Personal profile

Personal profile

Professor Refson's research interests encompass both the development of density-functional theory (DFT) -based techniques for computer simulation of materials, and the application of those techniques to materials science. He is a lead developer of CASTEP, the UK's world-class plane-wave DFT materials modelling computer program, widely used on supercomputers across the UK and worldwide. His wide portfolio of research topics include studies of transport in materials for batteries and other energy-related applications, complex magnetic systems and strongly correlated electrons, phonon spectroscopy, and defects in spin-ice pyrochlore oxides. He is a member of the UK Car-Parrinello consortium, to exploit cutting-edge supercomputers (including ARCHER) for materials simulation.
He has a joint appointment with the ISIS spallation neutron facility at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. There he leads a programme exploiting the synergies between simulations and experiment, with a particular focus on vibrational spectroscopy and magnetic systems.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy

External positions

Visiting Scientist, ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source

1 Nov 2014 → …

Keywords

  • Physics

Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or