SCHOLARSHIP OFFER
for a PhD student
to be hired in the frame of a project financed
by the Polish National Science Centre
In experiments investigating neutrino oscillations (N obel Prize in 2015), it was confirmed that neutrinos have mass, however, its absolute value is still unknown. It is also unknown whether the neutrino is a Dirac or Majorana particle. In the latter case, the lepton number would not be conserved, which is not predicted by the Standard Model. Confirmation that neutrinos are Majorana particles (their own antiparticles, i.e. matter and antimatter would be the same entity) would mean that the neutrinoless double beta decay can take place. By measuring the half-life of this process, it would be possible to determine the effective neutrino mass and infer which neutrino (among the three lepton families) is the lightest and which is the heaviest. This would be very important, for example, for explaining the asymmetry in the amount of matter and antimatter observed in the Universe. Neutrinoless double beta decay is therefore of great importance for a full understanding of the properties of neutrinos, as described within the framework of various theoretical models, or theories.
Another extremely exciting problem is the structure of the Universe. A number of astronomical observations indicate that stars in galaxies and galaxy clusters are immersed in a halo of non-luminous matter, having a mass at least one order of magnitude greater than that of visible matter. Although indirectly the existence of dark matter is quite well documented, its nature (way it interacts, its mass, etc.) is still unknown. Theories extending the Standard Model suggest the possibility of direct registration of cold dark matter particles (collectively referred to as Weakly Interacting Massie Particles – WIMPs), through interactions (mainly) with atomic nuclei.
For experiments being currently under preparation a nd those planned, which aim to search for the Majorana neutrino or for the dark matter particle interactions, we expect that the main source of background will be radioactive isotopes present on the surfaces of detector components (so-called surface activity/contamination). Currently, a huge effort is being made to develop methods to effectively remove these residual contaminants. At the same time, we need tools to verify the achieved surface cleanliness. The design, construction and tests of such a device is the subject of the project. We plan that the constructed spectrometer prototype will be 100 times more sensitive than the devices currently in use. In order to minimize its intrinsic background, it must be constructed using carefully selected materials that are v irtually free of radioactivity.
Candidates are expected to have some experience in experimental physics, especially in measurements with radiation detectors, and the ability to analyze data. We offer an attractive stipend
CV with the motivation letter and documents confirming the status of a PhD student (participation in a PhD school) should be sent until 25.01.2026 to the address given below.
Contact: Dr hab. Grzegorz Zuzel, prof. UJ
Zakład Doświadczalnej Fizyki Komputerowej Instytut Fizyki UJ, pok. F-0-20
Email: grzegorz.zuzel@uj.edu.pl Tel.: 012 664-48-61
www: http://zdfk.if.uj.edu.pl/