Research output per year
Research output per year
Dr
Accepting PhD Students
PhD projects
Title: Development of automated plasma accelerators with machine learning algorithms
Plasma accelerators have the potential to revolutionise particle accelerator technology due to their extremely high accelerating fields and short pulse durations. Harnessing data-driven algorithms to optimise plasma accelerators will enable them to reach their full potential by controlling the highly non-linear plasma physics at their core. This 4-year, fully funded PhD project will aim to build experimental tools for the automatic optimisation of plasma accelerators combining hands-on experimental work with the development of robust data handling, analysis, and modelling tools using cutting-edge machine learning algorithms.
The software tools developed during this project will include control of the properties of a high-power, ultra-short laser pulse and the plasma target with which it interacts. Real-time analysis of the experimental diagnostics will be used to build machine learning models of the accelerator performance, and then to guide the optimisation of the interaction to produce particle beams ideally suited to their applications. During the project, the student will join a team of international researchers to perform these experiments at facilities including Central Laser Facility near Oxford and new ZEUS laser at Michigan University.
The developments of this project will be used to enhance the utility of plasma accelerators at the Extreme Photonics Application Centre (EPAC), a newly constructed £82M STFC facility. The generated particle beams will be used for novel scientific and industrial applications such as ultra-fast x-ray spectroscopy and radiobiology, rapid x-ray tomography and gamma-ray imaging in collaboration with applications experts.
In addition to the code development and experiments, the PhD student will also travel to international schools and conferences (to share their results with the community through poster and oral presentations) and perform computer simulations to support experimental planning and data analysis. This PhD will provide the student with broad research experience and a suite of highly transferable skills for research and industry.
Location: Flexible between Queen's University Belfast and the UK Central Laser Facility (CLF) - at least one year to be spent at the CLF over the PhD duration.
Research activity per year
Dr. Streeter investigates the interaction of high power lasers with matter, particularly with the aim of developing plasma accelerators for a wide range of applications. He has pioneered the implementation of automation and machine learning in laser-plasma interactions, using Bayesian optimisation and neural networks to enhance the properties of the generated particle beams.
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Streeter, M. (Creator), Zenodo, 06 Jan 2023
Dataset
Streeter, M. (Creator), Zenodo, 03 Nov 2020
Dataset
Streeter, M. (Creator), Queen's University Belfast, 08 Oct 2022
Dataset
Streeter, M. (Recipient), 27 Sept 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Streeter, M. (Recipient), 01 Dec 2023
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Streeter, M. (Peer reviewer)
Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Publication peer-review
Streeter, M. (Peer reviewer)
Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Publication peer-review
Streeter, M. (Recipient)
Activity: Other activity types › Other
Streeter, M. (Advisor)
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited or keynote talk at national or international conference
Streeter, M. (Advisor)
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation