Study of heavy nuclei: Simulation of double Penning trap and mass measurement experiment

Stage M2
Saclay
05/03/2026
02/02/2026
6 month
2026-study-of-heavy-nuclei-simulation-of-double-penning-en

Domain, Specialties : Physique nucléaire
Keywords:
Heavy Nuclei, Mass measurement

Research Unit : DPhN / LENA

Summary

This internship aims at the improvement of the SIMION simulations of the double Penning trap PIPERADE. In addition, it will contribute to a mass measurement experiment of Americium isotopes at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland.

Full description

The atomic nucleus is a complex system that continues to be actively studied more than a century after its discovery. Among the open questions, the question of the limits of existence of the nucleus remains central: what are the numbers of protons and neutrons that allow a bound nucleus to form? This question can be addressed using mass measurements that provide access to the binding energy of the nucleus, one of its most fundamental properties.
Today, some of the most accurate atomic mass measurement techniques rely on the use of Penning traps, devices that combine an intense magnetic field (~ 7T) and an electric field to confine a charged particle in three dimensions. This internship aims to take over and improve existing simulations of the PIPERADE double Penning trap, a device designed to perform high-precision mass measurements at GANIL in Caen.
In addition, this internship also aims to prepare for and participate in an experiment to measure the mass of Americium isotopes using the JYFLTRAP device, a double Penning trap very similar to PIPERADE, at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland.

Location

Saclay

Internship conditions

  • Internship duration: 6 months
  • Level of study: Bac+5
  • Training: Master 2
  • Continuation in PhD thesis: Yes
  • Application deadline: 2 février 2026

Experimental skills

Language : English

Computer languages and software:
SIMION, Python

Supervisor

REY-HERME Emmanuel
Phone: 01 69 08 73 56
Email :

Head of the laboratory DPhN / LENA

Barbara Sulignano
Phone: 01 69 08 42 27