TRIUMF Canada's National Laboratory for Particle and Nuclear Physics STUDENT JOB PROGRAM Spring 2018 job posting Job number TR18-1-3 | ||
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Position Title:Atom trap for beta decay Research assistant | ||
Name of Project:Improvements in spin-polarization of laser-cooled atoms. | ||
Overview:We have recently completed the most accurate beta decay asymmetry ever measured, by measuring the difference in number of betas emitted with and against the nuclear spin direction. This is the observable first used by Wu in 1957 to discover that parity symmetry is violated by the weak interaction. We have improved her experiment by an order of magnitude using an atom trap, confining beta-decaying radioactive atoms with the pressure of laser light.We are upgrading this experiment to do better, and want to improve the degree of spin polarization, and how well we measure it. To do this, we must improve the quality of circularly polarized light, suppress magnetic fields that are not in the polarization direction, and learn to manipulate the atoms into various quantum states. | ||
Duties:Implement a new faster type of liquid crystal variable retarder, and improve and determine the light polarization. Learn to trim magnetic fields with modifications of Helmholtz coils. Determine and improve the resulting polarization of the laser-cooled atoms. | ||
Skills learned during this work experience:Nonlinear optics, control programming, magnetic field manipulation. | ||
Qualifications:Physics or Engineering Physics student preferred. Optics course and/or lab would be an asset. Some quantum mechanics would be helpful to understand the atom trapping. | ||
Shiftwork required:No | ||
Period of work:January-April 2018 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:
Applications must be received at TRIUMF by 4:00pm Pacific time on 2017-09-20. 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)
Students within an university co-op program MUST apply for TRIUMF jobs through their university co-op education office.
No phone calls please. TRIUMF wishes to thank all applicants for their interest, and regrets that only those being considered will be contacted.
For more information, visit our web site http://www.triumf.ca |