Le lundi 6 décembre 2021, Emeline Van Der Beken présentera l'examen en vue de l’obtention du grade académique de Docteur en Sciences (Collège de doctorat en Physique) sous la direction de Thierry Bastin.

Cette épreuve consistera en la défense publique d’une dissertation intitulée :

« Numerical modelling of hydrogen maser physics in the context of space applications ».

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to perform original and innovative studies on the physical package of a hydrogen maser in order to define the guidelines of the design and to propose a concrete implementation scheme that takes into account the desired performances, as well as constraints imposed by the space environment. We develop finite element method models of a magnetron cavity and we benchmark them against an existing cavity. We then carry out a study of the residual and static magnetic fields within the bulb of a hydrogen maser. Afterwards, we perform Monte-Carlo simulations of the hydrogen beam optics system used to implement the state selection that generates a population inversion within the bulb. We determine an acceptable
range of distances between the storage bulb entrance and the state selector output. At last, we report the theoretical study of the molecular hydrogen source and radio-frequency dissociator for a spaceborne hydrogen maser.

Le Jury sera composé de :

G. LUMAY (Président), MM. T. BASTIN (Promoteur), B. BERTRAND (Royal Observatory of Belgium), J. MARTIN (Secrétaire), G. MILETI (Université de Neuchâtel), P. SCHLAGHECK.