Surfaces, Microstructure and Fracture

Spin echo data

Research in the SMF group focuses on both fundamental and applied studies of materials over a wide range of length and time scales: from the nanoscale to the macroscale and from picoseconds fluctuations to quasi-static processes.

ur areas of study are broadly divided into surface phenomena and dynamic material processes. Throughout the group we have a strong emphasis on continuing the Cavendish tradition of developing unique experimental techniques to carry out our research.

The group has two main focus areas:

Fracture and Shock Physics

The Fracture and Shock Physics group has researched for over 60 years in the area of material fracture, shock and the study of energetic materials and has pioneered the use of high-speed diagnostics. We have a world-wide reputation for scientific excellence in dynamic material testing and high-speed photography.

Our mission is to produce high-quality experimental data and develop cutting-edge and innovative techniques for understanding ultra-fast phenomena. A wide variety of loading techniques are used to produce controlled stress pulses which are used to simulate real world events. Our approaches include:

  • Performing controlled experiments involving nanosecond imaging and high-resolution optical techniques, as well as pressure systems operating at half a million atmospheres are used.
  • Validating numerical models against experiments.
  • Performing 'real life' experiments to assess models' predictive capabilities

The overall aim of this research is to develop the physical understanding of material response under extreme conditions. The applications of this research are in areas as diverse as safety, design, mining and quarrying, ballistics and blast protection. The materials we study are wide-ranging and include metals, polymers, explosives, sand, soils, etc.

Surface Physics

In this area, we carry out fundamental research into surface structure and processes. We are one of the world's only surface science groups to specialise in the experimental technique of Helium Atom Scattering (HAS), which we complement with more traditional surface techniques. Some of our most exciting work also includes the development of several new forms of instrumentation.

Our current high-profile projects include using helium-3 spin-echo to study dynamics on atomic length and timescales and the development of helium atom microscopy to provide an imaging technique with the uniquely delicate helium atom probe.