Professor Philip J Camp

Professor of Theoretical Chemistry

Research summary

Structure, dynamics, and phase equilibria in complex fluids; computer simulations and statistical mechanics.

Research Overview

We study the properties of complex fluids such as colloidal suspensions, ferrofluids, liquid crystals, amphiphile solutions, polymers, and ionic fluids. Using computational and theoretical techniques, we determine the connections between the structure, dynamics, and phase behaviour of complex fluids, and the properties of the constituent molecules. Simple molecular models are constructed that capture the essential characteristics of real systems.

We then study these models using computational techniques such as Monte Carlo, molecular dynamics, and Brownian dynamics simulations. We also employ analytical approaches from statistical mechanics. These studies yield unique insights on the properties of fluids, and help forge universal relationships between the microscopic and macroscopic properties of matter.

This article was published on