Nucleation and glassy dynamics in supercooled liquids

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As a liquid continues to cool below its melting temperature, it will eventually harden, either by a phase change to a crystal, or by a continuous dynamic slowdown to a glass. The many examples where the competition between nucleation and glass formation is present, from physical properties of biological materials to the manufacture of ceramics and optical lenses, underscore the importance of understanding the connections between the two processes. The goal of my research plan is to unify our understanding of these two opposing processes, using computer simulation as our primary tool. The research will be important for controlling aspects of material fabrication, for understanding why some liquids crystallize, while others tend to form glasses, and for improving our ability to control properties of atomic clusters. We will also apply the various theoretical and computational techniques to systems of a biological nature, e.g. viral capsids, in hopes of learning how to harness the inherent power of self-assembly present in these systems for technological development. The research is designed to develop in students an expertise in the important areas of nucleation and glass formation that finds application in materials science and engineering, as well as the food and biological sectors.