Kevin P. Driver
Physics Graduate Research Associate
Office:
2025 Physics Research Building
Mail Address:
1040 Physics Research Building
191 West Woodruff Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43210-1117
Telephone: : 614-292-2887
Fax: 614-688-3871
E-mail: driver@mps (followed by) .ohio-state.edu
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I received a B.S. in Physics at the University
of Louisville in 2003 and a M.S. in Physics from Ohio State
University in 2006. I'm currently working towards finishing a
Ph.D. under Prof. John Wilkins at Ohio State University.
Description of research:
My research focuses on utilizing first-principle methods to
calculate properties of solids based on their electronic
structure. The main methods I use are Quantum Monte
Carlo (QMC) and Density
Functional Theory (DFT). I've
used these methods to predict defect formation and diffusion in
semiconductors, as well as phase transitions, equations of state, and
elastic propertes of geophysically relevant minerals at high
pressure. I also have general interest in high-performance, parallel computing
and making use of such technology to advance computational materials
science.
Research projects:
- Study of the formation and diffusion of self interstitial
defects in silicon. These defects are nucleation sites for larger
defects that plague the semiconductor fabrication industry.
- Benchmarking density functionals for the prediction of phase
transitions and equation of state of silicates. Exchange-correlation
functionals can be very unreliable in the quality of their
prediction - even for different properties of the same material. To
have predictive power, functionals must be studied systematically
and and made more universally reliable.
- Prediction of high-pressure, elastic properties of deep-Earth
minerals. Elastic properties are valuable for understanding seismic
structure of Earth as well as pressure-induced phase transitions
that tend to be driven by elastic instabilities.
(last revised June 2, 2008)
