STAGE - Atomistic investigation of liquid metals in the context of nuclear accident scenarios H/F

Descrizione del lavoro:

Position description

Category

Physics of the nucleus, atom, molecule

Contract

Internship

Job title

STAGE - Atomistic investigation of liquid metals in the context of nuclear accident scenarios H/F

Subject

Atomistic investigation of liquid metals in the context of nuclear accident scenarios

Contract duration (months)

6

Job description

In the context of nuclear accident scenarios, liquid mixtures may form, containing uranium, zirconium, and elements from structural materials and the reactor vessel (such as steel). Understanding the relationship between the properties of these mixtures-particularly their viscosity-and their structural characteristics is therefore crucial.

Atomistic investigations have already been conducted on liquid uranium-zirconium mixtures, successfully establishing predictive models for these relationships. The approach used relies on developing machine-learning interatomic potentials based on ab initio calculations, which are then employed to perform large-scale classical molecular dynamics simulations. However, the lack of experimental data for these specific compositions makes it challenging to validate the proposed methodology.

During this internship, you will focus on simulating compositions that remain relevant to nuclear accident scenarios-such as zirconium-nickel or zirconium-iron-but have been more thoroughly studied experimentally. The goal is to directly compare model predictions (e.g., thermal expansion, liquid structure, and atomic diffusion) with available experimental measurements.

Your work will contribute to validating the methodologies used for simulating liquid mixtures, thereby enhancing their reliability for nuclear safety applications.

Methods / Means

Density Functional Theory (VASP), Classical molecular dynamics (LAMMPS), ML interatomic potentials

Applicant Profile

We are seeking for a Master's degree student (M2/Bac+5/Engineering school) specializing in materials science. Basic knowledge in solid state physics, statistical mechanics, or nuclear engineering would be appreciated, but is not required.

This 6-month internship is part of the DIADEM-PEPR national project, and is designed for highly motivated candidates.

The intern will have the opportunity to collaborate closely with PhD students in our laboratory, as well as external researchers, fostering a dynamic and enriching research environment.

Position location

Site

Cadarache

Job location

France, Provence-Côte d'Azur, Bouches du Rhône (13)

Location

Saint-Paul Lez Durance

Candidate criteria

Languages

English (Fluent)

Prepared diploma

Bac+5 - Diplôme École d'ingénieurs

Recommended training

Materials science, computational physics

PhD opportunity

Oui

Requester

Position start date

02/02/2026