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Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics

Career

  • 1974-2013 Fellow of Trinity College
  • 1975- 1977 Postdoc and assistant Professor, MIT
  • 1977- 1991 Lecturer, DAMTP
  • 1977-2013 College Lecturer, Trinity
  • 1979-1991, 1992-1994 Tutor, Trinity
  • 1994-2000 Reader, DAMTP
  • 1994-2006 Dean of College, Trinity
  • 2000-present Professor of Astrophysical Fluid dynamics, DAMTP
  • 2006-2012 Vice-Master, Trinity
  • 2013-present Provost, King's College

Research

Effects of fluctuations and shear on mean field dynamos. Effect of shear on convective dynamo action. Magnetic buoyancy instability induced by shear flow. Effects of distant boundaries on pattern-forming instabilities with drift

Selected Publications

  • J. G. Wissink, P. C. Matthews, D. W. Hughes, and M. R. E. Proctor. Numerical Simulation of Buoyant Magnetic Flux Tubes. Astrophys. J., 536:982-997, 2000.
  • A.M. Rucklidge, N.O. Weiss, D.P. Brownjohn, P.C. Matthews, and M.R.E. Proctor. Compressible magnetoconvection in three dimensions: pattern formation in a strongly stratified layer. J. Fluid Mech., 419:283-323, 2000.
  • M.R.E. Proctor, S.M.Tobias, and E.Knobloch. Noise-sustained structures due to convective insta- bility in finite domains. Physica D, 138:674-683, 2000.
  • A. Abdulrahman, C.A . Jones, M. R. E. Proctor, and K. A. Julien. Large wavenumber convection in the rotating annulus. Geophys. Astrophys. Fluid Dyn., 93:227-252, 2000.
  • I.Melbourne, M.R.E. Proctor, and A.M.Rucklidge. A heteroclinic model of geodynamo reversals and excursions. In G. Dangelmayr P. Chossat and J. Oprea, editors, Dynamo and Dynamics: a Mathematical Challenge, pages 363-370. Kluwer, Dordrecht, 2001.
  • M.R.E. Proctor. Finite amplitude behaviour of the Matthews-Cox instability. Physics Letters A, 292:181-187, 2001.
  • A.R. Halford and M.R.E. Proctor. An oscillatory secondary bifurcation for magnetoconvection and rotating convection at small aspect ratio. J. Fluid Mech, 467:241-257, 2002.
  • N. O. Weiss, M. R. E. Proctor, and D. P. Brownjohn. Magnetic flux separation in photospheric convection. Mon. Not. R. Ast. Soc., 337:293-304, 2002.
  • M.R.E. Proctor. Dynamo processes: the interaction of magnetic fields and turbulence. Invited review in: Thompson and Christiansen-Dalsgaard, editors, New developments in astrophysical fluid dynamics. Cambridge, 2003.
  • G. I. Ogilvie and M.R.E. Proctor. On the relation between viscoelastic and magnetohydrodynamic flows and their instabilities. J. Fluid Mech., 476:389-409, 2003.
  • M.R.E. Proctor. An extension of the toroidal theorem. Geophys. Astrophys. Fluid. Dyn 98:235-240, 2004.
  • J. H. P. Dawes, C. M. Postlethwaite, and M. R. E. Proctor. Instabilities induced by a weak breaking of a strong spatial resonance. Physica D 191:1-30, 2004.
  • M.R.E.Proctor. Magnetoconvection. Invited review in: Fluid dynamics and dynamos in astrophysics and geophysics, ed. Soward, Jones, Hughes and Weiss, CRC Press, pp 235-276, 2005.
  • A.M.Rucklidge, M.R.E.Proctor & J.A.Prat. Mean flow instabilities of two-dimensional convection in strong magnetic fields. Geophys. Astrophys. Fluid Dyn. 100:121-138, 2006.
  • M.R.E.Proctor. Dynamo Action and the Sun.In Stellar Fluid Dynamics and Numerical Simulations: From the Sun to Neutron Stars. M.Rieutord and B. Dubrulle (eds). EAS Publications Series, 21:241-273, 2006.
  • M.R.E.Proctor. Introduction to dynamo theory. Invited chapter in"Mathematical aspects of natural dynamos", ed. E. Dormy and A.M Soward, pp. 20-41 , CRC Press, Boca Raton 2007.
  • A. B. Iskakov, A. A. Schekochihin, S. C. Cowley, J. C. McWilliams and M. R. E. Proctor. Numerical demonstration of fluctuation dynamo at low magnetic Prandtl numbers. Phys. Rev. Lett. 98:208501, 2007.
  • A.A. Schekochihin, A.B.Iskakov, S.C. Cowley, J.C. McWilliams, M.R.E.Proctor % T.A.Yousef. Fluc- tuation dynamo and turbulent induction at low magnetic Prandtl numbers. New Journal of Physics, 9:300, 2007.
  • L.J.Silvers & M.R.E.Proctor. Interaction of multiple convection zones in A-type stars. Mon. Not. R. A. S. 380: 44-50, 2007.
  • F. Rincon, G. I. Ogilvie & M. R. E. Proctor. A self-sustaining nonlinear dynamo process in Keplerian shear flows. Phys. Rev. Lett. 98:254502, 2007.
  • Rebecca B. Hoyle, Alexandra T. Anghel, Michael R. Proctor, & David A. King. Pattern Formation during the Oxidation of CO on Pt100: A Mesoscopic Model. Phys. Rev. Lett. 98:226102, 2007.
  • Michael.R.E.Proctor. Effects of fluctuation on alpha-omega dynamo models.Mon. Not. R. A. S. 382: L39-L42, 2007.
  • J.H.P.Dawes and M.R.E.Proctor. Turing-type instabilities due to strong spatial resonance. Proc. Roy. Soc A 464:923-942, 2008.
  • H. Isobe, M. R. E. Proctor & N. O. Weiss. Convection-driven emergence of granular scale magnetic field and its role in coronal heating and solar wind acceleration. Astrophys.J. Lett., 679:L57-L60, 2008.
  • P. J. Bushby, S. M. Houghton, M. R. E. Proctor & N. O. Weiss. Convective intensification of magnetic fields in the quiet Sun. Mon.Not. R.A.S., 387:698-706, 2008.
  • S. M. Houghton, S. M. Tobias, E. Knobloch & M. R. E. Proctor. Bistability in the Complex Ginzburg-Landau Equation with Drift. Physica D, in press, 2008.
  • V.V.Pipin & M.R.E. Proctor.Closure tests for mean field magnetohydrodynamics using a self con- sistent reduced model. Mon Not. R.A.S., 388:367-374, 2008.
  • F.Rincon, G.I.Ogilvie, M.R.E.Proctor & C.Cossu. Subcritical Dynamos in Shear Flows. Astr. Nachr., 329: 750-761,2008

