POST-DOCTORAL POSITION AT CEA

Atomistic modeling of the impact of magnetism on thermodynamic and diffusion properties of Fe-Cr-C alloys

CEA Saclay – DEN/DANS/DMN/SRMP

A 24-month post-doctoral position is available, from October 2017, at the physical
metallurgy laboratory of CEA Saclay (SRMP: Service de Recherches de Métallurgie Physique).
The Fe-Cr and Fe-Cr-C systems are model alloys of ferritic/martensitic steels, which are
proposed as structural materials for future fission and fusion nuclear reactors. Depending on
their temperature, composition and microstructure, Fe-Cr-C alloys can be paramagnetic or
ferromagnetic. The magnetic state is known to be an essential physical parameter of the
phase equilibria and the properties of point defects, such as the formation and migration
energies of vacancies and self-interstitials. Therefore it affects a broad range of thermal and
transport properties involving diffusion, segregation and precipitation occurring in alloys at
high temperatures and under irradiation.

The objective of the project is to develop an effective interaction model, based on first
principle calculations, providing with a precise description of the effect of the atomic
magnetic configuration on the point defect properties (vacancies, self-interstitials and
carbon atoms) in Fe-Cr alloys. This model will be implemented in atomistic kinetic Monte
Carlo simulations taking explicitly into account the evolution of the magnetic and chemical
degrees of freedom, to study the effect of the ferro/paramagnetic transition on the diffusion
coefficients of Fe, Cr and C atoms or the kinetics of Cr segregation and precipitation.

The project will be within the framework of the European program M4F (Multiscale
modeling for fusion and fission materials), in collaboration with several groups and especially
with the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy.

The salary will be around 3100€ per month.

We are looking for a well-motivated post-doctoral researcher, with strong skills in atomistic
modelling of materials and a solid background in statistical physics. A good knowledge on
programming is also required.

Interested candidates will submit by email an application letter, a detailed CV including a list
of publications and two reference names.

Contact persons

Frédéric Soisson
CEA Saclay
DEN/DANS/DMN/SRMP
91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex
Tel : + 33 1 69 08 27 67
[email protected]

Chu-Chun Fu
CEA Saclay
DEN/DANS/DMN/SRMP
91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex
Tel : + 33 1 69 08 29 32
[email protected]