Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Assistant to work on an EPSRC-funded project within the School of Physics and Astronomy at the
University of Edinburgh to create and diagnose matter at TPa pressures. The role will be based in the Centre for Science at Extreme Conditions and will be supervised by Prof. Malcolm McMahon. The post is available for a fixed-term duration of 48 months.

The project will use high power lasers, such as the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, the Omega Laser at the University of Rochester (New York), and the Orion laser at AWE, to generate solid-state matter at hitherto unexplored pressures comparable to those at the centre of the giant planets, such as Jupiter, and of relevance to states within certain exoplanets.

High-pressure states will be generated by ramped (quasi-isentropic) compression, leading to solid matter at TPa pressures for several nanoseconds. The high pressure states will be interrogated using nanosecond X-ray diffraction and absorption spectroscopy, as well as by optical diagnostics. Complementary theoretical work will include target design and ab initio structure prediction.

This is a joint project with Professor Justin Wark at the University of Oxford. The project is suitable for a researcher interested in applying new techniques using the world's most powerful laser systems, with x-ray diffraction diagnosis and materials science, to understanding matter at conditions that have previously never been interrogated on earth.

Applicants should possess, or be very close to obtaining, a doctorate in physics, materials science, or a related field. Previous experience in relevant research e.g. high power lasers, laser-plasma interactions, X-ray diffraction techniques, or multi-scale material modelling would be an advantage.

Please direct informal inquiries about this post to Professor Malcolm McMahon (mim@ph.ed.ac.uk). The deadline for applications is 5th September
2012.

Applications for the positions should be made through the University of Edinburgh website at: http://www.jobs.ed.ac.uk/vacanciesindex.cfm?fuseaction=vacancies.detail&...