Research
As a member of the Solar Physics and Space Plasma Research Centre at the University of Sheffield, I currently research in solar magnetohydrodynamic waves under the supervision of Prof. Róbert von Fáy-Siebenbürgen. I have previously completed research in meterology and photovoltaics.
Solar Magnetohydrodynamic waves
Waves are a ubiquitous feature of the magnetically dominated solar atmosphere. This is continually demonstrated with ever-improving spatial and temporal resolution observations of ground- and space-based solar telescopes.
Magnetohydrodynmics (MHD) is the mathematical study of the motion of electrically conducting fluids and provides an appropriate mathematical framework to study many solar structures because the Sun is made up of plasma, which, due to atom dissociation, is electrically conducting.
My interest in solar MHD waves stems from:
- their potential for large scale energy transport from the cool solar surface to the extremely hot atmosphere, and
- their use in magneto-seismology: estimating parameters such as the magnetic field strength which are difficult or impossible to measure accurately using traditional methods.
Previous research
Meteorology
The effect of the Coriolis force is to give a moving object a force perpendicular to its velocity. This rotational effect introduces some interesting phenomena such as Rossby waves which are large-scale atmospheric waves that oscillate around the globe which can break, causing violent cyclones. Rossby wave breaking has been linked to extreme weather events in Australia.
During a visit to Monash University, I worked with the School of Earth and Atmospheric Science to assess and compare the simulation of a large area of low pressure in central Australia caused by intense heating. We showed how crucial the lower boundary conditions are to the accurate simulation of this heat low; in particular, how parameters such as the soil moisture content and surface albedo have a significant influence on the precipitation cycle that is interwoven into the formation of the heat low. This research allows scientists to improve global climate models for inproved climate predictions in the future. See publications section.
Photovoltaics
I am interested in renewable energy alternatives and have previously completed research into optimising the geometry of photovoltaic panels, using analytical and numerical methods, to determine whether alternative curved geometries would increase the incident radiation gathered by a planar geometry.
Publications
Research
- Allcock, M., and Erdélyi, R., 2018. Solar Magnetoseismology with Magnetoacoustic Surface Waves in Asymmetric Magnetic Slab Waveguides, The Astrophysical Journal, 855(2):90, 10 pages.
- Noémi Kinga Zsámberger, Allcock, M., and Erdélyi, R., 2018. Magneto-acoustic Waves in a Magnetic Slab Embedded in an Asymmetric Magnetic Environment: The Effects of Asymmetry, The Astrophysical Journal, 853(2):136, 13 pages.
- Allcock, M., and Erdélyi, R., 2017. Magnetohydrodynamic Waves in an Asymmetric Magnetic Slab, Solar Physics, 292:35, 20 pages.
- Allcock, M., and Ackerley, D., 2016. Representing the Australian Heat Low in a GCM Using Different Surface and Cloud Schemes, Advances in Meteorology, vol. 2016, Article ID 9702607, 16 pages.
Also see ResearchGate and OrcID.
Outreach
- Allcock, M., 2017. 1,000,000 degrees with a chance of solar flares: a Pint of Science solar weather report, Mendeley Blog.
Conferences, workshops, and seminars
I often get lost at conferences and seminars when presenters jump straight into their research without context or motivation, so I always include a introduction to the context of my research within the broader field. As a visual learner, I make use of videos and images to most effectively portray an idea.
Highlights:
- Nervously presenting some results from my Masters research project at the National Astronomy Meeting in 2016.
- Illustrating at the European Solar Physics Meeting in 2017 how my theoretical work on asymmetric MHD waves can be used to approximate the strength of the magnetic field in structures in the solar atmosphere - something that is traditionally very difficult to do.
Below is a list of the conferences, workshops, and significant seminars I have attended and/or contributed to.
| Date | Event | Venue | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17/04/18 | Faculty of Science Showcase | University of Sheffield | Poster |
| 26-28/03/18 | UKMHD/BAMC 2018 | University of St. Andrews | Talk |
| 12/01/18 | RAS Specialist Discussion Meeting: Wave-based heating mechanisms in the solar atmosphere | RAS lecture theatre, Burlington House | |
| 10/11/17 | Solar Physics and Space Plasma Research Centre (SP2RC) seminar | University of Sheffield | Talk |
| 27/09/17 | Applied Mathematics Seminar | University of Sheffield | Talk |
| 4-8/09/17 | 15th European Solar Physics Meeting | Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary | Talk |
| 28-1/08/17 | STFC Advanced Summer School in Solar System Physics 2017 | University of Central Lancashire | Talk |
| 3-6/07/17 | National Astronomy Meeting 2017 | University of Hull | |
| 19-21/04/17 | UKMHD conference | Durham University | Talk |
| 16/02/17 | School of Mathematics and Statistics postgraduate student seminar | University of Sheffield | Talk |
| 4-9/09/2016 | STFC Advanced Summer School in Solar System Physics 2016 | University of Sheffield | |
| 28-2/09/2016 | STFC Introductory Course in Solar System Plasma Physics 2016 | University of St. Andrews | |
| 28/06/2016 | National Astronomy Meeting 2016 | University of Nottingham | Talk |
| 11-15/01/2016 | OpenAstronomy - Software Carpentry Workshop | University of Sheffield | |
| 11/12/2015 | Solar Physics and Space Plasma Research Centre (SP2RC) seminar | University of Sheffield | Talk |
| 17/02/2015 | Sheffield Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Showcase | University of Sheffield | Poster |
Public outreach
| Date | Event | Venue | Contribution |
| 17/05/17 | Pint of Science | The Holt Cafe, Sheffield | Talk |
Teaching
At the University of Sheffield, I am involved with teaching for the following undergraduate courses:
- MAS115 Mathematical Investigational Skills (Python, R, Latex, and html programming; mathematical writing) - assistant tutor and marker, Mar 2016 - present,
- MAS112 Vectors and Mechanics (Projectile motion; circular motion; mathematical models based on first and second order differential equations) - assistant tutor and marker, Sept - Dec 2017,
- MAS153/159 Mathematics for Chemistry (set theory; calculus; limits; differential equations, etc.) - assistant tutor and marker, Sept 2015 - Dec 2015.