ESRF, The European Synchrotron Human Resources – Recruitment 71, avenue des Martyrs, 38000 GRENOBLE – FRANCE

The ESRF is a multinational research institute, situated in Grenoble, France and financed by 20 countries mostly European. It operates a powerful synchrotron X-ray source with some 30 beamlines (instruments) covering a wide range of scientific research in fields such as biology and medicine, chemistry, earth and environmental sciences, materials and surface science, and physics. The ESRF employs about 600 staff and is organized as a French société civile.

Within the Experiments Division, the Theory group is now seeking to recruit a:

PhD Thesis Student

Subject: Modeling Heavy-fermionic d-electron materials

G E N E R A L  F R A M E W O R K

Transition-metal oxides and other d-electron materials (such as Iron superconductors) are at the heart of present research on strongly correlated systems both for their fundamental and technological interest. High-Tc superconductivity, colossal magnetoresistance and quantum phase transitions are among the prominent research themes based on these materials. Recently d-electron materials such as LiV2O4 and KFe2As2 have been found to show some peculiar features (such as enormous enhancement of the electronic mass) of another class of strongly correlated materials, known as ’heavy-fermions’ and based on f-electron elements.

D E S C R I P T I O N  O F  T H E  T H E S I S  W O R K

This theoretical project aims at studying and characterizing the heavy-fermionic behavior found in d-electron materials. Using state-of-the-art many-body techniques (both analytical and numerical e.g. DMFT, Slave-spins) supplementing ab-initio calculations we seek a general understanding of the mechanisms behind these phases. The additional complexity due to Hund’s coupling between heavy and light electrons, compared to the standard physics of f-electron heavy-fermions, will be a main topic of this study. This project will benefit from collaborations with the experimentalists at the ESRF. We ultimately hope being able to «design» new d-electron heavy-fermionic materials, entailing both fundamental (e.g. unconventional superconductivity, quantum phase transitions) and technological interest (coupled transport and magnetic behavior, thermoelectric properties).

Place of Work: ESRF in Grenoble Supervisor: Luca de’ Medici (+33) (0)4 38 88 19 89

O U R  O F F E R

The working language of the ESRF is English. You should hold a degree in Physics, materials science or Chemistry allowing enrolment for a PhD, such as an MSc, Master 2 de Recherche, Laurea or equivalent. Further information on the post can be obtained from Luca de’ Medici (tel.: +33 (0)4 38 88 19 89, email: demedici@esrf.fr). For further information on employment terms and conditions, please refer to http://www.esrf.fr/Jobs/Conditions. The ESRF is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from disabled persons.

Contract of two years renewable (subject to satisfactory progress) for one year. Monthly gross remuneration: 2320 €.

If you are interested in this position, please apply on-line at this address: http://www.esrf.fr/Jobs.

Ref. CFR395C – Deadline for returning application forms: 02 February 2015