Role at ANSTO
Dr Tessa Charles is a staff accelerator physicist at the Australian Synchrotron. Her research interests include next generation light source design, optics correction techniques, beam quality preservation, and compact accelerators for cultural heritage.
Expertise
Accelerator Physics, Beam Dynamics, particle tracking and simulation tools (Elegant, MAD-X), Python, particle trajectory caustics, bunch compression, Coherent Synchrotron Radiation (CSR), CSR cancellation, microbunching instability.
Dr Charles completed her PhD at Monash University in 2016 for developing non-linear beam dynamics models which she applied to an X-band FEL linac. She moved to Switzerland in 2017 to work in the Beam Department at CERN, where she worked on the optics corrections for the e+/e- Future Circular Collider (FCC-ee). In 2020 she moved to the Cockcroft Institute in the UK, to become a Lecturer of Accelerator Physics at the University of Liverpool. Then in 2024 she returned to Australia to take up the role of accelerator physicist at the Australian Synchrotron.
Qualifications & Achievements
- UKRI Basic Technology for Imaging and Sensing grant, CI (2022)
- Ogden Trust Physics Education Award, CI (2021)
- Greg Le Blanc Memorial Prize for a Significant Contribution to Particle Accelerators (2019)
- Victoria Fellowship (2018)
- Faculty of Science Award for Outstanding Contribution by a Graduate Student (2015)
- Distinguished Performance Award, international Accelerator School for Linear Colliders (2012)
- PhD in accelerator physics, Monash University (2016)
- BEng with Honours (mechanical), First-class honours (2011)
- BSc (double major in physics) (2011)
Committees, Affiliations & memberships
- FCC Week 2024 Scientific Advisory Committee (2024)
- IPAC25 Scientific Advisory Board (2024 - 2025)
- Board member, STFC Facilities and Labs Science (2023 - 2026)
- Topic Organiser and co-convenor, AccelApp24, JLAB (2024)
- Scientific Program Committee for Optics Tuning and Corrections Workshop, CERN (2023)
- Chair, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) committee, Cockcroft Institute (2021 - 2023)
- Faculty Ethics Committee, University of Liverpool (2021 - 2022)
- Local Organising Committee, LINAC2022 conference (2022)
- Local Organising Committee, FCC workshop (2022)
- Institute of Physics (IOP) Particle Accelerators and Beams Group committee member (2020 - 2024)
- Academic Standards Committee, HDR representative, Monash University (2015 - 2017)
- Convenor, Faculty of Science Postgraduate Committee, (2014 - 2016)