Applied Physics Division Committee
Research Interests
Plasma propulsion: Feasibility of a new type of electric propulsion system.
Activities include experimental investigations and construction of mathematical and computational models to determine efficiencies, physical principles and space mission parameters. The aim is the inclusion of such a propulsion system on a functional CubeSat.
Renewable energy: We work on improvements on a receiver for a solar trough systems. Improvements include hyper-concentration of solar beams, cavity type receiver geometries and inclusion of a hot mirror to increase solar to heat efficiencies. Performance is modelled theoretically, experimentally and computationally.
Home page: https://www.wits.ac.za/staff/academic-a-z-listing/f/philippeferrerwitsacza/
Research page: https://www.wits.ac.za/physics/research-areas/space-propulsion-/
Leader of the Physics Department’s Photovoltaic Research Group (PVRG).
Managing Director of PVinsight (spin-off company), a SANAS-accredited laboratory which conducts quality assurance testing on Photovoltaic modules.
Research Interests
Solar Energy, specialising in Photovoltaics.
Secretary
DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Strong Materials (focus area Diamond, Thin Hard Films and Related Materials)
School of Physics, Wits (Materials Physics Research Institute).
Research Interests
Interaction of ion beams with solid surfaces, ion implantation, ion beam analysis, diamond surfaces, other hard materials, radiation damage.
CoE webpage https://www.wits.ac.za/strongmaterials/focus-areas/diamond-thin-hard-films-and-related-materials/
Manuscript review
Industry Liaison
Leader of nuclear materials group and Coordination Committee
PI leader for the SA-JINR collaboration for the Material Research and Nanoscience group
Research Interests
Nuclear materials, Effects of ion irradiation in matter and ion beam analysis.
Google scholar: https://scholar.google.co.za/citations?user=figMwGEAAAAJ&hl=en
Biophysics Liaison
MSc student, Clean and Green Energy Research Group,
School of Physics, University of Pretoria
MSc topic: Optimization of processing parameters in the preparation of hematite thin films for PEC device
Supervisor: Prof Mmantsae Diale
Research project is on the influence that various processing parameters have on hematite thin films, for applications in photoelectrochemical water splitting.
Research Interests
Interests in Applied Physics include research using computational methods applied to HIV-AIDS epidemiology, as well as research in bibliometrics, solar energy, and solar radiometry.