Dr David Burton SFHEA
Senior LecturerResearch 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.
Selected Publications
A Geometrical Approach to Physics
Burton, D., Noble, A. 20/03/2024 1st ed. Boca Raton, Florida : CRC Press. 202 p. ISBN: 9781032129280, 9781032133805. Electronic ISBN: 9781003228943.
Book
Self-force on a charged particle in an external scalar field
Noble, A., Burton, D., Docherty, L., Jaroszynski, D.A. 24/11/2021 In: New Journal of Physics. 23
Journal article
Analogue Hawking temperature of a laser-driven plasma
Fiedler, C., Burton, D. 31/07/2021 In: Physics Letters A. 403, 6 p.
Journal article
Plasma-based wakefield accelerators as sources of axion-like particles
Burton, D.A., Noble, A. 28/03/2018 In: New Journal of Physics. 20, 9 p.
Journal article
Axionic suppression of plasma wakefield acceleration
Burton, D., Noble, A., Walton, T. 26/08/2016 In: Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical. 49, 16 p.
Journal article
Stern-Gerlach surfing in laser wakefield accelerators
Flood, S., Burton, D. 25/09/2015 In: Physics Letters A. 379, 36, p. 1966-1974. 9 p.
Journal article
Non-perturbative aspects of particle acceleration in non-linear electrodynamics
Burton, D., Flood, S., Wen, H. 17/04/2015 In: Journal of Mathematical Physics. 56, 11 p.
Journal article
On the entropy of radiation reaction
Burton, D., Noble, A. 7/03/2014 In: Physics Letters A. 378, 14-15, p. 1031-1035. 5 p.
Journal article
Aspects of electromagnetic radiation reaction in strong fields
Burton, D., Noble, A. 03/2014 In: Contemporary Physics. 55, 2, p. 110-121. 12 p.
Journal article
A kinetic model of radiating electrons
Noble, A., Gratus, J., Burton, D., Jaroszynski, D. 2013 In: Journal of Mathematical Physics. 54, 4, 8 p.
Journal article
Testing vacuum electrodynamics using "slow light" experiments
Flood, S.P., Burton, D.A. 2012 In: EPL. 100, 4 p.
Journal article
Born-Infeld axion-dilaton electrodynamics and electromagnetic confinement
Burton, D.A., Dereli, T., Tucker, R. 20/09/2011 In: Physics Letters B. 703, 4, p. 530-535. 6 p.
Journal article
A linear collision operator for relativistic plasmas.
Noble, A., Burton, D.A. 14/03/2011 In: Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical. 44, 14, p. 145502.
Journal article
Wake potentials and impedances of charged beams in gradually tapering structures
Burton, D.A., Christie, D.C., Smith, J.D.A., Tucker, R.W. 4/03/2011 In: Journal of Mathematical Physics. 52, 3, p. 032902. 30 p.
Journal article
Exploring Born-Infeld electrodynamics using plasmas.
Burton, D.A., Trines, R.M.G.M., Walton, T., Wen, H. 10/02/2011 In: Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical. 44, 9, 11 p.
Journal article
Longitudinal wave-breaking limits in a unified geometric model of relativistic warm plasmas
Burton, D.A., Noble, A. 19/02/2010 In: Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical. 43, 7, 19 p.
Journal article
Spinning particles in scalar-tensor gravity
Burton, D.A., Tucker, R.W., Wang, C. 28/04/2008 In: Physics Letters A. 372, 18, p. 3141-3144. 4 p.
Journal article
Twisted electromagnetic modes and Sagnac ring lasers
Burton, D.A., Noble, A., Tucker, R.W., Wiltshire, D.L. 21/03/2005 In: Classical and Quantum Gravity. 22, 6, p. 909-931. 23 p.
Journal article
On the stability of stay cables under light wind and rain conditions
Burton, D.A., Cao, D., Wang, C., Tucker, R. 6/01/2005 In: Journal of Sound and Vibration. 279, 1-2, p. 89-117. 29 p.
Journal article
All Publications
LUSoM Award Group Project
17/10/2023 → 07/02/2024
Other
Nelson & Colne College
School Engagement
Ripley St Thomas Academy
School Engagement
The Sixth Form Bolton
School Engagement
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Continuous Professional Development event for physics teachers
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Continuous Professional Development event for physics teachers
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
3rd Conference on Extremely High Intensity Laser Physics
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
HFLPI (High-Field Laser-Plasma Interaction)
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
European Physical Society Conference on Plasma Physics 2019
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
SPIE Optics+Optoelectronics 2019
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (External organisation)
Membership of committee
LPHYS 2018
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (External organisation)
Membership of committee
128th European Study Group with Industry
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
SPIE Optics+Optoelectronics 2017
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
44th IOP Plasma Physics Conference
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Blackpool Sixth-Form College
School Engagement
Physics Beyond Colliders
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
118th European Study Group with Industry
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Axion-like particles: theory and experiment
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
A journey through the quantum vacuum
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
53rd Meeting of the Society for Natural Philosophy
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
110th European Study Group with Industry
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Gravity - not just a good idea...
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
A geometrical perspective on many-body theory and radiation reaction
Invited talk
Space Charge 2015
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
A geometrical perspective on many-body theory and radiation reaction
Invited talk
RTG Colloquium
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
High-Power Lasers at the Forefront of Science and Technology
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Barrow Sixth Form College
School Engagement
Physics in Intense Fields
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Collective effects and the radiative self-force
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
SPIE Optics + Optoelectronics 2013
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
CLF Christmas Meeting 2012
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
AGMP-8 (Algebra, Geometry and Mathematical Physics)
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Barrow Sixth Form College
School Engagement
Winstanley College
School Engagement
St Mary's College
School Engagement
SPIE Optics + Optoelectronics 2011
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Problems and Developments of Classical Electrodynamics
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
MOPNET 3 (Matrix and Operator Pencil Network)
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Plasmas, Computation and Mathematics
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
SPIE Optics + Optoelectronics 2009
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Cardinal Newman College
School Engagement
Institute of Physics (External organisation)
Membership of committee
8th International Seminar on Geometry, Continua and Microstructure
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
13th Advanced Accelerator Concepts Workshop
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Geometric analysis of wave-breaking in relativistic warm plasmas
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Advisory Panel to the Editorial Board of Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical
Appointment
Featured article in the Highlights of 2010 brochure of Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical
Other distinction
Featured article in the Highlights of 2011 brochure of Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical
Other distinction
Outstanding Reviewer on the Advisory Panel for Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical 2017
Prize (including medals and awards)
Mathematical Physics
Accelerator Physics, Mathematical Physics
- Mathematical Physics
- Quantum Technology Centre