SHLUGER2	Imaging Atoms
Type	Theoretical/Computational
#students	1
Orientation	Why is the scientific problem of interest at all? . Atomic Force Microscopy provides atomically resolved images of surfaces and defects and molecules at surfaces. The situation is more complex if one wants to use AFM tip to manipulate atoms and molecules on a surface with atomic precision. The understanding of AFM images is complex and requires theoretical modeling of the imaging process.
How	How is the research going to shed light on the given problem? Computational modelling of Atomic Force Microscope operation is guiding the experimental work on imaging and manipulating atoms and molecules at surfaces. This includes modelling the surface structure, adsorption of atoms at surfaces, the interaction of these atoms with an AFM tip and mechanisms of manipulation.
What	What is the specific thing that the student will do, and how does it fit inside the overall project? Computational modelling will be used to construct surface structures and geometries using existing computer codes and classical inter-atomic forcefields as well as to model the tip-surface interaction. Programing may be required to analyse the results and to create algorithms for atomic manipulation.
Special Knowledge	Basic knowledge of Linux and some programming language (Python, C, F90) is desirable, but can be also acquired during the project.
Supervisor	Prof. Alexander Shluger a.shluger@ucl.ac.uk