Postdoctoral Appointee – Storage-Ring-Based X-Ray Free-Electron Laser Oscillator
About The Position
The X-ray Science Division (XSD) Optics group and the Accelerator Systems Division (ASD) Diagnostics group at Argonne National Laboratory are seeking a Postdoctoral Appointee to contribute to conceptual development of a storage-ring-based X-ray free-electron laser oscillator (SR-XFELO) at the Advanced Photon Source (APS). The project will assess the feasibility of a hard X-ray oscillator operating at 9.8 keV within a 5-meter APS undulator section. The proposed concept incorporates a transverse-gradient undulator, a diamond-crystal X-ray cavity, and associated high-heat-load X-ray optics. The appointee will contribute to design, simulation, and experimental characterization of SR-XFELO components and systems, with emphasis on X-ray cavity optics, FEL simulations, and integration with a next-generation sub-meV inelastic X-ray scattering spectrometer. The role includes developing and evaluating cavity concepts and optical components; conducting electron- and X-ray-beam simulations; designing, testing, and characterizing cryogenically cooled diamond-crystal cavity mirrors at APS beamlines; investigating high-heat-load optics and methods to improve their thermal and mechanical stability; supporting conceptual spectrometer integration; and contributing to optical, mechanical, and diagnostic system design for testing. Working across XSD-Optics and ASD-Diagnostics, the appointee will collaborate with researchers and engineers across APS and other Argonne divisions in a multidisciplinary research environment. The position requires on-site presence at least four days per week during regular daytime hours and supports off-hours experiments at Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, Illinois.
Requirements
- Recent Ph.D. (within the last 0–5 years) in physics, photon science, accelerator science, engineering, or a related field.
- Demonstrated hands-on experimental experience in an accelerator, synchrotron-radiation, beamline, or comparable scientific environment.
- Record of peer-reviewed publications appropriate to career stage.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.
- Ability to model Argonne's core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork.
Nice To Haves
- Familiarity with accelerator and photon science, including free-electron lasers, synchrotron radiation, X-ray optics, X-ray cavity concepts, and crystallography.
- Experience with synchrotron beamline instrumentation, optical metrology, cryogenic systems, high-heat-load optics, or related experimental techniques.
- Experience with numerical modeling or simulation relevant to accelerator physics, X-ray optics, thermal analysis, or mechanical stability.
Responsibilities
- Develop and evaluate X-ray cavity concepts and optical components for SR-XFELO operation.
- Perform electron- and X-ray-beam simulations to assess FEL and cavity performance.
- Design, test, and characterize cryogenically cooled diamond-crystal cavity mirrors at APS beamlines.
- Investigate high-heat-load X-ray optical components and develop methods to improve their thermal and mechanical stability.
- Support conceptual integration of the SR-XFELO with a next-generation sub-meV inelastic X-ray scattering spectrometer.
- Contribute to the design of optical, mechanical, and diagnostic systems for component and subsystem testing.
- Collaborate with researchers and engineers across the Advanced Photon Source and other Argonne divisions.
Benefits
- Comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Intern
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
