A three-year PhD scholarship is available at DTU Space, with start date September 1st 2010 or as soon as possible thereafter on the following subject:

Relativistic electrons in electric discharges
The position, which is funded by The Danish Council for Independent Research | Natural Sciences, is related to a mission planned for the International Space Station: “The Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor” (ASIM) for observations of extreme thunderstorms and their influence on the atmosphere. ASIM is led by DTU Space in collaboration with the Danish company Terma.

The project will study, how electrons are accelerated to relativistic energies in electric discharges in the atmosphere. The question has been raised after the surprising observations from satellite of high-energy radiation from the atmosphere above powerful thunderstorms, later followed by the discovery of radiation from lightning and from laboratory discharges. It is now understood that the radiation is bremsstrahlung from electrons that are accelerated to unexpected high energies. The acceleration process is not understood but is interesting because it influences the dynamics of the discharges and their effect on the atmosphere.

The microphysics of discharges is relatively unexplored because of its complexities. DTU Space has developed numerical methods to study the phenomenon with very high precision of the electron dynamics. These will be used to study the conditions for electrons to reach high energies and their influence on the discharge dynamics. The simulations will be evaluated relative to measurements from laboratory experiments.

Qualifications
Candidates should have a master's degree in engineering or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to the master's degree in engineering.

A PhD student is sought with good background in physics and numerical methods. The study will be conducted in collaboration with researchers at the Technical University of Eindhoven, Holland, and the Russian Federal Nuclear Center – VNIIEF, Sarov, Russia.

Approval and Enrolment
The study will be under the DTU Space PhD network “Space Science and Technology” www.space-phd.dk/English.aspx
The scholarships for the PhD degree are subject to academic approval, and the candidates will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes of DTU. For information about the general requirements for enrolment and the general planning of the scholarship studies, please see the DTU PhD Guide

Salary and appointment terms
The salary and appointment terms are consistent with the current rules for PhD degree students. The period of employment is 3 years.

The study will be based on the DTU Space “south” office, Juliane Maries Vej 30, close to downtown Copenhagen. The student will organizationally be under the Department of Solar System Physics.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Department Chair Torsten Neubert, tel. +45 3532 57231

Application
We must have your online application by 28 June 2010. Please open the link "apply for this job online" and fill in the application form and attach your application and CV. The material that should be given consideration in the assessment must be attached.

DTU Space encourages applications from students who expect to complete their masters degree before September 1st 2010 with a score that fulfils the requirements.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.