Monash Physics Alumnus - Cameron Kewish

Cam in front of the APS experiment hall

Degree: PhD
Year completed: 2004
Thesis title: Aspects of X-ray Diffraction and Refraction Tomography
Job: Postdoc - 1 year (+ renewable contract)
Institution: Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, U.S.A.
Details: Simulation of hard X-ray nanofocusing by elliptical mirrors

Work

I am working with the Optics Fabrication & Metrology group at the Advanced Photon Source (APS). My job primarily involves the acquisition and analyses of metrology data on X-ray optical surfaces and lenses, which are designed to focus hard X-rays into the smallest possible focal spot.

A synchrotron nanoprobe beamline here at the APS uses “Kirkpatrick-Baez” (K-B) mirrors to focus X-rays, with the ultimate aim of analysing samples on a nanometer length scale. My research has involved writing a new computer program to simulate the focusing performance of the K-B mirrors, which are produced here by the APS Optics group. My simulations, based on wave optics theory, are being used to quantitatively relate the mirror surface roughness measurements (obtained using laser light) to the X-ray focusing performance of the mirrors on the nanoprobe beamline. Currently I am working on improvements to my K-B mirror simulations and I am also writing a new wave-optical simulation of the focusing of X-rays by refractive lenses.

I have always enjoyed physics because I like solving problems, and my positive experiences working at a synchrotron facility during my PhD research inspired me to want to continue in this field. Working at the APS is great, because I have the opportunity to work on current problems of interest to the synchrotron research community, and to interact with experts from all over the world.

My life

When I arrived in the US just before New Year, it was freezing cold and I think everyone was hibernating, but when the snow thawed Chicago came to life. There is so much to see and do in this city if you have the time - I've seen the "local sports teams" in action (Chicago Bulls and Whitesox), and we've just had Independence Day fireworks and the Tastes Of Chicago food festival. Particularly close to my interests (as I still enjoy ballroom dancing socially even though I stopped teaching it when I left Melbourne) is the Summer Dance festival which continues for the next couple of months. When time allows I'm planning a future trip to Disney World at some stage, and a holiday to the Mayan Riviera near Cancun in Mexico hopefully before the end of the year.

I'm hoping my “postdoc” experience will start me off on a great career in synchrotron research, because I have really enjoyed this work so far. And, I am excited about the new synchrotron which is being built near Monash. My personal goal is to come back and work at the Australian light source in the not-too-distant future.