High-Intensity Physics Researcher H/F

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 2026-39924   Division descriptionThe Fundamental Research Division (DRF) of the CEA, present across all the CEA's civilian centers, is tasked with conducting research aligned with the CEA's missions in the fields of physics, chemistry, and life sciences — areas in which its excellence is internationally recognised.
Description de l'unitéThe Interactions, Dynamics and Lasers Laboratory (LIDYL), which is part of the Institute for Radiation-Matter Studies at Saclay (IRAMIS) within the CEA Fundamental Research Division (CEA/DRF), conducts fundamental research on laser–matter interactions in the regime of extremely short timescales and ultra-high intensities (UHI).
In particular, LIDYL operates leading-edge facilities such as ATTOLab (dedicated to ultrafast dynamics studies in gaseous, liquid and solid phases at femtosecond and attosecond timescales) and UHI100 (relativistic optics, secondary radiation generation and particle acceleration).
This second facility includes a 100-TW class Titanium–Sapphire laser, which will soon undergo a major upgrade to reach 200 TW, as well as an experimental hall whose geometry and equipment have been optimised following the development of brand-new premises at the Orme des Merisiers site.
As a state-of-the-art technological installation, UHI200 will provide two intense, ultra-high-contrast and synchronised laser beams.

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This configuration will enable a wide range of experiments in areas such as relativistic plasma-mirror optics and laser-driven particle acceleration in dense and underdense media.
Position descriptionCategoryOptics and OptronicsContractPermanent contractJob titleHigh-Intensity Physics Researcher H/FSocio-professional categoryExecutiveJob descriptionAre you passionate about high-intensity laser–matter interaction and relativistic optics, and eager to contribute to scientific excellence? Join the PHI laboratory (High-Intensity Physics) as a Research Scientist and carry out experimental research at the highest international level.
You will be responsible in particular for developing and optimising plasma mirrors to control extreme light, as well as laser-driven particle sources based on promising approaches.

You will leverage the unique capabilities of the UHI100 platform (a 100-TW class Ti:Sapphire laser whose power will soon be upgraded to 200 TW) at LIDYL, as well as other multi-PW experimental facilities in France and abroad.
While the activity is primarily experimental, it may also include a numerical component.

In all cases, you will benefit from strong support from group members specialised in numerical modelling, who develop their own Particle-In-Cell (PIC) codes designed to fully exploit the capabilities of next-generation supercomputers.
In particular, you will have the opportunity to develop research activities linked to the ERC Synergy project NP-QED (“Probing the Non-Perturbative Regime of Quantum Electrodynamics with Extreme Light”), led by Henri Vincenti, which aims to explore the limits of strong-field quantum electrodynamics (SF-QED).
You will join a leading international research environment within the PHI group.

You will develop innovative research projects, contribute to securing national and European fundings, and take part in the evolution of the UHI100 platform.

The position involves strong interaction with academic and industrial partners, as well as active participation in the group’s scientific life and in the training and supervision of early-career researchers (interns, PhD students and postdoctoral fellows).
Your responsibilities will include:
• Developing an original, world-class experimental research activity in the field of ultra-high-intensity laser–matter interaction, initially connected to the ERC Synergy NP-QED project, leveraging not only the performance of the UHI100 laser platform but also that of other multi-PW laser facilities (Apollon, ELI-NP, etc.).
• Responding to national and international funding calls in order to develop new research projects and help ensure the long-term sustainability of the group’s scientific activity.
• Building and strengthening collaborations at both national and international levels.
• Actively contributing to the scient