Current Interests

John Blackburn works as a senior research scientist in the functional materials group. His interests include solid state physics and electromagnetics with emphasis on functional materials which couple to electric/magnetic fields (e.g. piezoelectrics ceramics, magnetostrictives and multiferroics). This work involves theoretical and computational analysis of solid state and electromagnetic systems, including piezoelectric resonators and actuators, dielectric resonators and metamaterials. The aim of the work is to improve measurements of electronic/functional materials and devices which are important in industry.

John has many years of experience writing and using computer simulation software, from continuum level finite element analysis to molecular dynamic simulations. He is the author of Zinc, a multiphysics finite element code published by NPL.

Education

PhD: Time evolution of microstructure in complex systems, 1996-1999, Cambridge University, UK.

BSc (Hons) Computational Physics, First class honours, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK: 1992-1996.

Selected Publications

• Verified finite element simulation of multiferroic structures: solutions for conducting and insulating systems
  J. F. Blackburn, M. Vopsaroiu and M. G. Cain
  Journal of Applied Physics, 104, 074104 (2008)
• Non-linear piezoelectric resonance analysis using burst mode: a rigorous solution
  J. F. Blackburn, M. G. Cain
  Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics 40 (1), pages 227-233 (2007)
• Nonlinear piezoelectric resonance: A theoretically rigorous approach to constant I-V measurements
  J. F. Blackburn, M. G. Cain
  Journal of Applied Physics 100 (11), page 114101 (2006)
• Solving the double eigenvalue problem: a study of mode matching in arbitrary-layer dielectric resonators
  J. F. Blackburn
  IEEE Proceedings Microwaves Antennas and Propagation 153 (5), pages 447-455 (2006)
• Numerical convergence in periodic method of moments analysis of frequency selective surfaces based on wire elements
  J. F. Blackburn and L. R. R. Arnaut
  IEEE Trans Ant Prop, 53 (10), pages 3308-3315 (2005)

Contact details

E-mail: john.blackburn@npl.co.uk
Tel: 020 8943 6559