Job Description

The X-ray Science Division (XSD) Optics group and the Accelerator Systems Division (ASD) Diagnostics group at Argonne National Laboratory are seeking a Postdoctoral Appointee to contribute to the conceptual development of a storage-ring-based X-ray free-electron laser oscillator (SR-XFELO) at the Advanced Photon Source (APS).

The project will assess the feasibility of implementing a hard X-ray oscillator operating at 9.8 keV within a 5-m-long APS undulator section. The proposed concept incorporates a transverse-gradient undulator, a diamond-crystal X-ray cavity, and associated high-heat-load X-ray optics.

The successful candidate will contribute to the design, simulation, and experimental characterization of key SR-XFELO components and systems, with particular emphasis on X-ray cavity optics, FEL simulations, and integration with a next-generation sub-meV inelastic X-ray scattering spectrometer.

Primary activities will include:

• Developing and evaluating X-ray cavity concepts and optical components for SR-XFELO operation.
• Performing electron- and X-ray-beam simulations to assess FEL and cavity performance.
• Designing, testing, and characterizing cryogenically cooled diamond-crystal cavity mirrors at the APS beamlines.
• Investigating high-heat-load X-ray optical components and developing methods to improve their thermal and mechanical stability.
• Supporting conceptual integration of the SR-XFELO with a next-generation sub-meV inelastic X-ray scattering spectrometer.
• Contributing to the design of optical, mechanical, and diagnostic systems for component and subsystem testing.

This position, working across XSD-Optics and ASD-Diagnostics offers an opportunity to work at the forefront of future light-source and X-ray-optics development. The appointee will collaborate closely with researchers and engineers across the Advanced Photon Source and other Argonne divisions in a multidisciplinary research environment.

Position Requirements

• Recent Ph.D. (within the last 0-5 years) in physics, photon science, accelerator science, engineering, or a related field.
• Demonstrated hands-on experimental experience in an accelerator, synchrotron-radiation, beamline, or comparable scientific environment.
• Record of peer-reviewed publications appropriate to career stage.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.
• Ability to model Argonne's core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• Familiarity with accelerator and photon science, including free-electron lasers, synchrotron radiation, X-ray optics, X-ray cavity concepts and crystallography.
• Experience with synchrotron beamline instrumentation, optical metrology, cryogenic systems, high-heat-load optics, or related experimental techniques.
• Experience with numerical modeling or simulation relevant to accelerator physics, X-ray optics, thermal analysis, or mechanical stability.

Work Location

This position requires an on-site presence at least four days per week during regular daytime hours, and supports off-hours experiments at Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, Illinois.

Job Family

Postdoctoral

Job Profile

Postdoctoral Appointee

Worker Type

Long-Term (Fixed Term)

Time Type

Full time

The expected hiring range for this position is $72,879.00-$121,465.00.

Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.

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