Computer simulation shows unusual properties of water on nanoscale Published July 25, 2008 By Maria Callier Air Force Office of Scientific Research ARLINGTON, Va. -- An Air Force Office of Scientific Research Office-funded theoretical physicist is the first in his field to conduct a computer simulation showing water's unusual properties on the nanometer scale. Dr. Uzi Landman, director of the Center for Computational Materials Science at Georgia Institute of Technology, and his team discovered the formation of liquid-like layers for one nanometer thick water films. In a horizontal position, the water can flow, but in the vertical, it acts like a solid. "This work is motivated by great interest in understanding the properties of highly confined water in the context of miniaturized machinery," he said. Dr. Landman's research program at Georgia Tech covers a broad spectrum of topics, ranging from atomic-scale phenomena of fluid nanojets to electron quantum dots and trapped cold atoms. Understanding and finding ways for manipulating and controlling the properties of fluids on the atomic and molecular scale and under extreme conditions is of importance for the design and development of future Air Force materials and devices. Novel behavior of water emerges when materials are in nanoscale dimensions and their behavior cannot be determined from knowledge of larger devices. Future technological and engineering applications of nanoscale materials will require new, nanoscale design principles. By funding research programs like this one led by Dr. Uzi Landman, AFOSR continues to expand the horizon of scientific knowledge through its leadership and management of the Air Force's basic research program.