Publications

Bounds on Energies and Dissipation Rates in Forced Dynamos
M Proctor
– Physics (Switzerland)
(2022)
4,
933
Maxwell–Cattaneo double-diffusive convection: limiting cases
DW Hughes, MRE Proctor, IA Eltayeb
– Journal of Fluid Mechanics
(2021)
927,
a13
OBITUARY Nigel Oscar Weiss
M Proctor, JH Thomas
– PHYSICS TODAY
(2021)
74,
60
The convective instability of a Maxwell–Cattaneo fluid in the presence of a vertical magnetic field
IA Eltayeb, DW Hughes, MRE Proctor
– Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
(2020)
476,
20200494
Obituary Nigel Weiss (1936-2020) Douglas Gough, Michael Proctor and Steven Tobias remember the South African-born astrophysicist and mathematician, a former president of the RAS
DO Gough, MRE Proctor, SM Tobias
– ASTRONOMY & GEOPHYSICS
(2020)
61,
11
Large- to small-scale dynamo in domains of large aspect ratio: Kinematic regime
V Shumaylova, RJ Teed, MRE Proctor
– Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
(2017)
466,
3513
Quasi-cyclic behaviour in non-linear simulations of the shear dynamo
RJ Teed, MRE Proctor
– Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
(2017)
467,
4858
Elastohydrodynamic Synchronization of Adjacent Beating Flagella.
RE Goldstein, E Lauga, AI Pesci, MRE Proctor
– Phys Rev Fluids
(2016)
1,
073201
Flux Separation in Photospheric Magnetoconvection
NO Weiss, MRE Proctor
– Symposium - International Astronomical Union
(2016)
203,
219
Destruction of large-scale magnetic field in non-linear simulations of the shear dynamo
RJ Teed, MRE Proctor
– Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
(2016)
458,
2885
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Research Group

Astrophysics

Room

F1.07

Telephone

01223 337913