Field of Interest:hep-ex
Experiments:CeSOX
Deadline: 2017-03-15
Region: Europe
Job description:
Post-doctoral position on the CeSOX experiment at CEA-Saclay![]()
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CEA/DRF/IRFU
Particle physics division (SPP)
General context: Sterile neutrinos are hypothetical neutrino-like particles insensitive to the standard weak interaction. They could mix with the active neutrinos. In the last two decades, several short baseline neutrino experiments reported results that could be interpreted as a hint for a sterile neutrino in the eV mass range.
The CeSOX experiment: The experiment consists in bringing close to the Borexino detector a strong antineutrino generator and let it in place, without manipulation for a period of ≈ 1.5 years. Characteristics of the detection of antineutrinos lead to the choice of the nuclei 144Ce (an isotope of Cerium) as the best candidate as antineutrino generator (CeANG). The CeSOX collaboration will then deploy a 3.7-5.3 PBq CeANG at 8.5 m away from the center of the Borexino detector located at the Gran Sasso laboratory, in Italy. The existence of a 4th neutrino would manifest itself as a periodic modulation in the recorded distribution of the neutrino interactions inside the fiducial volume. This would be a smoking gun proving the existence of this new elementary particle. Otherwise, its absence would allow setting a very stringent limit on its existence. Data taking will start between January 2018 and April 2018.
Description of research:
Information on CeSOX can be found at: http://irfu.cea.fr/Phocea/Vie_des_labos/Ast/ast_technique.php?id_ast=3554&onglet=3560
The research of the post-doc will be twofold:
- Participation in the experimental activities for characterizing the CeANG: measurements of beta spectra from 144Ce-144Pr, characterization of 144Ce-144Pr production samples (alpha spectroscopy, gamma spectroscopy, ICPMS, …).
- Participation in the data analysis. The post-doc will be involved in the detector calibration campaign dedicated to the CeSOX measurement and analyze this data, assessing the detector systematics. Then her/his main activity will concern the analysis of the 144Ce data, including the selection of neutrino candidates with respect to backgrounds, and the evaluation of the systematics with the goal of obtaining a first physics results by the middle of 2018.
The duration of the contract is one and half year with a possible extension to two years.
Requirements:
Ph.D. in nuclear or particle physics. Good knowledge of experimental physics. The knowledge of Monte Carlo codes such as Geant4 and experience in data analysis would be an advantage.
Documents requested:
A detailed CV with a list of publications. A letter of motivation - 1 letter of recommendation
Deadline for applications: Feb 1st, 2017.
Contact:
Thierry Lasserre – thierry.lasserre@cea.fr
More Information:http://irfu.cea.fr/Phocea/Vie_des_labos/Ast/ast_technique.php?id_ast=3554&onglet=3560
Experiments:CeSOX
Deadline: 2017-03-15
Region: Europe
Job description:
Post-doctoral position on the CeSOX experiment at CEA-Saclay
CEA/DRF/IRFU
Particle physics division (SPP)
General context: Sterile neutrinos are hypothetical neutrino-like particles insensitive to the standard weak interaction. They could mix with the active neutrinos. In the last two decades, several short baseline neutrino experiments reported results that could be interpreted as a hint for a sterile neutrino in the eV mass range.
The CeSOX experiment: The experiment consists in bringing close to the Borexino detector a strong antineutrino generator and let it in place, without manipulation for a period of ≈ 1.5 years. Characteristics of the detection of antineutrinos lead to the choice of the nuclei 144Ce (an isotope of Cerium) as the best candidate as antineutrino generator (CeANG). The CeSOX collaboration will then deploy a 3.7-5.3 PBq CeANG at 8.5 m away from the center of the Borexino detector located at the Gran Sasso laboratory, in Italy. The existence of a 4th neutrino would manifest itself as a periodic modulation in the recorded distribution of the neutrino interactions inside the fiducial volume. This would be a smoking gun proving the existence of this new elementary particle. Otherwise, its absence would allow setting a very stringent limit on its existence. Data taking will start between January 2018 and April 2018.
Description of research:
Information on CeSOX can be found at: http://irfu.cea.fr/Phocea/Vie_des_labos/Ast/ast_technique.php?id_ast=3554&onglet=3560
The research of the post-doc will be twofold:
- Participation in the experimental activities for characterizing the CeANG: measurements of beta spectra from 144Ce-144Pr, characterization of 144Ce-144Pr production samples (alpha spectroscopy, gamma spectroscopy, ICPMS, …).
- Participation in the data analysis. The post-doc will be involved in the detector calibration campaign dedicated to the CeSOX measurement and analyze this data, assessing the detector systematics. Then her/his main activity will concern the analysis of the 144Ce data, including the selection of neutrino candidates with respect to backgrounds, and the evaluation of the systematics with the goal of obtaining a first physics results by the middle of 2018.
The duration of the contract is one and half year with a possible extension to two years.
Requirements:
Ph.D. in nuclear or particle physics. Good knowledge of experimental physics. The knowledge of Monte Carlo codes such as Geant4 and experience in data analysis would be an advantage.
Documents requested:
A detailed CV with a list of publications. A letter of motivation - 1 letter of recommendation
Deadline for applications: Feb 1st, 2017.
Contact:
Thierry Lasserre – thierry.lasserre@cea.fr
More Information:http://irfu.cea.fr/Phocea/Vie_des_labos/Ast/ast_technique.php?id_ast=3554&onglet=3560