Thermodynamic Modeling and Analysis of Phase Transitions

The group contributes to the following application oriented research topics of WIAS:

Thin films play an important role in nature and many areas of technological applications. In particular on micro- and nanoscales technological processes such as dewetting or epitaxial growth are used to design surfaces with specific material properties. Apart from the need to derive mathematical decriptions, analyis and numerical simulation, that serve to accelerate the development of new technologies, it is also exciting to understand material behaviour on these small scales. [>> more]

Today, in medical science digital simulation instruments for processes in the human body are utilized in diagnistics and therapy planning. At WIAS, models for biological tissues, fluids, and their interaction as well as techniques in optimization and optimal control for decision support in biomedicin are devloped. [>> more]

Many components in modern equipment rely on specific properties of so-called multifunctional materials. These materials are distinguished by the fact that therein properties like elastic deformability, thermal expansibility, magnetizability, or polarizability interact nontrivially like for instance in a piezo-crystal. At WIAS coupled models describing these properties are developed and analyzed. [>> more]

Phase transitions and hysteresis are characteristics of energy storage problems. The aim is to formulate and analyse a thermodynamical model which discribes the storage problem. [>> more]

The behavior of electrochemical systems is widely investigated with continuum physics models. Applications range from single crystal electrochemistry to lithium batteries and fuel cells, from biological nano-pores to electrolysis and corrosion science, and further. [>> more]

Archive

Further application topics where the institute has expertise in:

n order to produce semiconductor components used in computers, mobile phones, laser devices or solar cells, semiconductor (single- and poly-) crystals of high quality are needed. The growth process of such crystals is complex and quite often expensive. It is important to find strategies to reduce the costs of the growth process and to improve the quality of the produced crystals. In this context electromagnetic fields often play an essential role. Applied mathematics, in particular the techniques of modeling, analysis, and simulation, is used to support the development of growth processes. [>> more]

This work is focussed on the design of nanostructures and semiconductor simulations in photovoltaics as well as the production of solar silicon. [>> more]

Currently, solar cells are mainly produced by using multi-crystalline silicon. A part of the overall production costs of a usable solar module is due to crystal growth from the silicon melt. The aim of modern crystal growth processes is the reduction of these costs while also improving the quality of the grown crystals. [>> more]

Before further processing for application in opto-electronic devices, single crystal GaAs wafer must be heat treated. However, arsenic-rich GaAs with a composition corresponding to the congruent melting point, exhibits unwanted arsenic precipitations during the heat treatment. [>> more]