Atomistic Simulation of Laser Machining
Our team develops methods to combine classical molecular dynamics simulations with the special requirements for the interaction of matter with intense laser pulses. We have implemented IMD, a molecular dynamics code which can run on PCs as well as on the largest available supercomputers. The challenges are the treament of hot electrons, varying charge carrier densities, ionisation of the material and the interaction of the laser beam with the generated plasma cloud.
Current topics are the simulation of covalent materials like Silicon, of alloys like AlNi and AlCuMg, and the modelling of Selective Laser Melting which is used in 3D Printing.
Physics of Quasicrystals
Our team develops methods to combine classical molecular dynamics simulations with the special requirements for the interaction of matter with intense laser pulses. We have implemented IMD, a molecular dymaics codes which can run on PCs as well as on the largest available supercomputers. The challenges are the treament of hot electrons, varying charge carrier densities, ionisation of the material and the interaction of the laser beam with the generated plasma cloud. A completely differnt topic is the physics of quasicrystals. Here we study the interaction of charged colloids in a quasiperiodic potential, generated by interfering laser beams. The fascinating problem are the structures which are generated by the competing interaction between the colloids and between colloids and the laser potential.
Currently we are studying the influence of energy and entropy on the stability of a 2D model quasicrystal with analytical methods.