The African School series on Electronic Structure Methods and Applications (ASESMA) is planned on a biennial basis from 2010 to 2020. The schools emphasize the theory and computational methods for predicting and understanding properties of materials through calculations at the fundamental level of electronic structure. Previous schools were held in Cape Town, South Africa (2010) and Eldoret, Kenya (2012).

TOPICS

The activity will cover basic methodological aspects such as density functional theory, pseudopotentials, plane waves, iterative diagonalization methods, etc. It will also cover the application of electronic structure methods to the mechanical, dynamical, electronic, and magnetic properties of materials. This school will focus in particular on:

A) Optical properties with time-dependent DFT and GW methods

B) Quantum Monte Carlo methods

C) Molecular Dynamics

It will consist of lectures and of hands-on computational laboratories based on state-of-the-art codes. Each participant will engage in a project depending upon his/her level. The projects will vary from calculation of the stable structures of materials for those without previous background in density functional calculations to more advanced calculations for those with more experience.

PARTICIPATION

The participation in the activity is open to young scientists from all countries which are members of the United Nations, UNESCO or IAEA, and aimed preferably at candidates from the African continent. As it will be conducted in English, participants should have an adequate working knowledge of this language. Participants should have a background in solid state physics or chemistry at advanced undergraduate level, and be familiar with basic use of Linux and computer programming. Limited travel funds are available for some participants, who are nationals of, and working in, a developing country, and who are not more than 45 years old. Such support is available only for those who attend the entire School. There is no registration fee. Local accommodation and meals will be provided at no charge to all those selected for participation. 

Further information may also be retrieved at      http://146.141.41.27/

DEADLINE   for requesting participation :   19th October 2014