Paul Tangney

Paul’s research is theoretical and computational in nature and he has broad interests in physics, materials science, chemistry, and related fields. He generally develops and applies computational techniques such as density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics to study the electronic structure and finite temperature properties of both bulk and nanostructured materials and devices. Paul’s past work has included studies of the structural, vibrational, and electronic properties of carbon nanotubes and their responses to pressure and temperature; the mechanisms for mechanical energy dissipation in nanoscale machinery; the structure and dynamics of technologically and geophysically important oxides such as silica, alumina, and MgO; the dynamics of semiconductors following intense ultrafast laser excitation; and the structures and electronic properties of semiconductor nanocrystals.