My Research background

I was originally trained as a theoretical high energy physicist. Specifically, for my Ph. D. thesis I investigated extensions of the Standard Model that can incorporate non-zero neutrino masses. I am in particular interested in the physical and cosmological implications of non-zero neutrino masses. For a short introduction about my past experience in HEP, see the short description here. However, in recent years I have redirected my interest to computational physics due to my rather late realisation that computational physics allows me to make contact the knowledge of theoretical physics with the real physical world by making use of the computational power of commercial-grade computers. I initiated my own computational physics research activities here in USM almost single-handedly.

To facilitate research in computational physics, availability of computational hardware and software is mandatory. These days computers are cheap and fast. With economic cost, one can relatively easy set up PC clusters that have parallel computing capabilities, such as MPI environment. To run a moderately large calculation, one just needs to buy more middle-grade PC's instead of faster (hence more costly) ones. Configured and networked properly, access to this computational facility can be made easy and done from anywhere on Earth as long as it is connected to the internet. I have set up my very own small clusters of computers from scratch (learning up all the hardware-related tricks, LINUX knowledge and parallel programming techniques through self-study). The existing HPC (high-performing computing) facilities currently maintained by us can be accessed from via this link.

 

A list of non-exhaustive research topics done in the past or currently being pursued

A personal review article: An informal review article on nanocluster: Nanocluster computation from a practitioner's point of view

 

On-going or proposed research projects:

9. Phases and nano-wetting of Lenard-Jones systems via molecular dynamics and machine learning

8. Mining physical properties of organic molecular crystals via Density Functional Theory calculation

7. Exploration of an extended Hubbard model for high-Tc superconductivity in cuprate via machine learning approaches

6. In-silico measurements of wetting phenomena on structured surfaces of liquid droplets in the nanoscale (YTL)

5. The search for high Tc tin-based alloy superconductor (YKH, RCYH)

4. An In-House Monte Carlo Code for TRIGA Nuclear Reactor Using Homogenized Neutron Cross Section Data (MRO)

3. Density Function Theory Based Molecular Dynamics Simulations on Physical Properties and Structural Stability of the Ternary Atom Nanoclusters (KPW, LTL)

2. Molecular Dynamics Studies of the Annealing of Carbon Peapods (LTY)

1. Quantum Monte Carlo Simulation of The Hubbard Model for High Tc Superconducting Cuprates (PR)

 

Previous/completed research projects:

14. Ground state structures of small boron and boron-carbon clusters via density functional tight binding and density functional theory (LMH)

13. Molecular dynamics simulation of thermal processes for selected nano-structures (MTK)

12. Ab-initio investigation of structural, electronic, and adsorption properties of graphitic carbon nitride sheet with embedded transition metal Mn and Fe atoms (YZ)

11. Development of a FDTD simulation of ionosphere propagation for earthquake precursor over the Sumatera-Malaysia region (YHMY)

10. Material design of III-nitride ternary via first principles calculations (RCYH)

9. Thermal properties and ground state structures of pure and alloy nanoclusters via molecular dynamics simulations (OYP)

8. Structural and magnetic properties of rhodium clusters (SYY)

7. First-principles study of structural and response properties of barium titanate phases (GES)

6. Energetics, thermal and structural properties of hafnium clusters via molecular dynamics simulation (NWC)

5. Study of Strontium Titanate and Barium Zirconate Properties Using Molecular Dynamics Simulation (GWF)

4. Calculation of excited state spetrum of Josepheson Junction Array (JJA) using Quantum Excited state Monte Carlo (EMC) (YTL)

3. First-Principles Calculations on properties of luminescence materials with DFT (LTL, YTL, Nazarov)

2. Computational subwavelength optics (YTL)

1. Neutrino beyond the Standard Model (YTL Ph D. thesis)

 

Last updated: 24 Nov 2019