Projects

Overview

A recurring theme in my work is that geometry and topology (linking, winding, helicity, writhe and related ideas) provide useful constraints and diagnostics in a wide range of physical systems — from solar/astrophysical magnetic fields, to biopolymers and proteins, to elastic rods and cables.

Foundations

• Topology, linking, helicity and writhe
  A long-running thread aimed at clarifying and generalising key topological measures used across MHD, fluid dynamics and filamentary systems. Includes extensive work with Anthony Yeates.

Writhe, link and twist flowing between Biophysics and Solar physics

• Writhing here, writhing there, writhinig everywhere....
  My thesis was entitled the Theory and applications of writhing, during that period I read about equal parts Solar Physics literature and Biopoloymer literature as the quantity, a measure of the self entanglemnt of a curve is used estensively in both fields. I was suprised to find, however, there seemed to be only minimal awareness of each field on each others developments, and when someone did make a connection it had a big effect. This link summarises an article myslef and my former PhD stuent Arron Bale authored tracing these connections and their effects. This includes papers published with some of my collaborators: Arron Bale. Mitch Berger. Sebastien Neukirch.

Solar and astrophysical magnetic fields

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Biopolymers and proteins

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Elastic filaments, rods and cables

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