TRIUMF
Canada's National Laboratory for Particle and Nuclear Physics
STUDENT JOB PROGRAM
Fall 2017 job posting
Job number TR17-3-19

Position Title:

ARIEL Target Development - Gamma Window Design 

Name of Project:

ARIEL-II 

Overview:

The Advanced Rare IsotopE Laboratory (ARIEL) is TRIUMF’s current flagship project. Here a high-power and high-energy electron beam will be converted into Bremsstrahlung gamma rays, which are then used to induce nuclear reactions inside of a target. The nuclear reaction products are extracted and accelerated into a beam, which is used for different experiments in nuclear, solid state, and astrophysics.
ARIEL will use electrons at up to 200 times higher power for online production of radioisotopes than any other facility worldwide. Therefore the technology and physics processes to be used are unprecedented and call for an intense research and development campaign.
In the current concept for the electron-to-gamma conversion, electrons are impinging onto a material layer of high atomic number, such as tungsten or gold on top of a water-cooled low-Z backing, such as aluminium or carbon. It was identified that a separation between the ARIEL radioisotope production target volume and the electron accelerator system is indispensable in order to protect the accelerator from volatile radioactive contaminations. However, electrons of the desired energy range (20 MeV – 50 MeV) do not penetrate any vacuum window without losing a significant fraction of their energy. The current concepts solves this problem by coupling the electron-to-gamma converter and its vacuum to the electron beam line vacuum, while the gamma rays pass through a solid window of low density into the target vessel where they interact with a target cylinder maintained at approximately 2000 ºC. The thermal performance of the converter and the gamma window are critical to the operation of the target.
Consequently, an experimental test stand has been built in order to heat candidate gamma windows and electron to gamma converter assemblies with realistic heat loads and test window materials, geometries and reliabilities.

Duties:

The student will be integrated into the AETE electron-to-photon converter and gamma window development campaign. The focus will be on thermal testing of gamma window prototypes, as well as structural and thermal evaluation of potential mechanical designs. This includes the operation of the test stand, analysis of the results, and design of subsequent test fixtures and prototypes. For each prototype design a short analysis report should be written.
The successful candidate is expected to contribute to the design of successive prototypes, perform analyses and suggest tests to validate results.

Skills learned during this work experience:

This project will provide the opportunity to participate in R&D physics engineering, including mechanical design studies and the integration of often-conflicting thermal and structural aspects with physics requirement, as well as testing to characterize the performance. While knowledge of thermal and stress analysis should be considered a prerequisite for this project, the student will be involved in conducting thermal and structural simulations or at least in interpreting the results. These simulations will be verified experimentally where the student will be introduced to vacuum technology, simple electronic engineering and DAQ systems.
Last but not least the work at a large-scale accelerator and research facility together with the involvement in operation and beam times will open countless opportunities for getting in touch with other disciplines and to connect to a great network of international engineers and scientist.
The results of this work will contribute to at least one publication covering the ARIEL electron target station physics concept and engineering design.

Qualifications:

The successful candidate should be at least in his or her third year of studies in mechanical or integrated engineering, physics, or a similar field and have a strong interest in material science, thermal and stress analysis, experimental testing, and mechanical design. Experience with machine design, Finite Element Analysis and vacuum systems is considered an asset.

Shiftwork required:

No

Period of work:

Sep - Dec 2017 with possible 4-month extension  
Salary is commensurate with academic progress and previous relevant work experience, and ranges from $ 2080 to $ 2800 per month plus 4% vacation pay.
TRIUMF pays round-trip airfare (this does not apply to Vancouver/Victoria students); for Vancouver Island students, TRIUMF will pay ferry costs.

TRIUMF is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace, and we welcome applications from all qualified undergraduate students as defined below:

  • Canadian undergraduate students or Canadian Permanent Resident undergraduate students enrolled in an accredited post secondary institution in Canada (or outside Canada) who are studying in a vocational or professional training program that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate.
  • Foreign full-time undergraduate students currently enrolled at a designated learning institution at the post-secondary level, and who are studying in an academic, vocational or professional training program that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate that is at least six months in duration, and who have a valid Canadian study permit which allows for employment off-campus, and who have applied for a Social Insurance Number
  • Foreign undergraduate students enrolled in a recognized undergraduate program of study abroad who have accepted, or are in the process of accepting, an "Invitation to Apply" for a work permit under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/iec/apply.asp

Applications must be received at TRIUMF by 4:00pm Pacific time on 2017-05-23.

To apply for any of the job postings, you must submit one application for each and every job for which you wish to be considered. Please combine all documents into one PDF for each job. All applications can be attached to one email in PDF format. Please do not send electronic documents in formats other than PDF. Please save the PDF as lastname-job number (eg Smith-15.pdf)

    An application consists of a:
  • Covering letter
  • Resume
  • Transcript of all post secondary grades (unofficial copies are accepted)
  • in addition, an online application form must be filled out for each job
    Applications must also clearly indicate:
  • The number of academic terms completed (i.e. terms, semesters, or quarters)
  • The number of work terms completed (or the equivalent)
  • The TRIUMF Job Number must be clearly stated in the covering letter

Students within an university co-op program MUST apply for TRIUMF jobs through their university co-op education office.

Email to:

student@triumf.ca

Mail to:

TRIUMF Student Program
Job Number TR17-3-19
4004 Wesbrook Mall
Vancouver, B.C.
V6T 2A3

No phone calls please. TRIUMF wishes to thank all applicants for their interest, and regrets that only those being considered will be contacted.

TRIUMF is located on the campus of the University of British Columbia.
For more information, visit our web site
http://www.triumf.ca