News
2012
New FONDECYT grant in GNM
December 29th, 2012
Professor Eduardo Menendez will lead the FONDECYT project Study of impurities, complex defects, and grain boundaries in CdTe thin films using computer simulation at the atomic scale. This project will study the thermodynamic stability of the major defects of CdTe (cadmium telluride), a key material of the second-generation solar cells. The state-of-the-art methods of computer simulation will be used to calculate the quantized electronic states of defects and to make reliable predictions. It is expected to identify alternative dopants that allow to increse the efficiency of CdTe solar cells. Participate as co-investigators the GNM members Walter Orellana, Alexis Amezaga, together with Juan L. Peña and Norge Cruz as foreign collaborators. The project has funding for master's students.
Prof. Eduardo Menéndez predicts thinnest nanotube ever to exist
September 4th, 2012
The work of the member of the NanoMaterials Group of the Universidad de Chile, published on September 4th, 2012 in Physical Review Letters, is entitled “Ultrathin Carbon Nanotube With Single, Double, and Triple Bonds” and it has been glowingly commented by the prestigious magazine Nature (ver link) and by the website of the physics community, Phys.org (ver link). The article is based on theoretical calculations obtained by means of quantum mechanics, that allow to follow the movement of each arom, even at high temperatures, and was performed in collaboration with Ana L. Montero and J. M. Gracía de la Vega, from Cuba and Spain, respectively.
Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are structures formed by carbon atoms, whose diameters are in the range of the nanometers, with lengths that can reach some micrometers, and exhibit remarkable physical and chemical properties. Experiments have shown possible applications of these CNT in divers systems, such as chemical and biological sensors, molecular encapsulators, transistors, nanowires, among others, for which are object of intense experimental and theoretical study all over the world.
Single walled CNT are similar to graphene sheets rolled over themselves. The carbon atoms occupy a honeycomb lattice, that slightly bends when rolled. The electrical properties of these nanotubes are explained from the properties of graphene and two geometrical parameters: diameter and the winding direction. Nevertheless, this model fails for nanotubes smalled than 1 nm in diameter, being necessary advanced electronic structure calculations. In these cases, the efects of the curvature distort strongly the typical bond geometry of carbon. This makes nanotubes of diameters smaller than 4 Å be unstable,
As Eduardo says, "in our work we have discovered that certain type of nanotubes, which would have an ideal diameter of 2 Å, can be stabilized by means of breaking of some bonds, growing up to 3.2 Å in diameter. So, this could be the thinnest nanotube possible. This nanotube would be stable in isolated state up to a temperatures of 700 ºC. The structure resembles a double helix that shows simple, double and triple carbon bonds. We have calculated the optical and infrared absorption spectra and its Raman spectra, which show qualitative differences in relation with the standard nanotubes and would allow its experimental confirmation”. For more details, see the work on this link.
Lecture "Lithium, its current state and future perspectives"
October 4th, 2012
Gonzalo Gutiérrez, member of our NanoMaterials Group, gave a lecture at the Universidad de Concepción in the context of the closure of the the Week of Science on October 7th, entitled "El Litio, su estado actual y las perspectivas futuras." (Lithium, its current state and future perspectives). His talk is available in this link.
Lecture "Rocky core solubility of Jupiter and gigant exoplanets."
July 11th, 2012
Felipe González, member of our NanoMaterials Group, gave a lecture in the department of physics of the faculty of sciences of the Universidad de Chile on wednesday July 11th, entitled "Solubilidad del núcleo rocoso de Júpiter y exoplanetas gigantes" (Rocky core solubility of Jupiter and gigant exoplanets). His talk is available in this link.
DR. GONZALO GUTIÉRREZ ASSUMES OFFICE AS ENVIRONMENTAL MINISTRY ADVISOR
June 14th, 2012
Gonzalo Gutiérrez Gallardo, professor and researcher in the physics department of the faculty of sciences was designate as a member of the Consejo Consultivo del Ministerio del Medio Ambiente (Environmental ministry's consultative council) [see link].
This is an advisor organism of the Environmental ministry, that consist of 10 members that represent different statements of the civil society (CRUCH, ONG, Study Centers, entrepreneurs, workers), and are named by the President of the Republic. Also, a representative of the government and a portfolio minister form part of this advisory instance.
Its mission is to give answers to the questions that the Environmental Ministry and Ministers Council for the Sustainability formulate, give opinions about the bill and supreme decrees that fix norms about environmental quality, prevention plans and decontamination plans, emissions special regulations and emission norms submited to their knowledge.
