Description

This PhD project aims to develop an ab initio , bottom-up description of low-energy nucleus-antinucleus interactions to enable reliable modeling of cosmic ray signals relevant to dark matter. We will compute scattering, atomic level shifts/widths, and annihilation observables, with a flagship focus on deuteron-antideuteron collisions and extensions to light p-shell nuclei. By separating sequential vs simultaneous annihilation and propagating uncertainties from NN and NbarN N interactions, we will deliver validated nuclear inputs for experiments (PUMA/ALICE) and astroparticle applications. A dedicated work package will transfer these microscopic constraints into the INCL reaction model code to improve antideuteron annihilation and will allow to transition towards reaction mechanisms across a wide range of energy. This two-way theory-simulation loop will provide the nuclear data and modeling tools needed to interpret future cosmic-ray antinuclei searches.

Skills required

The candidate must have a degree equivalent to a Master in subatomic/quantum/condensed matter physics. The post requires sound knowledge in theoretical physics, computing and High-Performance Computing (HPC), a high level of communication skills, both oral and written (English required, French courses are provided to candidate from abroad) to be able to present at conferences and write scientific articles for publication in refereed journals. We are looking for a PhD fellow who will be able to become fully involved with the project, eager to learn, with a degree of independence thinking and strong motivation to develop skills in research as well as the required technical skills computing/HPC etc... In addition, the candidate must be able to work in a team.

Bibliography

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and outlook for the new decade. Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics 2020,
035–035 (2020).
[3] Aumann, T. et al. PUMA, antiProton unstable matter annihilation: PUMA collaboration.
European Physical Journal A 58, 88 (2022).
[4] Acharya, S. et al. Study of the ?–? interaction with femtoscopy correlations in pp and
p–Pb collisions at the LHC. Physics Letters B 797, 134822 (2019).
[5] Amsler, C. et al. Antiproton annihilation at rest in thin solid targets and comparison
with Monte Carlo simulations. The European Physical Journal A 60, 225 (2024).
[6] Schupp, F. et al. Probing small neutron skin variations in isotope pairs by hyperonantihyperon
production in antiproton-nucleus interactions. Phys. Rev. C 111, 064610
(2025).
[7] Gaps collaboration. https://gaps1.astro.ucla.edu/gaps/.
[8] Zharenov, D. Interaction of antiprotons with nuclear matter within the INCL model.
(2023).
[9] Geant4 software. https://geant4-userdoc.web.cern.ch/.
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[11] Acharya, S. et al. Measurement of anti-3He nuclei absorption in matter and impact on
their propagation in the Galaxy. Nat. Phys. 19, 61–71 (2023). Physics 2024, 6, 206–215.

Keywords

nuclear physics, antimatter-matter interaction