Hello everyone, my name is Hideki Kobayashi, and I am beginning my work with Dr. Jean-Noël Grad under the supervision of Dr. Rudolf Weeber on the development of scientific software ESPresSo. Currently, I focus on coupling particle-based algorithms like molecular dynamics with lattice-based approaches such as lattice-Boltzmann.
My research interest is to elucidate how the macroscopic physical properties of complex fluids are determined by their underlying meso- and microscopic properties. I aim to bridge the gap between these scales without excessive modeling and ambiguity. To achieve this, I have developed two main approaches.
First, we developed hierarchical backmapping techniques to reconstruct the microscopic description from a coarse-grained model. This method for polymer melts was developed using the polymer version of liquid state theory. Additionally, we have developed a multi-level simulation method for binary hard-sphere mixtures based on statistical physics and multi-level Monte Carlo simulations. This approach mathematically demonstrated the critical point associated with the demixing of binary hard-sphere mixtures.
Second, we have developed and utilized mesoscopic simulation techniques for soft matter systems with hydrodynamic interactions. These techniques couple molecular dynamics with direct numerical simulation through the Smoothed Profile Method, which efficiently handles boundary conditions between moving particles and fluid. This method is advantageous for systems involving multiple particles, such as colloidal dispersion and polymer solution, or complex geometries. This approach elucidated the dynamical crossover from Brownian to non-Brownian for polymer tumbling under shear flow and the mechanism underlying the emergence of the second Newtonian regime for viscosity.
Overall, the topic of the present project aligns with my research interests and experience, and I am eager to pursue it.