Computational Physics at SDSU

• Polymer and Biological
• Nuclear and Many-Body Physics, Astrophysics and Relativistic Gravity
• Atom Optics and Atomic

Look here for information on our computing infrastructure

Prof. Arlette Baljon

In my research I use computer simulations to understand how properties of complex supramolecular and hybrid materials depend on their microstructure and processing history. In particular I want to know how molecular systems behave when driven far from equilibrium, e.g. in case of yielding, plastic flow, crazing, flow-induced ordering, and interfacial slip. The development of a basic physical understanding of non-equilibrium phenomena may result in design of novel materials and improvement of industrial processing techniques. It impacts many disciplines.
One of my current research projects is the rheology of polymer/clay nanocomposites. Thus I investigate how the presence of clay platelets alters the dynamics of a polymer melt. Hopefully such studies will explain why and how clay can be used as an inexpensive compatalizer in a polymer blend.
Another area of interest is adhesion. Practical adhesive phenomena cannot be understood by studying equilibrium thermodynamic properties. They are caused by dynamic processes due to motion of the system through several metastable thermodynamic states. Currently we investigate how the adhesive strength between a polymer melt and surface depends on chemical interactions between the melt and surface and the time they have been in contact.

at SDSU includes

• Prof. Calvin Johnson, Physics faculty

who works with Prof. George Fuller at UCSD, (astrophysics) and Dr. Erich Ormand at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (nuclear structure, including large computation on parallel computers). His specialty is nuclear structure.

who works on neutron stars, white dwarf stars, quark stars, and other compact astrophysical objects. He has collaborators at the University of Notre Dame, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and many other places world-wide.

at SDSU includes

• Dr. Michael Bromley, Physics faculty

Dr. Bromley's research lies in the computational atomic physics, with interests in Atom Optics and fundamental applications of Bose-Einstein condensate's. He also works on large-scale atomic structure calculations, with interests in how positrons (anti-matter) interact with atoms along with computing van der Waals (atom-atom) interactions. He also has many collaborators around the world.