Michael Barnes

Michael Barnes is a Tutorial Fellow in Physics and Professor of Physics at the University of Oxford. He contributes to the Department of Physics through teaching and research, with a focus on plasma behavior in magnetic fields. His work has critical applications in sustainable energy production via fusion and astrophysical systems.

Professor Barnes teaches Mathematical Methods for Physicists to undergraduate students at University College and lectures on Complex Numbers and Ordinary Differential Equations. His pedagogical emphasis is on developing mathematical fluency for advanced physics topics.

His research explores plasma turbulence suppression by sheared flows, particularly in magnetic confinement fusion. Key projects include the development of the TRINITY multiscale gyrokinetic transport code and studies on tokamak transport barriers. Recent publications highlight advancements in gyrokinetic simulations, collision operators, and beam diagnostics for fusion applications.

Notable trends in his publications include multiscale modeling of plasma turbulence, zonal flow dynamics, and experimental comparisons for fusion devices like JET, MAST, and ITER. Subfields span from fundamental kinetic theory to applied fusion engineering.