In practice, this advisor entity must meet once a month, for a two years period. Professor Gutiérrez is the only representative from the Universidad de Chile in this consultative entity.
Another fact that makes the Faculty of Science feel proud is that PhD in Biology, Bárbara Saavedra, who also studied in our academic unit, was also named as a member of the council. Nowadays, Bárbara Saavedra is also in charge of the ONG WCS (http://www.wcs.org/) and the Karukinka Foundation.
Talk: "LAMMPS and OVITO" for molecular dynamics
November 6th, 2012
Javier Wachter, PhD student in material science of the faculty of physical and mathematical sciences of the Universidad de Chile, gave us a talk in our lab to tell us about the molecular dynamics code, LAMPS, adventages and disadventages in the usage of this code and how to use it together with the visualizer OVITO, to visualize a dynamics and calculate properties. His talk will soon be available in this link.
¡Pipin comes back from Berkeley!
April 30th, 2012
Felipe González, GNM PhD student performed a research stayt at the University of California, Berkeley under the tutorship of professor Burkhard Militzer. Among the learned techniques, he learned about the Thermodynamic Integration Method to calculate Gibbs free energies from ab-initio simulations to determine the solubility of silica (SiO2) in metallic hydrogen (H) in the thermodynamics conditions of the interior of Jupiter. This allows to determine if the rocky core of Jupiter is dissolving or not due to the metallic hydrogen, which can have consequences in planetary models.
Dr. Gonzalo Gutiérrez gave a plenary about Nuclear Energy
April 17th, 2012
In front of a groupof academics and USACH students, Dr. Gonzalo Gutiérrez gave a plenary lecture, entitled "El Estado de los Materiales Nucleares en Sudamérica" (The State of Nuclear Materials in South America), in which he made a review from the beginnings of the utilization of nuclear energy until the current situation in the world. For more information, see link.
¡Pipin is going to Berkeley!
November 22nd, 2011
Felipe González, GNM PhD student has been awarded with the scholarship "Ayudas para estadías cortas de investigación" ("Supports for research short stay"), which he will use to do a doctoral 5-month long internship at the University of California, Berkeley, guided by the professor Burkhard Militzer. The stay will be centered on his thesis "Materials on extreme environments: application to the study of the interior of solar and extrasolar planets".
Favorable outcome of Postdoctoral Fellowships for the Faculty of Sciences, the Department of Physics and the Group of Nanomaterials.
May 2nd, 2011
So it is! 5 PhDs of the Faculty of Sciences of the Universidad de Chile awarded the Contest BECA DE POSTDOCTORADO EN EL EXTRANJERO-BECAS CHILE (Postdoctoral fellowship abroad, BECAS CHILE) among 49 applicants from all over the country. Among them, 4 were between the first 10 places. The first place was won by Joaquín Peralta, who did his PhD in our group and will do his postdoc at Iowa State University, USA; the forth place was won by Claudia Loyola, brand-new PhD in out group, who will also do her PhD at Iowa State University, USA; the seventh place was Cristóbal Rivas Espinosa, matematician that will do his PhD at Ecole Normale Superieure de Lyon, France, and the nineth place was Felipe Asenjo, physicist of our department, that will do his postdoc at Texas University, USA. It is worth to mention that Joaquín and Claudia were PhD students of Professor Gonzalo Gutiérrez, and active members of the Group of NanoMaterials. Ampliar noticia. Resultados en pdf Δ.
Gonzalo Gutiérrez on TV
March 25th, 2011
Gonzalo Gutiérrez, member of GNM, has been called in more than one ocation these last days to talk about the nuclear accident in Japan, due to the tsunami. In the apparitions on the media, all of them with with credits of the Faculty of Sciences, U. de Chile, the ex-president of the Chilean Comision of Nuclear Energy clarifies doubts and shows the adventages and disadventages of having nuclear energy in Chile.
The given interviews are the next;
- Program "Vivi", with Vivi Kreutzberger, Thursday, March 24th (watch video here)
- Program "Mucho Gusto", Friday, March 18th (minute 10:45, watch video here)
- Newspaper "El Mercurio", Wednesday, March 16th (see article here).
- Blog (see article here).
- Newspaper "El Mercurio", Saturday, March 19th (see article here).
2011
Congratulations Pipin!
March 25th, 2012
Felipe González, PhD student of GNM, with the defense and approval of his thesis proyect, has successfully approved his qualify exam. The proyect is entitle "Materials on extreme environments: applications to the study of the interior of solar and extrasolar planets", and it is directed by the PhD Gonzalo Gutiérrez and Sergio Davis. The examining broad was composed by the professors of the U. de Chile PhD. Martin Reich, from Geology, PhD. Patricio Rojas, from Astronomy, PhD. Rodrigo Soto, from Engineering, and the PhD. of the Pontificia Universidad Católica, Ricardo Ramirez. Now, just the thesis is left... :) .
