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Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics

Professor Michael Cates

  • 2015-date: Lucasian Professor of Mathematics
  • 2007-2022: Royal Society Research Professor
  • 1995-2015: Professor of Natural Philosophy, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh
  • 1992-1995: University Lecturer, Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge
  • 1989-1992: University Assistant Lecturer, Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge
  • 1988-1989: Royal Society University Research Fellow, Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge
  • 1985-1995: Junior Research Fellow (1985-1989), Teaching Fellow (1990-1995), Trinity College Cambridge

Research

Mike is a member of the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics. He heads the Soft Matter research group. His current research interests include: flow of colloids, polymers, emulsions, gels and other soft materials; shear-thickening and rheology in dense suspensions; dynamics of soft glasses; flow of liquid crystals; general theories of active matter; cellular locomotion; phase ordering in active and passive systems; statistical mechanics of active particles; and numerous other topics. He recently completed an ERC Advanced Grant called ADNeSP: Active and Driven Systems, Nonequilibrium Statistical Physics.

Prizes and Awards

  • 2021: International Member, US National Academy of Sciences
  • 2019: International Member, US National Academy of Engineering
  • 2016: Bingham Medal, US Society of Rheology
  • 2013: Weissenberg Award, European Society of Rheology
  • 2009: Dirac Medal and Prize, Institute of Physics
  • 2009: Gold Medal, British Society of Rheology
  • 2007: Fellow of the Royal Society (London)
  • 2005: Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
  • 1996: Fellow of the Institute of Physics
  • 1994: Prix Franco-Britannique (Paris Academy of Sciences)
  • 1991: Maxwell Prize and Medal, Institute of Physics

Publications

Spinodal decomposition in the viscous hydrodynamic regime
SI Jury, P Bladon, S Krishna, ME Cates
– STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS OF MATERIALS IN THE MESOSCOPIC DOMAIN
(1999)
37
(link to publication)
Flow behaviour of entangled surfactant micelles
ME Cates
– Journal of Physics Condensed Matter
(1999)
8,
9167
(doi: 10.1088/0953-8984/8/47/006)
Tests of dynamical scaling in three-dimensional spinodal decomposition
SI Jury, P Bladon, S Krishna, ME Cates
– Physical Review E Statistical Physics Plasmas Fluids and Related Interdisciplinary Topics
(1999)
59,
R2535
(doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.59.R2535)
Homogeneity and spectral dimension of aggregation fractals
ME Cates
– Journal of Physics A Mathematical and General
(1999)
17,
L487
(doi: 10.1088/0305-4470/17/9/006)
Random bilayer phases of dilute surfactant solutions
ME Cates, D Roux
– Journal of Physics Condensed Matter
(1999)
2,
sa339
(doi: 10.1088/0953-8984/2/s/053)
Swelling and Dissolution of Lamellar Phases: Role of Bilayer Organization
M Buchanan, J Arrault, ME Cates
– Langmuir
(1998)
14,
7371
(doi: 10.1021/la980722s)
Development of stresses in cohesionless poured sand
ME Cates, JP Wittmer, J-P Bouchaud, P Claudin
– Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences
(1998)
356,
2535
(doi: 10.1098/rsta.1998.0285)
Shear-induced clustering in a simple driven diffusive model
OJ O’Loan, MR Evans, ME Cates
– Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications
(1998)
258,
109
(doi: 10.1016/s0378-4371(98)00225-8)
Triangular and uphill avalanches of a tilted sandpile
JP Bouchaud, ME Cates
– Granular Matter
(1998)
1,
101
(doi: 10.1007/s100350050015)
Jamming, force chains, and fragile matter
ME Cates, JP Wittmer, J-P Bouchaud, P Claudin
– Physical Review Letters
(1998)
81,
1841
(doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.81.1841)
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Research Group

Soft Matter

Room

G1.08

Telephone

01223 337912

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