Zoe is based in the Gemini laser while pursuing her Masters in Physics and Astrophysics at the University of Bath. She chose to do a placement year after speaking to her classmates who had completed one, and felt it would be a great way to add to her learning experience. The applications of laser science in astrophysics and plasma science as well as the sense of community within the CLF team inspired her to join the department.
Zoe spends time both in the Gemini labs and completing her own research on the upcoming projects she will be involved in. At the moment she is assisting with a laser wakefield experiment, where a laser is shone at a target to turn it into a plasma, creating wakefields inside it. These wakefields can be used as a type of accelerator to transfer the energy to electrons. Her task is to probe the main laser beams with other lasers to get a closer view at what is going on inside the facility.
Compared to university, Zoe has found the fixed structure of the working day preferable as it has allowed her to relax and enjoy her free time more. She said, “I’ve loved playing a part in purposeful research and knowing that I’m making important contributions to the development of Gemini. I’ve never been involved with anything like this before and it has been so interesting to follow my scientific intuition rather than just following a lab script. It’s such a different experience.”
After her degree, Zoe believes she will seek out a role in industry while she decides if she would like to look into postgraduate study.
