Antimatter and many-body theory: GREEN group
We develop ab initio many-body methods to describe antimatter interactions with atoms, molecules and condensed matter
Dermot spoke in the “Focus Session: Few Body Problems and Long Range Interactions: Memorial for Richard Drachman”.about the group’ current work, highlighting the complexities of positron-molecule interactions, and referencing Drachman’s paper “Why positron physics is fun”.
Research Fellow Charlie Rawlins has taken up a new Research Fellow post at Queen’s focussing on developing molecular dynamics funded by US-Ireland programme. Charlie was a very welcome addition to the group: coming from Perth, Australia, he joined the group (as the second Research Fellow) winter 2019, not long before UK lockdown, and worked on developing our EXCITON+ positron-many-body code, in particular leading calculations of positron scattering on H2, N2 and CH4 (to be submitted). We wish him the best in his new role, and now he’s staying at Queen’s we’ll actually get to meet him in person!
Here’s a photo of Charlie showing my daughter a kitten that he’d rescued (one of a number).
Dermot has been appointed as a Specialist Editor (Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics) of the international journal Computer Physics Communications
Dermot presented the group’s work and latest developments in positron-molecule many-body theory at the 74th International Gaseous Electronics Conference (GEC2021).
The group was out in force at ICPEAC International Conference on Photonic, Electronic and Atomic Collisions (vICPEAC) 2021, a flagship international conferences in the field, and EGAS 52 (European Group meeting on Atomic Systems)
Group member Dr Charlie Rawlins (Research Fellow) delivered a Special Report on our many-body theory of positron scattering and annihilation on polyatomic molecules.
Research Fellow Dr Brian Cunningham presented a poster talk on our Many-body theory of positron binding to polyatomic molecules;
Research Fellow Dr Andrew Swann presented a poster talk on our simulation of positron cooling via inelastic collisions in N2 and CF4 gases (including positron-positron interactions);
PhD student Jaroslav Hofierka presented a poster talk on his work on many-body theory calculations of positron binding to atoms.
At EGAS, PhD student Jaroslav Hofierka presented a talk on our recent work on many-body theory of positron binding to polyatomic molecules;
Research Fellow Dr Charlie Rawlins gave a talk on our most recent work on many-body theory of positron scattering and annihilation in molecules;
Research Fellow Dr Andrew Swann gave a talk on our work on positron cooling via inelastic collisions with N2 and CF4 gases (including positron-positron interactions).
The Young Academy of Europe (YAE) is a pan-European initiative of outstanding young scientists for networking, advocacy, scientific exchange, and science policy. The YAE is organised as a bottom-up initiative of a dynamic and innovative group of recognised European young scientists and scholars with outspoken views about science and science policy.
Dermot has been recognised for his outstanding leadership in the field of many-body theory for anti-matter interactions with atoms and molecules, but also for his roles in the international scientific community: he is a member of the International Scientific Advisory Board for the International Workshop for Positron and Positronium Physics (the flagship subject-specific conference in the field), Treasurer of the Institute of Physics Ireland and Secretary of the Institute of Physics Atomic and Molecular Interactions Group.
The 52nd meeting of the American Physical Society’s Division of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics (DAMOP 2021 international conference) was held virtually in June 2021.
Dermot’s invited talk, “Many-body theory of positron binding in polyatomic molecules” , (title slide below) presented results of the group’s intensive efforts in developing many-body theory of positron binding in polyatomic molecules and its state-of-the-art computational implementation (stay tuned for the paper…)
(apologies for the poor sound and video quality in places… this is not representative of the lightboard, but reflects poor recording from the live workshop):
Conscious of the possible disconnect between lecturer and students in fully online delivery of mathematics/physics lectures, Andrew Swann and I proposed the development of a lightboard for the School of Mathematics and Physics. We secured £2,000 from the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences to build a working prototype. Dermot build his own at home, and the Physics workshop manager Philip Orr built a second one on campus, available for the EPS staff. Andrew and I delivered our Tensor Field Theory Course via lightboard to 3rd year Mathematics and Theoretical Physics students. (See the example below, which shows one of Dermot’s pre-recorded video lectures using his home-made lightboard.) Dermot used his during live tutorials also.
Via anonymous quantitative feedback, the students overwhelmingly found the lightboard delivery led to a greater feeling of connectedness, that it was a superior mode of delivery than screencasting/voice-over-powerpoint or tablet.
Since 12 March 2020 we have been working from home, and currently our group members are dispersed over 3 continents.
Our research activities have been heavily impacted by COVID lockdown restrictions in the UK, especially and Brian (senior postdoc) and me (Dermot, PI) who had to assume significant additional childcare duties for prolonged periods.
We had to come up with new ways of working. For example, I discovered that 2 year olds can help me draw Feynman diagrams (see image from my garden below).
Despite the challenges, we’ve stuck together and supported each other. We’ve made some groundbreaking progress, including developing the first ab initio description of positron binding in molecules (stay tuned!).
Conscious of the possible disconnect between lecturer and students in fully online delivery of mathematics/physics lectures, Andrew Swann and I proposed the development of a lightboard for the School of Mathematics and Physics. We secured £2,000 from the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences to build a working prototype. Dermot built his own at home, and the Physics workshop manager Philip Orr built a second one on campus, available for the EPS staff. Andrew and I delivered our Tensor Field Theory Course via lightboard to 3rd year Mathematics and Theoretical Physics students. (See the example below, which shows one of Dermot’s pre-recorded video lectures using his home-made lightboard.) Dermot used his during live tutorials also.
Via anonymous quantitative feedback, the students overwhelmingly found the lightboard delivery led to a greater feeling of connectedness, that it was a superior mode of delivery than screencasting/voice-over-powerpoint or tablet.
Dermot