PhD Position on High-order Harmonic Generation Spectroscopy in Noble-gas Liquids

Project background

High-order harmonic generation has become a cornerstone of attosecond science, enabling the observation of electron dynamics on their natural timescales. While HHG is well understood in gases and increasingly explored in solids, its extension to liquids offers intriguing opportunities to study electron scattering and delocalization properties. Noble-gas liquids, and liquid helium in particular, provide a unique platform: they combine the simplicity of atomic systems with the density of condensed matter. Their relatively long electron mean free paths offer access to a regime where strong-field physics can be studied under conditions intermediate between gases and molecular liquids. This project aims to establish HHG spectroscopy in noble liquids, investigate the role of electron scattering and coherence, and explore new phenomena such as HHG in the superfluid phase of helium.

Job description

• Design and perform experiments on high-order harmonic generation in liquid and gas-phase targets
• Develop and operate cryogenic liquid-jet systems for noble-gas liquids
• Implement advanced ultrafast laser techniques (e.g., few-cycle pulses, two-colour fields, CEP stabilization)
• Analyze experimental data to extract information on electron dynamics (cut-off scaling, phase, emission times)
• Contribute to the development of new experimental methods in attosecond spectroscopy
• Present results at international conferences and publish in high-impact journals

Profile

• Master’s degree in physics, physical chemistry, or a closely related field
• Strong interest in ultrafast laser science, attosecond physics, or strong-field phenomena
• Experimental skills and motivation to work on complex laboratory setups
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative research team
• Good communication skills in English (spoken and written)

Experience in one or more of the following areas is an advantage: ultrafast optics, nonlinear optics, HHG/strong-field physics, vacuum technology, spectroscopy, or scientific programming (Python, MATLAB).