General information
            
            
                
                
                
                    
                        Organisation
                    
                    The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) is a key player in research, development and innovation in four main areas :
• defence and security,
• nuclear energy (fission and fusion),
• technological research for industry,
• fundamental research in the physical sciences and life sciences.
Drawing on its widely acknowledged expertise, and thanks to its 16000 technicians, engineers, researchers and staff, the CEA actively participates in collaborative projects with a large number of academic and industrial partners.
The CEA is established in ten centers spread throughout France
  
                
                
                    
                        Reference
                    
                    SL-DRF-26-0292  
                
        
                
                
                
                
             
	Direction
DRF
Thesis topic details
	Category
Theoretical physics
	Thesis topics
Exotic shape of the nucleus: decay spectroscopy of neutron-deficient actinides with the detector SEASON
	Contract
Thèse
	Job description
	The question of the limit of stability of nuclei, both in terms of proton/neutron asymmetry and in terms of mass, is an important open question in modern nuclear physics. In the region of heavy nuclei, the neutron-deficient actinides present a great interest. Indeed, strong octupolar deformation, giving a pear shape to the nuclei, are predicted and have event been already observed in some isotopes. These deformations seem to play a key role for nuclear stability, for nuclear decay modes, and may also be related to physics beyond the standard model. The main goal oh this thesis will be to pursue the systematic study of these deformations by making use of the brand-new SEASON detector, whose first experiment will take place at the University of Jyväskylä (Finland) in February 2026. The thesis will focus on the analysis of data from the experimental campaign that will occur in summer 2026. Several experiments are foreseen, making use of different beam-target combinations to produce actinides by fusion-evaporation reaction. These actinides will then be sent inside SEASON to perform their decay spectroscopy. Depending on the plannings, another campaign could be scheduled at Jyväskylä in 2027. Finally, the return of the instrument in France to be set up at GANIL-Spiral2 (Caen) coupled to the S3 spectrometer will certainly take place this the thesis period.
The thesis can be co-directed by the university of Jyväskylä.
 
	University / doctoral school
PHENIICS (PHENIICS)
Paris-Saclay
Thesis topic location
	Site
Saclay
Requester
	Position start date
01/10/2026
	Person to be contacted by the applicant
THISSE Damien  damien.thisse@cea.fr
 damien.thisse@cea.fr
CEA
DRF/IRFU/DPHN/LENA
CEA Saclay
 
 
	Tutor / Responsible thesis director
VANDEBROUCK Marine  marine.vandebrouck@cea.fr
 marine.vandebrouck@cea.fr
CEA
DRF/IRFU/DPhN
CEA Saclay
 
 
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