Currently Open Positions

Two Postdoctoral Positions in Solid-State VUV Frequency-Comb Generation

We invite applications for two postdoctoral positions within the project “Solid-State Ultraviolet Comb Source for Nuclear Spectroscopy and Quantum Metrology” (QSP-146), a collaboration between the University of Ottawa and the National Research Council of Canada.
The project aims to develop a compact, coherent vacuum-ultraviolet source near 148 nm, or approximately 8.4 eV, by generating the seventh harmonic of a high-power, ultrafast Yb laser in engineered solid-state structures. The long-term objective is to transfer the coherence and frequency-comb structure of the driving laser into the VUV, opening new opportunities in precision spectroscopy, quantum metrology, and studies of the low-energy nuclear transition in thorium-229.
The successful candidates will join the interdisciplinary environment of the Joint Attosecond Science Laboratory (JASLab) and work across the University of Ottawa and NRC facilities in downtown Ottawa. The two projects are closely connected: one fellow will develop and fabricate the solid-state harmonic emitters, while the other will develop the few-cycle laser and VUV measurement platform used to test them.

Postdoctoral Fellow 1: Nanophotonic Structures for Solid-State VUV Generation (2 year term)

Project

The first postdoctoral fellow will design, fabricate, and experimentally investigate nanostructured solid-state emitters for efficient generation of coherent VUV radiation near 148 nm.
High-harmonic generation in bulk solids and thin films is normally limited by absorption, phase mismatch, material damage, and the short interaction length available at VUV wavelengths. The project will address these limitations using engineered metal-dielectric multilayers, wide-bandgap materials, periodically structured emitters, and related quasi-phase-matching concepts.
The fellow will work primarily with the University of Ottawa NanoFab and the ultrafast laser facilities of JASLab at NRC.

Main activities

The successful candidate will:

• Model high-harmonic generation, propagation, absorption, and phase matching in thin films and nanostructured materials.
• Design metal–dielectric multilayers and periodically structured emitters optimized for harmonic generation near 8.4 eV.
• Evaluate the effects of material dispersion, interface quality, layer thickness, thermal loading, and laser-induced damage.
• Fabricate candidate structures using thin-film deposition, lithography, etching, and other available nanofabrication methods.
• Perform structural and optical characterization of fabricated samples.
• Test the structures using the project’s high-power few-cycle Yb-laser and VUV spectroscopy platform.
• Compare experimental measurements with numerical models and iteratively improve the emitter designs.
• Prepare scientific publications and present the work at national and international conferences.
• Work closely with the second postdoctoral fellow and with researchers in ultrafast optics, nanophotonics, materials science, and quantum metrology.

Qualifications

Applicants should have:

• A PhD in physics, photonics, electrical engineering, materials science, or a related field.
• Relevant experience in nanophotonics, nanofabrication, nonlinear optics, solid-state high-harmonic generation, or computational electromagnetics.
• The ability to conduct independent research and work effectively within a collaborative team.

Experience with ultrafast lasers, VUV or XUV optics, thin-film fabrication, or numerical modelling would be an asset.

Postdoctoral Fellow 2: Few-Cycle Yb Lasers and VUV Frequency-Comb Spectroscopy (2 year term)

Project

The second postdoctoral fellow will develop the high-power few-cycle laser and VUV spectroscopy platform required to generate and characterize coherent radiation near 148 nm.
The project is based on a high-power Yb thin-disk oscillator producing approximately 75 fs pulses. The fellow will develop nonlinear pulse-compression methods targeting sub-10-fs operation, commission the VUV spectrometer, and perform harmonic-generation experiments using the solid-state structures developed by the project team.
The work will take place primarily in the Joint Attosecond Science Laboratory at the National Research Council of Canada.

Main activities

The successful candidate will:

• Commission, operate, and characterize a high-power femtosecond Yb oscillator.
• Design and implement a nonlinear pulse-compression system targeting pulses shorter than 10 fs.
• Develop suitable dispersion-management, beam-delivery, stabilization, and diagnostic systems.
• Measure pulse duration, spectrum, spatial mode, stability, and other relevant laser parameters.
• Commission and calibrate a VUV spectrometer and associated vacuum, detector, and data-acquisition systems.
• Generate and characterize solid-state high harmonics near 148 nm.
• Measure harmonic photon flux, spectrum, polarization, stability, conversion efficiency, and scaling with laser and sample parameters.
• Investigate the preservation of coherence and frequency-comb properties in the generated VUV radiation.
• Support the comparison of different metal, dielectric, multilayer, and quasi-phase-matched harmonic emitters.
• Contribute to the future carrier-envelope-phase stabilization of the laser and VUV output.
• Prepare scientific publications and present the work at national and international conferences.

Qualifications

Applicants should have:

• A PhD in physics, photonics, optical engineering, or a related field.
• Hands-on experience with femtosecond lasers and ultrafast optical experiments.
• The ability to conduct independent research and troubleshoot complex experimental systems.

Experience with high-power Yb lasers, nonlinear pulse compression, few-cycle pulses, frequency combs, high-harmonic generation, or VUV spectroscopy would be an asset.

Research Environment

The successful candidates will join a collaborative research environment spanning attosecond science, ultrafast laser technology, solid-state high-harmonic generation, nanophotonics, VUV spectroscopy, and precision measurement.

The project provides access to:

• High-power femtosecond Yb-laser infrastructure.
• Few-cycle pulse-generation and characterization technologies.
• Dedicated VUV spectroscopy and vacuum equipment.
• The University of Ottawa NanoFab.
• The broader scientific and technical expertise of the Joint Attosecond Science Laboratory.
• Collaborations with researchers in laser science, nanofabrication, solid-state nonlinear optics, and quantum metrology.

The fellows will be encouraged to develop their own scientific ideas within the project, supervise and mentor students, participate in collaborations, and present their results internationally.

Appointment

• Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
• Host institution: University of Ottawa
• Research locations: University of Ottawa and the National Research Council of Canada
• Expected start date: As soon as possible
• Duration: Two years, with the possibility of extension

Appointments are subject to the eligibility and registration requirements for postdoctoral fellows at the University of Ottawa.

How to Apply

Applicants should submit the following as a single PDF:

1. A cover letter identifying the position of interest and explaining the applicant’s relevant experience.
2. A curriculum vitae, including a complete publication list.
3. A brief description of previous research and technical experience.
4. The names and contact information of three references.

Applications and informal inquiries should be sent to:

Dr. André Staudte
University of Ottawa and National Research Council of Canada
andre.staudte@nrc.ca

and

Prof. Paul Corkum
University of Ottawa
pcorkum@uOttawa.ca

Please use the email subject line:

QSP-146 Postdoctoral Application — [Nanophotonic Structures / Few-Cycle Yb Lasers]

We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and particularly encourage applications from members of groups that have historically been underrepresented in physics, photonics, and engineering.

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