BSc Theoretical Physics (First Class, Exeter)
PhD Theoretical Physics (Exeter)
Room: M209
Tel: 0141 548 2385
Email: paul.mulheran@strath.ac.uk
Teaching
- Fundamentals, Techniques and Tools, CP102
- Computer Applications, 18356
- Chemical Engineering Design, 18475
Departmental Administrative Duties
- Research Seminar Series Co-ordinator
Research Interests: Interfacial Nanostructures
This research group deals primarily with the statistical and computational physics of the spatial self-organisation of dynamic systems. The work contributes to both departmental research themes. A recently held MRC/BBSRC/EPSRC Discipline-Hopping Grant 'Understanding Protein Aggregation on Substrates' led to a new methodology for discovering protein clustering mechanisms [1]. This line of enquiry is continuing with EPSRC funding for more detailed molecular-scale modelling, and new collaborations in the Biomolecular Engineering theme at Strathclyde are under development.
The group's work in the Nanostructured Materials theme is built around island nucleation and growth during deposition, and post-deposition ripening. Islands are the building blocks for thin films and nanostructures, and their evolution exemplifies the concept of self-organised nano-scale assembly which provides an economically viable route for the potential exploitation of nanostructured materials. Work in this field starts with the development of non-mean field statistical mechanics of both island nucleation and growth [5], and ripening processes [4]. To incorporate material-specific modelling, the timescales of typical growth processes must be addressed. We have developed an accelerated dynamics methodology for simulation of nanostructure evolution [3], relating it to the statistical mechanics of growth [2]. More recently, simulation tools for titania growth processes have been developed. Titania has many technological applications, which is leading to new collaborations in the Nanostructured Materials theme at Strathclyde.
Project Details
- The statistical mechanics of island nucleation and growth during thin film depos
- The statistical mechanics of post-deposition island ripening
- Accelerated dynamics simulations of nanostructure evolution(PhD student Colin Browne)
- New modelling techniques for reducible transition metal oxides - titania nanostr (EPSRC; former PDRA Dr. Mark Basham, Mark.Basham@diamond.ac.uk)
- EPSRC Materials Modelling Consortium (PhD student Yasman Moghaddam)
- A multiscale modelling methodology for protein aggregation on surfaces (funded by EPSRC)
Selected References
- P.A. Mulheran, D. Pellenc, R.A. Bennett, R.J. Green and M. Sperrin, 'Mechanisms and dynamics of protein clustering on a solid surface', Phys. Rev. Lett. (accepted for publication January 2008).
- P.A. Mulheran and M. Basham 'Kinetic phase diagram for island nucleation and growth during homoepitaxy', Phys. Rev. B (accepted for publication January 2008).
- M. Bahsam, F. Montalenti and P.A. Mulheran, 'Multiscale modelling of island nucleation and growth during Cu(100) homoepitaxy', Phys. Rev. B 73, 045422 (2006) .
- P.A. Mulheran; 'Theory of spatial and size scaling in strain-free island ripening', Europhys Lett. 71, 1001(2005).
- P.A. Mulheran and D.A. Robbie; 'Theory of the island and capture zone size distributions in thin film growth', Europhys. Lett. 49, 617 (2000).
