Category: News

Responsibility for the Pre-Stabilized Laser (PSL) subsystem within the Virgo project, including the development, installation, and maintenance of the laser system at the detector site. Participation in laser developments for third-generation gravitational-wave detectors is also envisioned. The individual will be part of the "Lasers and Cavities" team and assigned to the Virgo project. Application deadline May 13th 2026.

The Research Engineer will primarily take full charge of the PSL subsystem, which involves: Implementing laser system upgrade projects: (i) designing and testing new laser systems in accordance with Virgo upgrade projects; (ii) planning different project phases; (iii) installing and maintaining laser systems used by the interferometer on-site.
Participating in the commissioning of the detector.
Conducting missions to the experiment site in Pisa, Italy, and participating in meetings for the Virgo Collaboration / VirgoLab / International Gravitational-wave Network (IGWN). Contributing to developments regarding future laser systems for 3rd generation gravitational-wave detectors. The Research Engineer may also provide technical support for experimental studies within the “Lasers and Cavities” team concerning 3rd generation detectors: Work on quantum aspects in detectors, including the demonstration of quantum radiation pressure noise and the generation of “bright squeezing”. Generation and control of higher-order propagation modes for the reduction of internal thermal noise in mirrors. Study of parametric instabilities that limit power increases in advanced detectors and implementing methods to eliminate them.

Please find here full details.

There will be a permanent research engineer position at the ARTEMIS Laboratory, Nice, France. The main responsibility for this position will be the Virgo laser. The application process will open soon, but interested candidates should contact
Nelson Christensen <nelson.christensen (at) oca.eu>
or Oualid Chaibi <walid.chaibi (at) oca.eu>
for more information. The job description is below.
In addition, there is a temporary (6 month) position (application until may 13th) also available, also for the Virgo laser. Again, contact Walid or Nelson for more details.

JOB PROFILE

Unit Description

• Unit Code: UMR7250
• Unit Name: ARTEMIS
• Director: Nelson CHRISTENSEN
• City: Nice
• Regional Delegation: 20 – Côte d’Azur
• Institute: CNRS Engineering

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JobDescription

• BAP (Professional Activity Branch): C (Sciences of Matter Engineering and Chemical Instrumentation)
• Corps: Research Engineer (M/F)
• Job Category (Emploi-type): C1B42 – Expert in experimentation development

Mission

• Responsibility for the Pre-Stabilized Laser (PSL) subsystem within the Virgo project, including the development, installation, and maintenance of the laser system at the detector site.
• Participation in laser developments for third-generation gravitational-wave detectors is also envisioned.
• The individual will be part of the “Lasers and Cavities” team and assigned to the Virgo project.

Activities The Research Engineer will primarily take full charge of the PSL subsystem, which involves:

• Implementing laser system upgrade projects: (i) designing and testing new laser systems in accordance with Virgo upgrade projects; (ii) planning different project phases; (iii) installing and maintaining laser systems used by the interferometer on-site.
• Participating in the commissioning of the detector.
• Conducting missions to the experiment site in Pisa, Italy, and participating in meetings for the Virgo Collaboration / VirgoLab / International Gravitational-wave Network (IGWN).
• Contributing to developments regarding future laser systems for 3rd generation gravitational-wave detectors.

The Research Engineer may also provide technical support for experimental studies within the “Lasers and Cavities” team concerning 3rd generation detectors:

• Work on quantum aspects in detectors, including the demonstration of quantum radiation pressure noise and the generation of “bright squeezing”.
• Generation and control of higher-order propagation modes for the reduction of internal thermal noise in mirrors.
• Study of parametric instabilities that limit power increases in advanced detectors and implementing methods to eliminate them.

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Skills

Main Competencies

• The candidate (holding an engineering degree or a PhD in physics or applied physics) must demonstrate skills in interferometric optics and in-depth knowledge of metrology.
• Appreciated knowledge and practice in:
• Photonics/Lasers
• Analog and digital electronics
• Signal processing
• Interfacing experimental setups
• Drafting scientific procedure documents & project management

Professional Environment Knowledge

• Safety, specifically laser safety.

Operational Know-how

• Cleanroom work and particulate contamination control.

Language Skills

• Proficiency in English (reading, speaking, writing) is required; drafting documents in English will be recurrent.
• Proficiency in French is appreciated.

Soft Skills

• Frequent teamwork with researchers, technicians, and engineers from ARTEMIS, the Côte d’Azur Observatory, and Virgo collaboration partners.
• Participation in frequent meetings with collaboration partners and industrial actors.

Tools – Software Used

• Optical design software (notably Zemax), structural and thermal calculation software (ANSYS, COMSOL), and interfacing software (Labview).

Evolution Trends

• The primary evolution will be effective participation in the construction of the Einstein Telescope project following its acceptance by European authorities.

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Context

The ARTEMIS laboratory was created around the theme of gravitational waves and their detection, contributing to the Virgo, LISA, Einstein Telescope, and MIGA projects. The laboratory was a pioneer in developing the Virgo detector in Pisa, Italy, which, alongside the American LIGO detectors, has contributed to numerous gravitational-wave observations. For instance, in the case of detection GW170817, the precision of the source direction estimation obtained with three detectors allowed for the observation of optical counterparts, enabling the identification of the wave’s source.

Within the Advanced Virgo+ project, the laboratory is responsible for the high-power laser source circulating in the giant 3 km interferometer. This is the framework for recruiting a Research Engineer specialized in laser interferometry. The recruit will work in an environment ranging from interferometer physics to gravitational-wave source detection, compact object astrophysics, modeling, cosmology, metrology, and laser stabilization.

The work will be conducted within the “Lasers and Cavities” team, which is responsible for the PSL sub-system, integrated into the ARTEMIS Virgo group and the newly established VirgoLab structure.