Dr. Felix Hofmann

Biography

Felix Hofmann is a Professor of Engineering Science at Oxford University, focusing on the effects of defects on material properties. His research encompasses single atom defects, vacancies, interstitials, extended defects, dislocations, and macroscopic defects such as cracks and voids. His group is dedicated to developing new tools to probe the structure of defects and new approaches to measuring changes in material properties, employing experimental measurements to inform simulations that aim to capture defect-induced changes. One of his long-term goals is to engineer defects to optimize material function and properties. His work utilizes X-ray micro-diffraction techniques to study lattice orientation and strain in crystalline objects at the nanoscale. In particular, the group is focused on employing coherent X-ray diffraction for full-field measurement of lattice distortions in nanocrystals. Recently, he has concentrated on defects caused by irradiation in structural materials intended for future fusion reactors, collaborating with colleagues at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy and the Oxford Department of Materials to understand the formation of irradiation damage, its evolution over time, and the resulting changes in mechanical and physical properties of materials. Recent projects have also investigated the failure of piezoelectric materials and deformation-induced damage in biological materials.

Research Interests