Geometric fluid mechanics in molecular chemistry

This is a project for highly motivated students with a background in Lagrangian/Hamiltonian mechanics and ideally looking to pursue a research career. Madelung's hydrodynamic formulation of quantum mechanics has been opening new avenues for molecular modelling in quantum chemistry. In this picture, a potential fluid flow is subject to a non-standard type of pressure that makes the fluid particles move apart from each other. This project aims to apply geometric mechanics to the study of quantum hydrodynamic models with application to the adiabatic evolution of molecular structures. In this context, challenging singular structures have recently been regularized by appropriate closures schemes at the level of the Lagrangian fluid paths, thereby leading to new simpler models whose features will be the subject of this study.

The successful candidate will receive comprehensive research training related to all aspects of the research and opportunities to participate in conferences, workshops and seminars to develop professional skills and research network.

Applicants should have a minimum of a first class honours degree in mathematics, the physical sciences or engineering. Preferably applicants will hold a MMath, MPhys or MSc degree, though exceptional BSc students will be considered.

English language requirements

IELTS minimum 6.5 or above (or equivalent) with 6.0 in each individual category.

Nonlinear Waves and Geometric Fluid Dynamics