Christopher Poulton

Professor Christopher Poulton serves as Discipline Leader for Physics at the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences of the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). With a PhD from the University of Sydney (2000) and postdoctoral experience at institutions including the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, he specializes in numerical and analytical methods in photonics, particularly focusing on electromagnetic/elastic wave propagation and light-sound interactions via Brillouin scattering.

• PhD, University of Sydney (2000)
• BSc (Hons), University of Sydney (1996)

His research explores Brillouin scattering for applications in optical data storage, ultrafast acoustic dynamics, and nonlinear waveguide phenomena. He develops analytical models for photonic crystal fibers, metasurfaces, and optoacoustic devices, with recent work emphasizing machine learning integration for Brillouin microscopy data analysis and on-chip signal processing.

Recent publications highlight trends in Brillouin-based memory systems, metasurface design, and nonlinear optoacoustic interactions. Methodologies span principal component analysis for biological imaging to quasi-soliton pulse dynamics in photonic waveguides, often combining numerical simulations with experimental validation.

Professor Poulton actively supervises honors projects and teaches advanced mathematical topics including Complex Analysis, Vector Calculus, and Numerical Methods. He has contributed to On-chip photonics: principles, technology and applications as a book chapter author.

His laboratory collaborates on projects like optoacoustic isolation and 3D hydrogel engineering under grants including ARC Discovery Projects DP200101893 and DP160101691. Current infrastructure includes chalcogenide waveguide fabrication and Brillouin response measurement systems.