High Spin studies with the AGATA Spectrometer

Build and operate a world-leading precision gamma-ray detection instrument for in-beam studies of nuclei.

AGATA uses a technique known as gamma-ray tracking, which relies on determining every gamma-ray interaction point in a germanium detector and in neighbouring germanium detectors so that the whole path of a gamma ray can be tracked and used to measure not just the energy, but also the angle at which the original gamma ray was emitted.

This PhD project will utilise the AGATA spectrometer, which is presently located at Legnaro National Laboratory (LNL) in Italy, to perform studies of high spin states in neutron rich nuclei. The PhD will exploit new Pulse Shape Analysis methodologies developed as part of a recent UK AGATA project grant.

The applicant will analyse experimental data collected from the AGATA spectrometer and will participate in experiments at LNL and other international laboratories.

The applicant will analyse large scientific data sets and will work with the software packages required for experiment simulation, and will have the opportunity to work closely with the AGATA collaboration.