Theoretical physics
Members of the group have a wide range of interests in theoretical physics spanning the areas of group theory, quantum chemistry, quantum field theory, particle physics, statistical mechanics, general relativity, quantum gravity, classical and quantum cosmology.
Academic staff
Dr Jenni Adams
Cosmology. Astroparticle physics. Detection of high-energy neutrinos.
Dr Dharamvir Ahluwalia
Interface of gravitational and quantum realms, neutrino oscillations, representation space theory, theory of quantum fields, and nature and questions related to dark matter and dark energy.
Professor Philip H Butler
Algebraic and group theoretic methods for solving eigenvalue problems arising in quantum mechanics, especially the calculation of 3jm and 6j coefficients for various compact groups. Properties of electromagnetic solutions of the Dirac equation. Design and development of copper-vapour and carbon dioxide lasers. (See also Medical Physics section.)
Assoc Prof Michael F Reid
Optical properties of lanthanide and actinide ions in condensed matter. Energy levels, one and two-photon transitions, optical activity, non-radiative transitions, energy transfer. Parametric analyses of experimental data, many-body calculations, group-theoretical techniques.
Assoc Prof David L Wiltshire
General relativity, quantum gravity and cosmology. Averaging and backreaction in inhomogeneous cosmologies. Dark energy.
Research Associates
Dr Ishwaree Neupane
Cosmological implications of quantum field theories, general relativity and M/superstring theories, theories of inflation, cosmological perturbations, warped extra dimensions, models of dark energy and modified gravity, and black hole physics.
Professor Geoff E Stedman
Diagram techniques in quantum field theory and group theory. Phonon interaction and Jahn-Teller effects in condensed matter spectroscopy. Polarisation dependence of nonlinear optical processes. Interferometric tests of physical theories. (See also Ring Laser section.)
Emeritii
Emeritus Professor Alister G McLellan.
Lattice dynamics. Thermodynamics of anisotropic media.