9510623 Roelofs The Principal Investigator will apply powerful, recently developed, atomistic methods to problems in growth and diffusion on surfaces of tungsten and molybdenum. This work will provide a theoretical basis for a better understanding of the reduction of the work function in these materials. The project includes the investigation of self diffusion via both direct and concerted modes using extended embedded atom potentials. Using molecular dynamics the investigator will simulate the fabrication method used to produce dense arrays of sharp field emitter tips. Such calculations will provide an important basis for applications to the development of active illumination flat panel displays. %%% The Principal Investigator will apply powerful, recently developed, atomistic methods to problems in growth and diffusion on surfaces of tungsten and molybdenum. Such calculations will provide an important basis for applications to the development of active illumination flat panel displays (as in lap-top computers, for example) to replace liquid crystal technology. This Research in Undergraduate Institutions activity continues the excellent training that the investigator has provided previously. An active collaborative arrangement with Sandia National Laboratory in Livermore, CA will continue. ***
