as for monitoring of earthquakes, tsunamis or nuclear weapons tests. The planned research of the PhD-student includes in-situ investigation of elastic and acoustic properties of molecular solids (e.g. Ar, N2) compressed to ultrahigh pressures approaching 106 atmospheres. The research will be done using the recently established technique of laser ultrasonic (LU) measurements in a diamond anvil cell (DAC) which allows investigation of the sound propagation and determination of the acoustic wave velocities at ultrahigh pressures. During the first part of the PhD research, the student will learn to operate the DAC, to develope and to test installations for the LUmeasurements in the DAC. He/she will participate in building up of a laser heating set-up, and perform HP-interferometric and X-ray diffraction measurements on compressed solids. During the second part of his/her PhD-thesis, the student will perform the LU measurements in the DAC and processing of the accummulated signals. Laser ultrasonics technique provides opportunity for remote non-contact generation and detection of acoustic waves at high pressures. The research will be conducted in the frame of the ANR BLANC project “LUDACism” Requirements to the candidate: The candidate should have a master degree or equivalent in laser or condensed matter physics, physical acoustics, materials science or geosciences. The possible emphasis of the accomplished education could be solid state physics, physical acoustics, optical spectroscopy, or seismology. Experience in work with a diamond anvil cell, experimental micro-optics or spectroscopy, mechanics/dynamics of solids, application of lasers is of advantage. Since the work includes handling of microscopic objects as well as operation of high-precision optical and mechanical tools, the potential candidate should have a reasonable degree of manual dexterity and tend to accurate and patient work. Good English language skills in writing and speaking are required.
Place of work: The first part of the PhD-work will be performed in the walls of a research laboratory “Laboratoire de Sciences des Procédés et des Matériaux (LSPM)” located on the campus of the Université Paris Nord in Villetaneuse (suburb of Paris). The second part of the PhD-work will be performed in the Laboratory of the Condensed Matter Physics (LPEC) and Acoustic Laboratory (LAUM) of the Université du Maine (Le Mans). The interested candidates are welcome to submit (preferably via Email) their extended CV to
Dr. Andreas ZERR LSPM-CNRS, Institut Galilée Université Paris Nord Tel: +33(0)14940-3493/-2075 Fax: +33(0)14940-3938 E-mail:
[email protected]
and/or
Prof. Vitali GUSSEV LPEC Université du Maine Tel: +33(0)24383-3976 Fax: +33(0)24383-3520 E-mail:
[email protected]
The applications will be considered immediately upon receipt until the position is filled. The applications received after October 1st, 2011 will be discarded. Related publications: - N. Chigarev, P. Zinin, L-C. Ming, G. Amulele, A. Bulou, V. Gusev, Laser generation and detection of longitudinal and shear acoustic waves in a diamond anvil cell, Appl. Phys. Lett. 93, 181905 (2008). - Zerr A., Chigarev N., Brenner R., Dzivenko D. A., Gusev V., Elastic moduli of hard c-Zr3N4 from laser ultrasonic measurements. phys. status solidi - Rapid Research Letters 4, 353-355 (2010)