Welcome PhD. German Miño and Sergio Davis
March 25th, 2011
Recently, the PhD in Chemical-Physics of the Universidad Andrés Bello Germán Miño, who awarded a Postdoctoral Fondecyt project entitled "MECHANICAL AND COOPERATIVE PROPERTIES OF
DIMERIC PROTEINS: A COMPUTATIONAL SIMULATION STUDY", has joined to our Group of NanoMaterials.
For its part, Sergio Davis, PhD on Materials Science of the Royal Institute of Technology, KTH, Stockholm, won a postdoctoral Fondecyt project entitled "STUDY OF MELTING OF SOLIDS USING ATOMISTIC COMPUTER SIMULATION TECHNIQUES". The sponsor of both projects is the PhD. Gonzalo Gutiérrez.
Robbery in the Group of NanoMaterials!!!
March 10th, 2011
On monday 7th the GNM's lab was victim of a robbery. The unfortunate fact took place between 9pm of monday and 9 am of tuesday. Many species were substracted from inside, mainly computers and monitors. Fortunately, some of the equipments were found outside of the department of physics. However, as a consequence of the theft, 3 computers (2 towers and 1 notebook) and 3 monitors were stolen. Some drawers were forced (see pic) and some research data was lost. The GNM lab was restored quickly and it is operational again.
2010
New Bioinformatic Engineer in the Group of NanoMaterials
November 26th, 2010
The Group of NanoMaterials is pleased to inform that Jorge Mansilla, member of GNM, received his degree in bioinformatic engineering from Universidad de Talca, presenting the memory developed in our group, entitled Interacción de los aminoácidos pertenecientes a la secuencia RGD con superficies de dióxido de titanio (Interaction of the aminoacids of the RGD sequence with surfaces of titanium dioxide). Congratulations!!
Some pictures in PhotoGallery.
XVII Chilean Symposium of Pyhsics
November 12th, 2010
The 17th chilean symposium of physics took place in Pucón, Chile from November 10th to 12th of 2010, organized by the Universidad de La Frontera. Physics from all over the country, between them, our Group of NanoMaterials, took part in this encounter, showing their last researches.
The works presented by our group in the posters' section were:
[Supersonic impacts of copper nano-projectiles; a molecular dynamics study] (N. Amigo, C. Loyola, S. Davis, G. Gutiérrez)
[Bouncing of an sphere over a surface: study at atomic level] (F. González-Cataldo, F. González-Wasaff, Y. Navarrete, G. Gutiérrez).
[3D Visualization in real time for classical molecular dynamics: LPMD & LPVISUAL] (F. González-Cataldo, J. Peralta, C. Loyola, S. Davis).
[Study at atomic level of the inelastic collision between two metallic nano-objects] (C. Rioseco, J. Rojas, N. Amigo, G. Gutiérrez, S. Davis).
[Elastic and electric properties of the laminar compound TI2GaN under pressure: study from first principles] (J. Peralta, G. Gutiérrez, W. Orellana).
Dr. Luis Gomberoff, an influencial Chilean scientist has passed away.
September 14th, 2010
We are sad to report that Dr. Luis Gomberoff passed away. We express sincere condolences to his family for their lost. Professor Gomberoff was an academic and researcher of the Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad of Chile for more than 30 years. He obtained his undergraduate degree in 1964 from Universidad de Chile and his PhD in 1967 from the University of London. The primary focus of his research was theoretical plasma physics. The contributions of Dr. Luis Gomberoff's research, including more than 150 papers, has had worldwide impact.Read more.
August 25th, 2010
Las Palmeras Molecular Dynamics (LPMD), the molecular dynamics code made by our Group of NanoMaterials has been published in Computer Physics Communications (see link). The lastest version of the program (LPMD 0.7) will soon be available, written in python and parallelized.
New PhD in Physics in the Group of NanoMaterials
June 16th, 2010
The Group of NanoMaterials is proud to announce that Claudia Loyola, a member of GNM, has obtained a PhD in physics at the Universidad de Chile. Congratulations!!
Some pictures are in PhotoGallery.
New PhD in Physics in the Group of NanoMaterials
June 24th, 2010
The Group of NanoMaterials is proud to announce that Joaquin Peralta, a member of GNM, has obtained a PhD in physics at the Universidad de Chile. Congratulations!!
Some pictures are in PhotoGallery.
