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Current Postgraduate Research Students

David Burton supervises 2 postgraduate research students. If these students have produced research profiles, these are listed below:

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Dr David Burton SFHEA

Senior Lecturer

David Burton

Physics Building

LA1 4YB

Lancaster

Tel: +44 1524 592843

Research Interests

I’m a theoretical physicist whose interests touch on applied mathematics and engineering. Research problems that lie at the intersections of different areas in science and technology greatly intrigue me. I’ve worked on many different topics throughout my career, most of which benefitted from my background in applied differential geometry and theoretical high-energy physics. My early efforts were in relativistic continuum mechanics and gravitational wave detection, and I later devoted my thoughts to gravitational Sagnac interferometry. I then returned to continuum mechanics for a while, working in collaboration with a software company (Orcina Ltd) on efficient modelling of the vortex-induced vibration of deep-sea marine risers. After that I became absorbed by laser and plasma physics, focussing on novel techniques for particle acceleration and non-linear phenomena that arise at the strongest electromagnetic field intensities. This work led to my current fascination with the opportunities that high-intensity lasers and laser-driven plasmas offer for exploring dark matter and fundamental questions in quantum physics.

Current Teaching

I currently teach an undergraduate course in fluid dynamics. My teaching experience includes undergraduate courses on General Relativity, theoretical condensed matter physics (magnetism), applied differential geometry, analytical mechanics, and first-year mathematics for physicists (including vector calculus). I've supervised numerous different undergraduate research projects on a wide range of topics including gravitational waves, vortex dynamics, axion electrodynamics, and the properties of the quantum vacuum.

If you want an introduction to some aspects of differential geometry from the perspective of a physicist then you might like to explore A Geometrical Approach to Physics.

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