Models for stopping of projectiles in quantum one-dimensional systems
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
The understanding of radiation damage in matter (from materials to living tissue) is important for addressing different problems in society, including the safe storage of nuclear waste (the one we already have), the design of new materials for nuclear fusion installations, improving the resilience to cosmic rays of materials for the aerospace industry, and the improvement of radiotherapy.
There is a long history of research in the physics of processes related to high-velocity projectiles traversing matter, in particular the effect on the electrons in matter, up to the recent simulation of such processes in real materials from first principles. The most powerful paradigms for understanding these processes for ions of intermediate velocities (around one hundredth of the speed of light) are however limited either to linear-response theory or to the homogeneous electron liquid as target. In this project we propose the development and exploration of new simple models for a constant-velocity projectile in a periodic solid (metal or insulator) making use of the translational symmetry in space-time present in the problem. We will start with one dimensional target systems, that display a peculiar response and therefore especially challenging to today's basic models.
There is a long history of research in the physics of processes related to high-velocity projectiles traversing matter, in particular the effect on the electrons in matter, up to the recent simulation of such processes in real materials from first principles. The most powerful paradigms for understanding these processes for ions of intermediate velocities (around one hundredth of the speed of light) are however limited either to linear-response theory or to the homogeneous electron liquid as target. In this project we propose the development and exploration of new simple models for a constant-velocity projectile in a periodic solid (metal or insulator) making use of the translational symmetry in space-time present in the problem. We will start with one dimensional target systems, that display a peculiar response and therefore especially challenging to today's basic models.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Emilio Artacho (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Nicolo Forcellini (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509620/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2022 | |||
| 1805366 | Studentship | EP/N509620/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2020 | Nicolo Forcellini |
| Description | We developed a novel theoretical model that describes electronic excitations due to projectiles in solids, which can help the modelling and the description of the initial stages of radiation damage in materials. The theory allowed for the analysis and an interpretation of threshold effects in the electronic stopping of ions in insulating materials, which is hard to interpret using previous models. A practical formulation of his theory that would allow implementation into first-principles code for calculations is currently being finalised. |
| Exploitation Route | Simulation of radiation damage in materials with first-principles methods, strongly non-equilibrium processes in solids. Applications in materials science, fundamental theoretical research for out-of-equilibrium quantum systems. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Electronics,Energy,Environment,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |