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Post-doctoral position for the analysis of the first MORA experiments
Application on the CNRS portal here

Missions
The postdoctoral fellowship position concerns the development of simulation tools for the analysis of the first experiments undertaken within the frame of the Matter’s Origin from RadioActivity (MORA) project [1].The MORA project gathers experts of ion manipulation in traps and laser orientation methods for searches of New Physics (NP) in nuclear beta decay, looking for possible hints to explain the matter-antimatter asymmetry observed in the Universe. The precise measurement of the so-called triple D correlation is sensitive to Time reversal violation, and via the CPT theorem, to CP violation. As such, the measurement of D in nuclear beta decay is a complementary probe to the electric dipole moment of the neutron. It is particularly sensitive to the existence of Leptoquarks, which are hypothetical gauge bosons appearing in the first theories of baryogenesis, and in numerous theories beyond the Standard Model.
The symmetries of the MORA detection system and the well-controlled parameters of the trapped and polarized ion cloud permit to aim at a final sensitivity of a few 10-5 on D. Such a sensitivity is about one order of magnitude better than present limits on D, from measurements in neutron and 19Ne decay. It should permit, in addition to look for signs of CP violation, to probe for the first time the so-called Final State Interaction (FSI) effects. The FSI effects, caused by the electromagnetic interaction of the recoiling nucleus with the b particle, are expected to mimic a tiny non-zero D at a level which varies from 10-5 to 10-4, depending on the decaying nucleus. Their estimates rely on rather old calculations (1970’s), which are presently being revised by theoreticians within the MORA project.
The ultimate sensitivity of MORA depends on how well systematic effects are kept under control. To this intent, dedicated studies and analysis tools have to be developed. The aim of the postdoctoral fellowship will be to develop these tools, taking part to the supervision of the work done by PhD students for the Geant 4 simulation of the individual detectors of MORA, and by combining the results of these simulations with ion tracking simulations done by LPC Caen. The result of this work should be a high-level simulation tool permitting to predict systematic effects and eventually to analyze the first measurements carried-out within the MORA project. First experiments will be carried out during 2021 and 2022 in JYFL, Finland with the aim of demonstrating the in-trap polarization technique and of the D correlation measurement. We will first focus on 23Mg+ with a half-life of 11.3s, which has a simple polarization scheme and will eventually be available in copious intensities at the future DESIR facility at GANIL [2] for measurements with highest sensitivity to new physics.

[1] The MORA project, P. Delahaye, E. Liénard, I. Moore et al., Hyp. Int. (2019) 240:63; arXiv:1812.02970
[2] https://anr.fr/ProjetIA-11-EQPX-0012

Activities

The activities will consist in :

  • Taking part to the supervision of students for the simulation of detectors used in the frame of MORA
  • Developing a high level simulation tool for investigating the systematic effects in MORA,
  • Analyzing the first measurements of the polarization degree and D correlation undertaken in JYFL
  • Advertising the results obtained in international conferences

Required skills

  • Recognized skills in numerical methods and data analysis, statistics
  • Good knowledge of GEANT 4
  • Experimental physics
  • Good communication skills

Environment/context
The postdoctoral fellow will be part of the MORA team GANIL (2 senior researchers, 1 research engineer and 1 doctoral student, 1 administrative project manager). Part of the work will have to be undertaken with physicists and a PhD student from LPC Caen who are developing simulations of trapped ions trajectories. Communications within the MORA collaboration (GANIL – LPC Caen – JYFL- IKS Leuven – CERN ISOLDE – IKS Leuven) will be important and regularly requested. Repeated travels to JYFL for data-taking are to expect.

Initial duration
24 months initially, from ANR funds.

Required diploma
PhD. In nuclear physics or high energy physics.

Desired Experience
PhD in experimental physics, including data analysis / numerical methods.

Application on the CNRS platform: https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/UPR3266-VERMAR-024/Default.aspx

2nd MORA Workshop

The 2nd MORA workshop will be held remotely on Friday, the 9th of October, 2020. Click here for the program.