Dr. Simone Taoli

 

Employed as a Post Doc. at The Open University (OU) and University College London (UCL), United Kingdom
Start Date: January 2004, End Date: July 2005

My higher education started with my attending "Liceo Classico” where I defended my final matriculation exam in Jul. 2000, with a 60/60 graduation mark. After that I attended the university in Bologna, in which I studied the basics of nuclear physics and neutronics applied to the study of flux in a nuclear power fission reactor, and concepts about plasma instabilities and turbulence and its application to fusion reactors. I defended my degree thesis on "Quantum mechanical calculations of Auger spectra of silicon clusters" on October 2000 receiving a summa cum laude graduation mark. After, in January 2001, I became a PhD Student in the same university in the Nuclear Science and Technology Department, which is an interdepartmental institution of the university of Bologna. The laboratory has an active nuclear research reactor and a plasma focus machine. My first activity was devoted to the study of the basics physics of both fusion and fission nuclear reactors. Since 2001 I split my activity between Bologna and Pisa, where I also became a research student in Scuola Normale Superiore in the physics division. I have a position in this institution to pursue a second PhD. These studies formed my Phd degree thesis, whose title is "Inner shell photoionization and non-radiative decay processes in molecules: theory and calculations", which was defended in May 2004 and which is based on formal scattering theory, as applied to the interactions of photons with atoms and molecules, developing a new quantum-mechanical method based on the Fano's formulation of the continuum-discrete interaction.

Since January 2004 I'm working within the TAMPA group at University College London for postdoctoral studies, involving me in the EPIC network, in order to solve the electron-water molecule scattering trough R-matrix type theories and to develop a method for taking into account the interplay between multiple nuclear degrees of freedom of the system and the open off-resonance decay processes that give a dominant contribution to the dynamics. During the project, I'm receiving extensive training in developing a new computer program, that will form an integrated part of the UK molecular R-matrix package, using C++ programming language. I'm learning about time-dependent quantum mechanics and interaction with experiment. Indeed the opportunity to work on a project closely with an experimental group is one aspect that particularly appeals to me as this is a new opportunity for me. I will be able to participate in the training (and other) activities of the Electron and Positron Initiated Chemistry (EPIC) network and other congresses and schools such as MOLEC 2004. I believe that collaboration with internationally leading research groups will help me make important contacts for my future career. Experimental groups include those involved in EPIC network such as that of Prof NJ Mason (Open University) with whom the host has extensive collaborations, and that of Prof L Sanche (Sherbrooke, Canada) who is working on electron collisions with biologically important molecules. The main feature I like is that of a multidisciplinary project using techniques on the borders of physics and chemistry and with application to the life sciences, astronomy, aeronomy and, given the importance of water, most likely to other areas too. I'd like to broaden the application of my work to such areas that are strategic and relevant for the community.