ITER

Mechanical Properties of Materials for Fusion Power Plants

Combined Modelling and Experimental Project

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Location: Oxford University Materials Department

Post type: Research student

Duration: 3 years, starting October 2004 or later

Area: Development and application of bond-order potentials to bcc metals and alloys

Supervisor: David Pettifor

Application deadline: Post open, applications may be made

Brief description of project:

This project will develop analytic bond-order potentials (BOPs) for the case of d-valent transition metals, following their recent derivation for sp-valent elements which allows the MD simulation of film growth (Pettifor et al Mat.Sci.Eng.A365 (2004) 2). The project will involve: (a) development of analytic BOPs for non-magnetic V, Cr and W using ab initio and tight-binding (TB) input from the Belfast and Culham groups; (b) development of analytic BOPs for magnetic Fe, relying heavily on the magnetic energy of different defects and structures evaluated by ab initio and TB Stoner calculations in Belfast and Culham; (c) development of analytic BOPs for modelling the binary Fe-Cr system.

Selection Criteria

Applicants should have:

  1. A good first degree in physics, materials, or a related physical science subject.
  2. Potential to perform high-quality research, especially in ab initio calculations and tight binding modelling.
  3. Good communication skills in English. Ability to write in English at a suitable standard for the preparation of publications.
  4. Ability to meet agreed deadlines.
  5. Ability to work effectively in a team, and to interact effectively with collaborators.
  6. Willingness and ability to travel in order to work with collaborators.

Applications

Read the admissions criteria in the general information about research studentships at Oxford University Materials Department.

If you are from overseas (non-UK), please consult with the Graduate Studies secretary regarding the available funding for student fees for the project.

Make your application to the Graduate Studies secretary indicating the research projects that are of particular interest to you. Include:

Address:
Graduate Studies Secretary
Department of Materials
University of Oxford
Parks Road
Oxford
OX1 3PH, UK

Tel: 01865 283100

Fax: 01865 273789

Email: graduate.studies@materials.ox.ac.uk

Further information

Overall project description

For informal discussion of the project, contact David Pettifor

Studentships in Materials at Oxford