Laser-driven high-repetition rate particle and photon sources for energy-transfer Applications

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Laser-driven high-repetition rate particle and photon sources for energy-transfer Applications

• Laser-driven high-repetition rate particle and photon sources for energy-transfer Applications: School of Mathematics and Physics | PHD Applications are now CLOSED
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Overview

Laser-driven particle accelerators can drive a wide range of secondary radiation and particle beams with spatiotemporal properties (typically in the micron and femtosecond scales) that are effectively unmatched by any other technology. Their extreme versatility not only enables a precise control and fine-tuning of the beam parameters but also permits to select, by simply varying the interaction conditions, the type of particle or radiation (i.e., x-rays, gamma-rays, electrons, positrons, ions, and neutrons). This unique feature can thus also enable multi-modal imaging, a unique feature of laser-driven systems.

These sources have the potential to provide a paradigm shift in a wide range of industrial and applied domains. For example, they can deliver high-resolution radiography and tomography of electronic components and sensitive materials, enable precision manipulation of advanced materials, and provide a platform for testing the resilience of instruments and detectors under extreme environments, including space-weather conditions. To unlock these applications, however, one must achieve high average fluxes and thus have access to high repetition rate and high-power laser systems. Current high power (multi-TW to PW) laser systems in the UK can only operate at limited repetition rates of the order of 1 Hz. To fill this gap in technological capability, we are building at Queen’s University Belfast a user facility that will host the first high-power (10TW) and high repetition rate (100 Hz) laser in the UK, which will offer a host of high-flux particle and photon sources for applications. The facility is co-funded by the EPSRC and is planned to be operational in January 2027. The successful candidate will join a multi-disciplinary team at QUB under the supervision of Prof. Gianluca Sarri to develop, optimise, and apply laser-driven particle and photon sources at 100 Hz repetition rates. The student will develop specific frameworks for the self-optimisation of these sources for specific applications, including resilience testing of instruments and detectors under extreme environments and high-resolution radiography of electronic components and high-Z materials. The main aim of the project is to establish and utilise specific operational models of laser-driven sources (e.g., x-rays, gamma-rays, electrons, and positrons) for specific applications of direct interest to DSTL. Before you apply: We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisor(s) for this PhD project before you apply. Eligibility: PhD Candidates must hold a minimum of an upper Second-Class UK Honours degree or international equivalent in a relevant science or engineering discipline. Candidates must be UK Nationals and be willing to apply for and able to obtain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance. Key Details: • Host Institution: Queen’s University Belfast, UK • Industry Partner: DSTL • PhD Duration: 4 years • Start Date: 1st October 2026 • Enhanced stipend of £24,780/year • Additional funds of £7,000 a year for travel, conferences and research equipment. About the PhD Project: Are you passionate about developing novel research and keen to shape the future of energy transfer technologies in areas such as, laser interactions, plasma physics, RF technologies, materials science and engineering? We are recruiting a motivated PhD candidate to undertake an exciting project within the EPSRC Energy Transfer Technologies Doctoral Training Hub. As a student of the Hub, you will receive an enhanced stipend of £24,780 per year, plus additional funds of £7,000 a year for travel, conferences and research equipment. This project is co- funded by DSTL. The Hub: The Doctoral Hub specialises in developing research and training the next generation of leaders in energy transfer technologies for defence and related sectors. The successful candidate will be based at Queen’s University Belfast and throughout their PhD will benefit from the support and expertise of our diverse academic community, a community of students working towards similar goals, as well as our specialist industrial network. Why Join Us? • Industrial Collaboration: Each PhD student within the Hub is partnered with an industry collaborator, providing placement opportunities to work and train alongside industry experts Comprehensive Training: The Hub offers a blend of academic and industrial training, preparing you for diverse career pathways in research or industry • Cohort Experience: Build your research network through inclusion in a vibrant cohort of PhD students that conduct research with academic leaders across leading UK institutions. Engage in online and face-to-face activities, including cohort-building events and collaborative learning exercises • Funding: A generous fully funded studentship (no fees and a monthly personal payment) with additional support for conferences, travel, training, consumables and extended placement with industry collaborators. Academic supervisor: Prof. Gianluca Sarri, Queen’s University Belfast Industry supervisor: Dr. Robert Deas, DSTL Email contact: g.sarri@qub.ac.uk

Funding Information

PhD Candidates must hold a minimum of an upper Second-Class UK Honours degree or international equivalent in a relevant science or engineering discipline. Candidates must be UK Nationals and be willing to apply for and able to obtain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance.

Professor Gianluca Sarri

Research Profile

Full-time: 3 years

Physics overview

The scientific research within the School of Mathematics and Physics was highly rated in the 2021 REF peer-review exercise, with 90% of research being judged as internationally excellent or world-leading. Physics and Astronomy at Queen's has been ranked 12th in the UK (Complete University Guide 2026) and 4th in the UK for Graduate Prospects (Complete University Guide 2026). Physics research activity in the School is focused into three specific Research Centres; all members of academic staff belong to one of these Research Centres, listed below. Astrophysics Research Centre (PhD/MPhil) Find out more below, or email Dr Meg Schwamb (m.schwamb@qub.ac.uk) Centre for Light-Matter Interactions (PhD/MPhil) Find out more below, or email Professor Brendan Dromey (b.dromey@qub.ac.uk) or Professor Hugo Van Der Hart (h.vanderhart@qub.ac.uk) Centre for Quantum Materials and Technologies (PhD/MPhil) Find out more below, or email Dr Amit Kumar (a.kumar@qub.ac.uk) Registration is on a full-time or part-time basis, under the direction of a supervisory team appointed by the University. You will be expected to submit your thesis at the end of three years of full-time registration for PhD, or two years for MPhil (or part-time equivalent).

• Queen's graduates from Physics have secured employment through a number of companies such as Allstate, AquaQ Analytics, Citigroup, Deloitte, First Derivatives, PwC, Randox, Seagate, Teach First and UCAS. Queen's has been voted 3rd for Career Prospects (Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2026). In addition, Belfast has been ranked 14th in the UK in the PwC Good Growth for Cities Index 2025.
• 93% of Queen’s graduates were in employment and/or further study 15 months after completing their course (HESA Graduate Outcomes, 2022/23). Queen’s is a lead UK university in advancing gender equality. Queen’s holds a prestigious Athena SWAN Gold Award, along with 15 Departmental Awards (9 Gold, 3 Silver and 3 Bronze).
• Since 2014, the School has invested over £12 million in new world-class student and staff facilities. Maths and Physics students have their own teaching centre, housing brand experimental physics laboratories, two large computer rooms plus a student interaction area with a new lecture theatre and study rooms. In addition to this, Queen's has been voted 3rd in the UK for University Campus and Facilities.
• Physics and Astronomy has been ranked 4th in the UK for Graduate Prospects (Guardian University Guide 2026). The School has a continually growing international community of both undergraduate and postgraduate students and staff. Our research is conducted and recognised as excellent across the world. Staff are involved in cutting-edge research projects that span a multitude of fields. Queen's has been ranked 5th in the world for international outlook and ranked 39th in Europe for international student diversity.
• As part of a diverse community of over 100 PhD students, you’ll be a valued part of a vibrant research community. You will benefit from a wide range of training opportunities and avail of the regular social events for PGR students. Queen’s is a lead UK university in tackling the unequal representation of women in science and engineering. The School currently holds a Gold Athena SWAN Award.
• Students will have access to our facilities, resources, study space and dedicated staff. Research students are encouraged to play a full and active role in relation to the wide range of research activities undertaken within the School.
• The School of Maths & Physics is one of the largest Schools in the University. Staff are involved in cutting-edge research that spans a multitude of fields.

Course content

Research Themes Astrophysics (PhD/MPhil) You’ll be involved in the search for distant supernovae and where they came from; study the asteroid and comet population in the Solar system; look for planets orbiting other stars in our Galaxy; study flares and other dynamic processes in the atmosphere of the Sun. You’ll have the opportunity to spend extensive periods at world-leading research centres such as the European Southern Observatory and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. At Queen’s we lead major European consortia and are supported by a multi-million pounds portfolio of research grants from a range of sources, including the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council, the Royal Society, and European Union.

Research Themes Centre for Quantum Materials and Technologies (PhD/MPhil) Human history is defined by the materials we use to underpin our technology: stone, bronze, iron, silicon. As we enter the emerging Quantum era, this impetus on materials and their link to technologies becomes even stronger. As a PhD student in Centre for Quantum Materials Technologies, you will be playing a part in the development of materials systems which will, in some way, define our technology for the future. How can this not be exciting? You will seek to reveal the physics of material behaviour at the boundary of current global knowledge and quantum limits, at the same time, become proficient in techniques for Quantum computation, materials growth, patterning, characterisation and theoretical modelling. These skills are highly valued in high-tech companies and commercial research institutions, as well as in academic research settings. Our laboratories and computational facilities are extremely well-equipped for international-level research and our links to other research teams throughout the world in both academia and industry are strong and you should expect to travel, should you wish to, as part of your PhD experience.

Research Themes Centre for Light Matter Interactions (PhD/MPhil) Your research will involve identifying, and responding to, major open problems in laser- and electrically-produced plasmas, ultra-fast atomic and molecular physics, the interaction of ionising radiation and plasmas with matter (including biological systems), the physics of antimatter interactions with atoms and molecules, and the description of strong field laser interactions with atoms and molecules. You will address fundamental and/or practical questions related to the description of electronic excitations, optical properties of matter, and the interaction between electric currents, heat and light. Your theoretical activity will imply the development and programming of novel simulation methodologies to model such processes. Experimentally, you will employ local, national and international facilities, including some of the most powerful laser systems worldwide ,while benefiting from transferring your research findings into the industrial and medical sectors.

Alumni Success Many of our PhD graduates have moved into academic and research roles in Higher Education while others have progressed into jobs such as Data Scientist, Software Engineer, Financial Software Developer, IT Graduate Associate, Technology Consultant, Research Physicist, Technician, Telescope Operator and R&D Engineer.

Dr Amit Kumar Head of Research Centre - Centre for Quantum Materials and Technologies School of Maths and Physics

Dr Meg Schwamb Head of Research Centre - Astrophysics Research Centre School of Maths and Physics

Prof Brendan Dromey Co-Head of Research Centre - Centre for Light-Matter Interactions School of Maths and Physics

Prof Hugo Van Der Hart Co-Head of Research Centre - Centre for Light-Matter Interactions School of Maths and Physics

Assessment processes for the Research Degree differ from taught degrees. Students will be expected to present drafts of their work at regular intervals to their supervisor who will provide written and oral feedback; a formal assessment process takes place annually. This Annual Progress Review requires students to present their work in writing and orally to a panel of academics from within the School. Successful completion of this process will allow students to register for the next academic year. The final assessment of the doctoral degree is both oral and written. Students will submit their thesis to an internal and external examining team who will review the written thesis before inviting the student to orally defend their work at a Viva Voce.

Supervisors will offer feedback on draft work at regular intervals throughout the period of registration on the degree.

Our world-class facilities support research and teaching across a diverse range of areas designed to fulfil specific activities. The School contains 4,700m2 of purpose-built laboratory space which includes the ANSIN materials research hub, the Ewald Microscopy Facility (EMF) and the Taranis laser facility. The Teaching Centre includes experimental physics laboratories, two large computer rooms and plenty of student study (recently updated) and interaction space. Our laboratories and equipment are looked after by a dedicated team of technicians and are used by our researchers, students and industry.

PhD students can benefit from the new interaction space 'Old Physics Lounge' and the refurbished foyer area of the Maths & Physics Teaching Centre.

Students can benefit from the Nursing Mother and Parents' Room & Quiet Room. This room can be used for quiet reflection which also helps support Neurodivergent Individuals.

PhD students have access to a bookable private office space for quiet work or teams meetings.

Entrance requirements

Graduate The minimum academic requirement for admission to a research programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree from a UK or ROI HE provider, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Further information can be obtained by contacting the School of Mathematics and Physics.

For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country .

Evidence of an IELTS score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required. Taken within the last two years

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs .

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.

Tuition Fees

Northern Ireland (NI) 1 | TBC

Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2 | TBC

England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1 | TBC

EU Other 3 | £28,900

International | £28,900

1 EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled or pre-settled status, are expected to be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident, however this is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly Student Fees Regulations. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB are expected to be charged the GB fee, however this is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly student fees Regulations.

2 It is expected that EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI will be eligible for NI tuition fees. The tuition fee set out above is provisional and subject to the publication of the Northern Ireland Assembly student fees Regulations.

3 EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.

All tuition fees quoted relate to a single year of study unless stated otherwise. All fees will be subject to an annual inflationary increase, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

More information on postgraduate tuition fees .

Physics costs

Depending on the area of research chosen there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees.

Additional course costs

Depending on the programme of study, there may also be other extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies . Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £100 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges. Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen. There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, and library fines. In undertaking a research project students may incur costs associated with transport and/or materials, and there will also be additional costs for printing and binding the thesis. There may also be individually tailored research project expenses and students should consult directly with the School for further information.

Some research programmes incur an additional annual charge on top of the tuition fees, often referred to as a bench fee. Bench fees are charged when a programme (or a specific project) incurs extra costs such as those involved with specialist laboratory or field work. If you are required to pay bench fees they will be detailed on your offer letter. If you have any questions about Bench Fees these should be raised with your School at the application stage. Please note that, if you are being funded you will need to ensure your sponsor is aware of and has agreed to fund these additional costs before accepting your place.

How do I fund my study?

Find PhD opportunities and funded studentships by subject area.

We offer numerous opportunities for funded doctoral study in a world-class research environment. Our centres and partnerships, aim to seek out and nurture outstanding postgraduate research students, and provide targeted training and skills development.

The Government offers doctoral loans of up to £26,445 for PhDs and equivalent postgraduate research programmes for English- or Welsh-resident UK and EU students.

Information on Postgraduate Research scholarships for international students .

The Funding & Scholarship Finder helps prospective and current students find funding to help cover costs towards a whole range of study related expenses.

How to Apply

Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply .

If you're interested in a particular project, we suggest you contact the relevant academic before you apply, to introduce yourself and ask questions.

To find a potential supervisor aligned with your area of interest, or if you are unsure of who to contact, look through the staff profiles linked here .

You might be asked to provide a short outline of your proposal to help us identify potential supervisors.

Download Postgraduate Prospectus

Research areas