Postdoctoral Position in Astronomical Instrumentation for the PLANETES Project

PLANETES, recently funded by the European Research Council, aims to advance exoplanet science by pushing the limits of the VLT Interferometer (VLTI). This instrumental project is directly aligned with the ongoing upgrade of the VLTI infrastructure, including the recent commissioning of GRAVITY+ (https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2519/). The project addresses technological challenges critical to the next generation of interferometric instruments: development of photonic components for shorter wavelengths; on-sky testing of a new large-format APD detector; and implementation of a novel metrology system to enable microarcsecond astrometry. Over the duration of the project, we plan to validate the concept at the Paranal Observatory in Chile. More details on the project are available here: https://exogravity.obspm.fr/planetes

A postdoctoral position, based at ESO Headquarters in Garching, Germany, is offered to support this project. The successful candidate will focus on the development and validation of the new metrology system while working in close collaboration with the PLANETES team and ESO experts. The postdoctoral researcher will join the research group and report to the PLANETES Project Manager and to the ESO Head of the Office for Science in Garching. The postdoctoral supervisor will be the PLANETES Principal Investigator, Sylvestre Lacour, based at ESO Headquarters in Garching.

The researcher’s main responsibility will be to develop, integrate (at Paranal), and test the new metrology system, including the following tasks:

• Implement a metrology test bench, including installation of an ultra-stable ytterbium laser and integration with long single-mode fibres.
• Demonstrate nanometre-level optical-path measurements and vibration-correction capabilities under realistic conditions.
• Work with VLTI specialists to adapt the bench design into a deployable system for the Paranal Auxiliary Telescopes.
• Specify optical and electronic subsystems and assess operational aspects for long-term deployment.
• Participate in the installation, commissioning, and performance validation of the system at the Paranal Observatory.
• Pursue independent research, preferably in areas related to optical metrology, interferometry, or astronomical instrumentation.

Qualifications and experience

Key competencies and experience include at least three years in the development of instrumentation for optical metrology, long-baseline interferometry, or, more generally, optical instrumentation for astronomy. Required are expertise in operating and handling lasers and optical systems—particularly those related to interferometry—experience in optical assembly, alignment and experimental characterisation, and proficiency in Python for developing analysis and simulation tools for optical instrumentation. Understanding of optical-interferometry principles applied to astronomy is considered an asset.

The successful candidate will hold a completed PhD in astronomy, physics, or optical instrumentation, ideally with a specialisation in optical interferometry, prior to taking up the position. An excellent command of English, both written and spoken, is required.

Location

The position is based in Garching near Munich, Germany, with duty trips to the Paranal Observatory in Chile.