Dr. James M Christian
School of Science, Engineering and Environment
Current positions
Lecturer
Biography
Lecturer in Physics (2011–present)
Theoretical photonics and complexity
RCUK Academic Fellow (2006–2011)
Multidisciplinary theory & modelling: nonlinear science
Areas of research
Electromagnetic scattering, Fluid dynamics, Nonlinear optics
LECTURE COURSES
Mathematics & Computing (Level 4 – 10/20 credits taught)
Computing for Physics (Level 5 – 10/20 credits taught)
Theoretical Physics II (Level 6 – 10/10 credits taught)
Relativity (Level 6 – 10/10 credits taught)
PROJECT SUPERVISION
BSc Level 6
MPhys Levels 5 & 6
MSc/MPhil, PhD
TUTORING
Personal tutor to Level 4 students
Spatial solitons: fundamentals & applications
Fundamentals
Geometrical properties of optical beam propagation:
Exact analytical solitons of nonlinear Helmholtz equations
Numerical simulations of Helmholtz solitons
Soliton stability and internal modes
Bistability and multistability
Weakly-nonlinear analyses for Helmholtz equations
Delocalized nonlinear solutions: boundary solitons, cnoidal waves
Vector solitons: coupled equations, exact solutions, stability
Modelling ultranarrow optical beams
Applications
Single interfaces: soliton refraction & Goos-Hänchen shifts
Nonlinear surface waves: exact solutions & stability
Solitons in patterned systems: waveguide arrays & photonic crystals
Discrete nonlinear-Schrödinger / nonlinear-Helmholtz equations
Spatiotemporal solitons
Spatially-dispersive systems:
Exact spatiotemporal solitons & stability
Multi-component effects: vector solitons & modulational instabilities
Dissipative solitons: generalized Ginzburg-Landau equations
Spatial and spatiotemporal soliton interactions
Spontaneous pattern formation
Optical reaction-diffusion systems: dispersive & absorptive nonlinearities
Thin-slice geometries: single feedback mirror, ring & Fabry-Pérot cavities
Bulk nonlinear effects: counterpropagating beams, filled ring cavities
Incoherent patterns & video-feedback systems
Modelling global population & information dynamics
Unstable cavity lasers
Kaleidoscope lasers: mode patterns, eigenvalue spectra, convergence
Two-dimensional virtual source (2D-VS) modelling
Role of transverse symmetry and polygonal boundary conditions
Computation of fractal dimension
Fresnel diffraction
Exact mathematical descriptions of Fresnel diffraction patterns:
hard-edge apertures (non-orthogonal edges, arbitrary shapes)
Edge-wave formulations: area- and line-integral representations
Computation of Fresnel patterns
Ultrabroadband multi-frequency Raman generation
Exact solutions of UMRG equations, gain-suppression analyses
Detuning effects (linear and nonlinear)
Computational modelling of transient dynamics
Novel cavity applications:
Ultrashort pulse generation
Spontaneous self-synchronization and mode-locking
QUALIFICATIONS
2012–2013
Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PgCAP)
Undertaken at University of Salford, U.K.(currently enrolled)
2002–2006
PhD in Theoretical and Computational Photonics
Institute for Materials Research, University of Salford, U.K.
1997–2002
Physics MPhys. (Integrated) 1st Class Honours,
University of Salford, U.K.
Awarded 2002 School of Sciences Prize for Physics,
Awarded 2001 Head of School Achievement Prize for Physics.
Industrial placement year (07/1999–07/2000)
Plasma Physics Group,
Central Laser Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxfordshire, UK.
MEMBERSHIPS
2002–present
Associate Member of the Institute of Physics
Quantum Electronics and Photonics (QEP) group