Graeme Ackland's Homepage

I am Professor of Computer Simulation at The School of Physics in the College of Science and Engineering at The University of Edinburgh

I'm coordinating the EPSRC complexity research cluster Novel approaches to realistic networks of interacting autonomes.

And I work on radiation damage in steels to determine better materials and safe lifetimes for fission and fusion reactors using molecular dynamics which can be imaged using BallViewer

I also work on density functional theory calculation of materials at the Centre for Science at Extreme Conditions, using codes developed over the past 20 years as part of UKCP.

PhD positions are available. Grants are available for highly qualified UK students, by applying to physics , and non-EU students through SUPA . Mention my name and area in your application if you want to work with me!

Here's my photo

and here's my idea of fun - this is from the Seven Hills of Edinburgh race, courtesy of the Scotsman newspaper.

Click here for lecture notes and problems

My most recent publications list is also available.

My research interests include

• Empirical potentials:
  • For a lot of metals and alloys
  • For silicon
  • Implemented via a molecular dynamics code MOLDY.

• Electronic structure calculation:
  Based on the UKCP Grand Challenge code CETEP and MSI serial version CASTEP

Using computer simulations, we're trying to understand complex interacting systems, where the complexity comes both from the system itself and its spatial interconnectedness. Applications include slime molds, epidemics, Basques, deserts, complex fluids, erosion and electrodeposition.

I'm part of the Daisyworld network

And the European Nuclear Reactor Modelling Programs (REVE, PERFECT, GETMAT)

And I'm interested in Martensitic Phase Transitions for example in design of submillimeter scale aircraft (synthetic midges anyone?)

Computer simulation is an important practical subject, quite unrelated to games

Back in the real world, I'm married to Jane and we have a young son, James.

In my spare time, I go jogging or orienteering with Interlopers . And I write Diplomacy Puzzles