Condensed Matter Physics
Cross Directorate Working Group
Energy & Environment Science and Technology | Nuclear Science and Technology | Materials Fuel Complex
About CMP
Condensed matter physics (CMP) is a vital component of the research conducted at INL. Composed of researchers from three directorates, the CMP group is committed to utilizing our unique research facilities to support INL’s applied and fundament research programs. Our focus on mission-defining nuclear fuels and materials research is also enabling us to expand our capabilities to other areas, including battery materials, advanced manufacturing, and actinide materials beyond nuclear energy applications.
Recent Highlight
Background
Irradiation defects can significantly influence the performance of advanced nuclear fuels. Understanding how defects evolve over time is important for developing nuclear fuels that can withstand the extreme environment of advanced reactors. This highlight involves the use of multiscale modeling to reveal a hidden mechanism for the growth of interstitial loops in advanced nuclear fuel (ThO2) under irradiation.
Research Details
Multiscale modeling integrating ab initio density functional theory calculations and Object kinetic Monte Carlo simulations are employed to provide quantitative insights into the evolution of small defect complexes in irradiated ThO2 that cannot be resolved using HRSTEM. Simulations reveal an unexpected mechanism for the growth of interstitial loops via the transient formation and migration of bound anti-Schottky defects.
Publications
Related Links
Projects
People
Experimental Condensed Matter Physics (EEST – David Hurley)
David Hurley
Brelon May
Amey Khanolkar
Zilong Hua
Zach Thompson
Kevin Vallejo
Yanwen Zhang
Radiation Effects and Mechanical Properties (MFC – Boopathy Kombaiah)
Cheng Sun
David Frazer
Daniel Murray
Boopathy Kombaiah
Kaustubh Bawane
Mukesh Bachhav
Tsvetoslav Pavlov
Jian Gan
Trishelle Copeland-Johnson
Physical Properties and Theoretical CMP (NST – Krzysztof Gofryk)
Kris Gofryk
Jordan Evans
Shuxiang Zhou
Chao Jiang
Linu Malakkal
Andrea Jokisaari
Jia-Hong Ke
Larry Aagesen
Michael Moorehead
Strategic Vision
Harnessing electron correlation in 5f systems and understanding and eventually controlling properties mediated by irradiation defects.
Steering Committee
David Hurley
Kris Gofryk
Boopathy Kombaiah
