Postdoctoral positions in astrophysics, numerical relativity and nuclear physics at IRFU, LUTH and IPN, Paris, France

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Location:  Paris, France

The program SN2NS, sponsored by the French Agence Nationale pour la Recherche (ANR), is advertising three postdoctoral positions for the period 2011-2014.  The expected starting date is September 1, 2011, though earlier starting dates can be accommodated. Required application materials include a CV, bibliography, a statement of research interests and three letters of reference. All applications arriving before February 1, 2011 will be fully considered. Later applications will be considered until the positions are filled.

SN2NS is a 4-year program of the French agency ANR whose goal is the modeling of stellar core-collapse, leading to the birth of neutron stars and black holes. It involves three laboratories:
Institut de Recherche sur les lois Fondamentales de l’Univers (IRFU) in the CEA (Saclay)
Laboratoire Univers et Theories (LUTh) in the Observatoire de Paris (Meudon)
Institut de Physique Nucleaire (IPN) in the Université Paris 11 (Orsay)

* Postdoctoral position at IRFU, CEA-Saclay (36 months)

Location: Service d’astrophysique, Orme des merisiers, CEA Saclay, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
Contact person: Thierry Foglizzo (foglizzo[AT]cea.fr)

The hydrodynamical aspects of the SN2NS project will be studied at IRFU using numerical and analytical tools.  The successful candidate will conduct multidimensional simulations in order to characterize the consequences of instabilities during core-collapse. Their sensitivity to the simplified prescriptions concerning gravity, neutrino transport and the microphysics will be studied in close collaboration with LUTh and IPN. A strong background in numerical hydrodynamics is required. Some experience in the physics of core-collapse supernovae would be welcome.  Available tools include simplified versions of the code CoCoNut developped at LUTh, and the AMR code RAMSES developped at Saclay. The succesful candidate will benefit from the stimulating environment of the COAST group at IRFU/SAp, and the help of visualisation engineers associated with the project.

* Postdoctoral position at LUTH, Observatoire de Paris-Meudon (36 months)

Location: Laboratoire Univers et Theories, Observatoire de Meudon, 5 place Jules Janssen, 92190 Meudon, France.
Contact person: Jerome Novak (jerome.novak[AT]obspm.fr)

The main interest of LUTH within this project is to study the formation of a black hole in realistic stellar core-collapse, and its properties regarding its spin and kick velocity. The successful candidate should be able to rapidly join the collaborative numerical project CoCoNuT (see http://www.mpa-garching.mpg.de/hydro/COCONUT) developed together with the Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik (Garching, Germany) and the University of Valencia (Spain) and to develop his/her own numerical tools to study the formation of a black hole and its interaction with its surroundings. She/he will also have to work in collaboration with the two other groups: IRFU (SASI and hydrodynamics) and IPN (realistic equation of state and neutrino interactions). The applicant of this post-doctoral position at LUTH should therefore have some interest in the field of numerical relativity in the context of gravitational collapse and/or black hole simulation. However, any candidate with some experience in the numerical modeling of gravitational collapse (hydrodynamics, neutrino transport, …) is also encouraged to apply.

* Postdoctoral position at IPN, Universite Paris 11, Orsay (24 months)

Location: Institut de Physique Nucleaire, 15 rue Georges Clemenceau, 91400 Orsay, France.
Contact person: Jerome Margueron (jmargue[AT]ipno.in2p3.fr)

Realistic microphysics input for numerical simulations will be developed at IPN in collaboration with LUTH Meudon and LPC Caen. The aim is to obtain an equation of state covering the entire domain of density, asymmetry and temperature reached by massive core collapse events together with consistent electro-weak interaction rates (electron capture, neutrino interactions). This means that the multi-component sub-saturation regime, where statistical models could be employed, as well as the dense regime with a possible transition to exotic matter (hyperons, quarks) should be described. The  implementation into core-collapse modelization will be done in collaboration with the partners at LUTH and at IRFU. We are therefore looking for applicants with profound knowledge in nuclear/hadronic physics.  Some experience in dense matter (neutron stars or supernovae) would be appreciated.

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