Joaquín Peralta's public Ph.D. thesis defense
May 19th, 2010 Joaquín Peralta, member of our Group of NanoMaterials, will defend his thesis entitled Propiedades Físicas de Materiales Complejos Mediante Simulación Computacional (Physical Properties of Complex Materials by Means of Computational Simulation), directed by Ph.D. Gonzalo Gutiérrez. The event will take place on May 24th, 2010 at 11:00 a.m., Aula Magna, Pabellón G, 2nd floor, Faculty of Science of the Universidad de Chile.
All professors, students and interested persons are invited.
New Cluster!!! :)
A new friend of equal characteristics gets joined to our cluster incahuasi (16 cores): lonquimay.
Technical details of Lonquimay:
Model : Dell R900
16 Cores : 4xQuadCore
16 Gb RAM
1.0 Tb HD memory.
Operating System : Ubuntu Server 9.04
Admin. : Sergio Davis y Joaquín Peralta.
Recent events.
After the unfortunate recent events our country has endured, our group's server is once again up and running. Many sympathies and encouragement to all who has experienced difficult times. Together, we can lift the country back on its feets.
New version of LPMD: 0.6.1
On January 4th, the last version of LPMD, lpmd 0.6.1, was released, which corrects many bugs of the 0.6.0 version.
Multiphysics Modelation through Finite Elements
The Group of NanoMaterials invies you to the "TALLER DE MODELACIÓN MULTIFÍSICA MEDIANTE ELEMENTOS FINITOS" (Multiphysics Modelation through Finite Elements Workshop), that will be realizer on December 18th, 2009, in the Deparment of Phisics of the Universidad de Chile, Room 1, Auditorium Albert Einstein. Free subbscription.
The course will be realized from 10:00 to 13:00 hrs. of the mentioned day. More information in this link.
Talk: "All-Electron Full-Potential Calculations at O(ASA) Speed"
Dr. Volker Eyert, from the Center for Electronic Correlations and Magnetism, Institute for Physics, University of Augsburg, invited by GNM, was in our lab during the September 28th week. In his stay, he discussed with us about recent developments on electronic-structure-calculations and he also lectured about "All-Electron Full-Potential Calculations at O(ASA) Speed", in the GNM lab on September 29th.
The presentation document is available here: 
.
More information in this link.
Computational Simulation of Classical
Molecular Dynamics School
The Group of NanoMaterials invites you to participate in the Escuela de Simulación Computacional de Dinámica Molecular Clásica (Computational Simulation of Classical Molecular Dynamics School) that will take place in the Departamento de Física de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Universidad de Chile from January 4th to 8th of 2010. All the information about the registration and the topics that will be discussed are available in the school's web page www.gnm.cl/lpmd/school.
2009
Minicourse: "Simplified methods for electronic structure calculations"
August 18th, 2009 The professor Jorge Kohanoff, from the Queen's University Belfast, lectured on "Métodos simplificados para cálculos de estructura electrónica"(Simplified methods for electronic structure calculations), in the GNM lab, on August 18th, 20th and 21st from 14:00 until 17:00 hrs. The course included a laboratory portion with a program that performs "Tight-binding Molecular Dynamics". Notes and lectures are available here
Bibliography: Electronic structure calculations for Solids and Molecules, J. Kohanoff, chapter 10.
The New President of the CCHEN
(Comisión Chilena de Energía Nuclear) is a member
of GNM
July 22th, 2009
With pride, the Group of NanoMaterials announces that the new President of the Comisión Chilena de Energía Nuclear (National Commission of Nuclear Energy) is the PhD. Gonzalo Gutiérrez Gallardo, founding member of our group. He was designated through the Supreme Decree Number 105 by the President of the Chilean Republic, Michelle Bachelet. More information [1] [2] [3] [4].
Fernando Cuturrufo's Graduate Exam
July 21st, 2009 Fernando Cuturrufo, postgraduate student of our group, graduated today with a brilliant exposition, getting a Master in Physics granted by the Universidad de La Serena. His thesis, guided by Gonzalo Gutiérrez, is entitled Transporte de calor en sistema de espines (Heat Transport in a Spins System) and it's a job linked with the one being realized by Eduardo Valdebenito and the previously done by Sergio Davis. This job demostrates that the heat transport in a spin chain doesn't obey Fourier's law, instead of that it has a behaviour compatible with a thermal conductivity that depends non linerly on the temperature. See photos in PhotoGallery.
Nano-Python Workshop Available
From January 12th to 13th, "Nano-Taller de Python" was carried out, lectured by Sergio Davis. Now classes are available in PDF version here.
