The “Horizon” laser facility at Heriot-Watt University is offering a post-doc position, fully funded through EPSRC an the European ERC project “MOLIGHT – Light in Moving media”. The position is for 2 years and extensions will be considered. The challenge proposed by MOLIGHT is to study light-matter interaction in a regime in which the medium is moving or changing at relativistic speeds. The final goal is to investigate analogues for quantum field theories in curved spacetimes, e.g. Hawking radiation from black holes, Penrose superradiance from rotating black holes and dynamical Casimir effects. These studies will rely on the use of ultrashort laser pulses that will both generate and probe the relativistic changes in the medium under study. Both novel materials with tailored properties (e.g. metamaterials, zero-epsilon media, nano-structured materials, graphene or graphene-like films) and novel laser sources (attosecond pulse trains generated from conventional laser systems) will be studied. The ideal candidate will therefore be engaged in cutting-edge research in light-matter interaction and will go beyond the state of the art in both the material and light source development.

The 100 m^2 area laser facility hosts a range of laser sources at various wavelengths and pulse durations. A number of other experimental and numerical activities in the fields e.g. of quantum optics, nonlinear spectroscopy will also be carried out within the facility, thus delivering a varied and interdisciplinary research environment.

The successful applicant will be expected to assist in the daily maintenance of the laser systems, in developing and performing experiments, assisting in PhD student supervision. Full support will also be given in terms of guaranteeing the maximum impact of the candidate’s work with a careful supervision in order to eventually lead the applicant towards a successful independent research career.

The post is available for two years.

Applicants must have a PhD in physics and have a strong working knowledge and experimental background in one or more of the following fields: ultrashort laser pulse physics, nonlinear optics, quantum optics, nonlinear spectroscopy, light-matter interaction at high intensities, ultrashort laser pulse characterisation, analogue gravity.

Starting date: 1st July 2014 or as soon as possible thereafter.

For further enquiries please contact Prof. Daniele Faccio d.faccio@hw.ac.uk

Completed application forms may be returned by e-mail to hr@hw.ac.uk or by post to Heriot-Watt University, Human Resources, Edinburgh EH14 4AS. Tel. +44 (0) 131 451 3022 (24 hours), Minicom +44 (0) 131 451 8212.

Please quote the vacancy reference no. (313/13/14) in any correspondence.