Complexity: applied nonlinear science
(key staff: McDonald, Christian, Boardman, Sandiford and Chadwick)
Analyses of new phenomena involving non-linear wave propagation in materials science contexts. Work draws on general concepts such as fractals, spatiotemporal solitons, vortices [1], patterns and chaos. Analytical work both addresses real-world problems and extends understanding to new potential domains of application. Full-scale numerical modelling accompanies theoretical investigations.
- Non-linear waves (e.g. fluid, optical and elastic)
- Mathematical fluid dynamics: Oseen, potential and Navier-Stokes flow
- Theory and modelling of information and population systems
- General modelling of peristaltic mechanisms in physical systems
- New understandings and predictions of fractal pattern formation
Atomistic materials modelling
(key staff: Morrison, Bull, Barnes, Oates, Roach and Ross)
First principles of atomistic modelling and prediction of materials properties. The atomistic simulation of structure and dynamics is used to understand and design complex materials with optimal properties.
New hydrogen storage materials for mobile applications. See, for example, the HyTrain and the NESSHY (Novel Efficient Solid Storage for H2) websites.
Structure and dynamics of molecular solids (e.g. ice and biotech solids)
Magnetic phase transitions induced by hydrogen
Thermodynamical and biomolecular properties
Lasers and photonics theory
(key staff: McDonald, Christian, Boardman and Yates)
Non-linear material effects (Raman, magneto-optical, surface wave, metamaterial, band gap and others) exploited in diverse contexts such as laser and device design, waveguides, medical physics and optical fibres.
Atomic collisions in solids and ion beam physics
(key staff: van den Berg, Donnelly and Armour)
- Single-ion impacts on surfaces and of embedded nano-clusters
- Growth and annealing of near-surface implant damage, relevant to the formation of ultra-shallow junctions in Si CMOS devices and ion beam film deposition
- Nano-cavities for gettering of metallic impurities in microelectronic devices
- High current beam plasmas and the development of ion sources delivering high ion currents at low energies
Chemical physics and biomaterials
(key staff: Sheel, Boag, Hughes, Faunce, Barnes and Yates)
- Growth and properties of thin films including new CVD processes
- Synthesis of transition metal and main group chemical vapour deposition precursors
- Hydrogen-bonded crystal systems with nonlinear optical properties
- ‘Photonic’ band gap materials based on synthetic opals and related materials that are prepared via self-assembly
- Colloidal crystals, physics of colloidal dispersions and polymorphism
- Membrane Reactors. Enhanced oil recovery and flare gas utilisation
- Advanced surface functionalisation to achieve enhanced and smart surfaces with self-cleaning, anti-bacterial and optical activity
Structural analysis and functional material properties
(key staff: Kilcoyne, Donnelly, Roach and Ross)
- Dynamics of nanomaterials and light metal deuterides: coherent inelastic neutron scattering
- Magnetostrictive materials for actuator applications in e.g. aeronautics
- Processing of mica glass ceramics to create synthetic biomaterials
- Porous silicon for drug delivery
- Magnetisation, susceptibility and Mossbauer spectroscopy methods
- Large-scale Central Facilities usage: x-ray, neutron and muon techniques
- Processes in glasses and alloys of scientific, technological and biomedical relevance: phase formations, transformations and crystallisation
Magnetism and nanomaterials
(key staff: Shen, Grundy, Jones, Kilcoyne and Mellors)
- Magnetic, electronic and structural properties of novel and potentially applicable (nano-) materials
- Magnetic properties of metallic alloys, amorphous materials, biological nanomagnets and superconductors
- Electrodeposited nano-wire systems embedded in anodic aluminium oxide
- Thin film and bulk materials for information storage, sensing and actuation applications
- Novel nano-crystalline magnetic phases formed from amorphous precursors
Experimental applied optics
(key staff: Pilkington, Cowpe, Hill and Yates)
- Tandem optical emission spectroscopy and mass spectrometry; laser-plasma and laser-material interactions
- Photovoltaic materials, e.g. copper ternary and quaternary compounds as solar energy converters
- Material characterisation using laser-induced-breakdown (LIB) spectroscopy
- General developments of LIB spectroscopy techniques
- Solar cells and photo-active materials
- Nano-materials with novel optical properties (e.g. self-assembling 3D photonic crystals)
- Vacuum technologies: e.g. coupling optical fibre bundles into vacuum systems
- Photosensitivity of optical fibres and other glass specimens
- Phase modulated real-time holographic techniques for optical materials characterisation
Stellar physics & space technology
(key staff: Robinson and Bennett)
Theoretical solid mechanics
(key staff: Sandiford)
Theoretical investigation of the dynamic response of elastic structures, especially when subject to external load. A powerful combination of numerical and asymptotic techniques is deployed.
