Dr David Burton SFHEA

Senior Lecturer

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.

Selected Publications

A scalar field theory of 1+1-dimensional laser wakefield accelerators
Aleksiejuk, M., Burton, D. 20/08/2024 In: Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical. 57, 35
Journal article

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

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

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

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

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
  • Quantum Technology Centre