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Large scale simulation and machine learning in nucleon structure


Thesis topic details

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-26-0499  

Direction

DRF

Thesis topic details

Category

Miscellaneous

Thesis topics

Large scale simulation and machine learning in nucleon structure

Contract

Thèse

Job description

The PhD proposal investigates the nucleon’s three-dimensional structure using Generalized Parton Distributions (GPDs). GPDs give access to the spatial distribution of quarks and gluons, the energy-momentum tensor, and thus information on spin, internal pressure, and mass. Two main challenges arise: scarce exclusive experimental data and the high cost of precise lattice-QCD simulated observables. The project comprises two parts: (I) generate new lattice-QCD simulations of GPD moments, improve algorithms, and perform continuum extrapolations; (II) create machine-learning tools to tackle the ill-posed inverse problem and conduct global fits that combine experimental and simulated data. The work will be carried out at the European Joint Virtual Lab AIDAS shared between Julich Forschungszentrum (Germany) and CEA (France), with equal time spent in each country. Required skills include quantum field theory, object-oriented programming (C++, Python), and high-performance computing. The ultimate goal is the first reliable extraction of the nucleon’s 3-D structure, informing future facilities such as the EIC and EicC.

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

Mezrag Cédric cedric.mezrag@cea.fr
CEA
DRF/IRFU/DPhN/LSN
CEA Saclay - IRFU/DPhN
Bat. 703
91191 Gif-sur-Yvette

Tutor / Responsible thesis director

Moutarde Hervé herve.moutarde@cea.fr
CEA
DRF/IRFU/DPhN
IRFU, CEA, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
33 1 69 08 32 06

En savoir plus


https://irfu.cea.fr/Phocea/Vie_des_labos/Ast/ast_groupe.php?id_groupe=4189
https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/jsc/about-us/structure/divisions/hpc4qs