New LPMD Version 0.6.0
June 12th, 2009
Today lpmd team has released 0.6.0 version of LPMD, a completely new way of computing. This release offers improvements in the API, increased efficiency more user-friendly design :-D
In the official LPMD website you will find information about how to download it.
New Tadapro Version: 0.8.5
The new version of tadapro is available: TaDaPro0.8.5. Debian-based distributions may download it from our software repository or directly from sourceforge here.
2008
- 29th International Conference on the Physics of Semiconductors :
Los académicos Walter Orellana y Eduardo Menéndez junto con los estudiantes de Doctorado Claudia Loyola y Joaquín Peralta fueron aceptados para presentar sus trabajos en ICPS-29. Este congreso se realizó entre el 21 de Julio y 1 de Agosto de 2008, en Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Para mayor información ver http://www.icps2008.org. más?
- CCP5 Methods in Molecular Simulation Summer School 2008 :
Los estudiantes de Doctorado Claudia Loyola y Joaquín Peralta fueron aceptados para presentar sus trabajos y asistir a CCP5 "Methods in Molecular Simulation Summer School 2008" en la Universidad de Sheffield, Inglaterra. Esta escuela se realizó durante el 6 y 15 de Julio de 2008 y constó de seminarios y sesiones prácticas, para mayor información ver http://www.ccp5.ac.uk/SSCCP5/main.html. más?.
- Beca Asistencia de Alumnos de Doctorados a Sociedades Científicas Chilenas :
El grupo de NanoMateriales se adjudicó en Mayo de 2008 la Beca Asistencia de Alumnos de Doctorados a Sociedades Científicas Chilenas otorgada por la Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, CONICYT. Esta beca consiste en dar financiamiento a estudiantes de doctorado de programas acreditados por la CNA-Chile, los cuales hayan sido aceptados para presentar sus trabajos en reuniones y congresos científicos organizados por Sociedades Científicas Chilenas y Comités Organizadores de congresos internacionales a realizarse en Chile. más?
- Proyecto Apoyo al Desarrollo de la Cooperación Internacional para la Investigación de Excelencia :
Conicyt a través del Programa Bicentenario de Ciencia y Tecnología (PBCT) adjudicó 6 proyectos en el marco del Segundo Concurso de Apoyo al Desarrollo de la Cooperación Internacional para la Investigación de Excelencia. Entre los favorecidos se encuentra nuestro Grupo de NanoMateriales-Anillo ACT/24 con el proyecto titulado "Cooperación Internacional para simulación de nanobio sistemas", el cual recibirá un financiamiento de $20.000.000. El objetivo del mismo es invitar a destacados científicos que trabajan en el exterior, así como organizar una Escuela Internacional de Simulación de Materiales. más?
- Escuela de NanoEstructuras :
Durante la semana del 14 al 18 de Enero de 2008, se desarrolló la Escuela de Nanoestructuras en la Universidad Federico Santa María, Valparaíso, Chile. Esta contó con expositores de varias Universidades Internacionales y Nacionales. más?
2007
- Workshop en Simulación Molecular :
En la Universidad de Talca entre los días 19 al 21 de Noviembre de 2007, se desarrolló el Workshop en Simulación Molecular "Cálculos de Energía Libre Aplicados a Sistemas Biológicos" con la participación especial del Dr. Christophe Chipot de la Universidad Nancy, Francia. Este evento contó con el auspicio del Centro de Bioinformática y Simulación Molecular (http://cbsm.utalca.cl), la Universida de Talca y el Projecto Anillo Bicentenario-Chile ACT/24 "Laboratorio de Simulación Computacional en Nano y Biosistemas".más?.
- EMFIMIN 2007 :
Durante los días 15 y 16 de Noviembre del 2007, se realizó en la Universidad de Santiago de Chile el "VI Encuentro de Modelos Físicos y Matemáticos en Ingeniería". Organizados por la Facultad de Ciencia y la Facultad de Ingeniería de la USACH y el Projecto Anillo Bicentenario-Chile ACT/24 "Laboratorio de simulación computacional en nano y biosistemas".más?.
- Manifestación :
El pasado viernes 26 de octubre, cientos de científicos, incluidos Premios Nacionales de Ciencia, realizaron una manifestación en la plaza Bernarda Morín. Ésto fue con motivo de la preocupación que existe por parte de la comunidad científica, por la reducción de los fondos asignados a la investigación fundamental en el presupuesto 2008, lo cual afectará los proyectos FONDECYT, los fondos de becas y los programas de formación de recursos humanos. El Dr. Jorge Babul, presidente de las Sociedades Científicas, presentó las exigencias. más?.
