The Istituto Ricerche Solari Locarno (IRSOL, Locarno Monti, Switzerland) is currently accepting applications for a postdoctoral position within the project “Measurement for absolute high precision polarimetry” financed by the H2020 project SOLARNET-2.

The aim of the project is to develop a technology that allows to improve the measurement accuracy of the absolute value of polarization signals in high-precision solar spectro-polarimetric observations. A prototype instrument has been developed at IRSOL, which combines a low frequency modulation, effected by rotating a retarder located in front of the telescope, and a high frequency modulation carried out by a high-sensitivity polarimeter located after the telescope. This technology will be developed at IRSOL and will subsequently be tested on larger telescopes such as GREGOR.

The possibility of measuring the absolute value of the polarization with a much higher precision than ever before would represent a major breakthrough in the field of solar spectro-polarimetry, especially regarding the measurement of spectral line polarization.

The IRSOL post-doc successful applicant is expected to lead the project according to the goals of SOLARNET-2 in close interaction with IRSOL staff.

The contract is expected to begin in May 2019 (exact date to be negotiated); it is a two year position with the possibility of applying for renewal.

The announcement, with the information on how to apply, can be found at www.irsol.ch/jobs/