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UNDERGRADUATE
THEORETICAL
PHYSICIST -
OLIVER BURCH

EXPLORE CV

Selected Research & Publications

May 2026
Geometric Topology

A Nod to the Geometry of Holes

A geometric theory of cavities built on a single invariant - aperture cardinality - developed first into a trichotomy of sealed voids, pockets, and through-holes, then argued to be a coarsening of the true structure. A unification theorem shows that every pocket arises as the Hausdorff limit of through-holes via aperture-merge deformations, collapsing the trichotomy into a natural dichotomy: voids and holes, with pockets occupying the lowest stratum of a filtration of hole-space.

April 2026
Computational Dynamics

A Topological Assessment of the RK4 Method for Chaotic Driven Damped Pendulums

An assessment of the RK4 method's performance in modelling the chaotic dynamics of a simulated damped driven pendulum, successfully capturing topological features including braiding and unstable periodic orbits.

March 2026
Quantum Mechanics

Your Future Quantised; The Practical Superpower of Quantum Mechanics

Reviewing the current and future potential of quantum mechanical applications to technology, with a particular interest in its contributions to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

View Paper
Dec 2025
Molecular Dynamics

On the Components of Kinetic Energy During a Barostatted Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Methanol Diffusion in Water

An analysis of methanol diffusion in the TIP3P model of water...

View Paper
Big projects are on the horizon...
Oliver Burch Portrait
BIOGRAPHY

Constructing an Understanding of the Framework Behind Reality

Oliver Burch is an emerging theoretical physicist whose work intersects the boundaries of classical and quantum physics with computational modelling. His academic focus lies in the development of strong mathematical tools useful in answering the complex questions posed by thermodynamics and quantum mechanics.

Currently advancing his undergraduate research, Oliver has been recognised for his analytical depth and ability to synthesise complex theoretical frameworks into coherent academic discourse. His portfolio serves as a curated record of his papers, research findings, and reading list that underscores his dedication to the evolving landscape of physics, as well as his own personal development.

Driven by the philosophy that understanding the theoretical foundations of our universe requires both unyielding curiosity and strict mathematical discipline, Oliver seeks to contribute to our collective knowledge through research that is outside of the box while maintaining composure through clarity and focus.

Archive & Research Index

Small Theoretical Paper | 2026

A Nod to the Geometry of Holes

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A geometric theory of cavities built on a single invariant - aperture cardinality - developed first into a trichotomy of sealed voids, pockets, and through-holes, then argued to be a coarsening of the true structure. A unification theorem shows that every pocket arises as the Hausdorff limit of through-holes via aperture-merge deformations, collapsing the trichotomy into a natural dichotomy: voids and holes, with pockets occupying the lowest stratum of a filtration of hole-space.

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Computational Project | EPOCH

Particle-in-Cell Simulation of Laser-Driven Wakefields in Dense Plasma

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A Particle-in-Cell (PIC) simulation built from source, demonstrating a high-intensity laser pulse travelling through a dense plasma medium and successfully extracting and plotting the longitudinal accelerating wakefield it generates. The repository contains the input deck, build configuration, and post-processing scripts used to reconstruct the field structure.

EPOCH 1D: Laser Plowing Through Dense Plasma

Computational Project | Pythia8 + QBH

Microscopic Black Hole Decay and Parton Hadronisation

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Linked two distinct physics engines — QBH for microscopic black hole production and Pythia8 for parton showering — to model the decay of a microscopic black hole, simulating how the Strong Nuclear Force causes its partons to hadronise into massive particle jets visible in a detector event display.

Detector Event Display of a Microscopic Black Hole Decay

Computational Project | MadGraph + Delphes

Detector-Level Simulation of Neutralino Dark Matter Signatures

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Modelled neutralino dark matter production using a two-step pipeline: generating raw parton-level collision kinematics with MadGraph, then applying Delphes to simulate realistic detector limitations and calculate the observable Missing Transverse Energy (MET) — the canonical signature of weakly-interacting dark matter at colliders.

Transverse Momentum of Simulated Dark Matter (Neutralinos) Dark Matter Signal: Missing Transverse Energy

Research Paper | 2026

A Topological Assessment of the RK4 Method for Chaotic Driven Damped Pendulums

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Review Article | 2026

Your Future Quantised; The Practical Superpower of Quantum Mechanics

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Research Paper | 2025

On the Components of Kinetic Energy During a Barostatted Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Methanol Diffusion in Water

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Research Paper | 2025

Determining Planck's Constant From Photodiode Responses to LEDs of Differing Wavelengths

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Review Article | 2023

Antimatter - A Look Into the Future of Energy

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Reading List

Core

Quantum Field Theory for the Gifted Amateur - Stephan Blundell and Tom Lancaster

Fiction

Death on the Nile

Paper

Friedman–Ramanujan functions in random hyperbolic geometry and application to spectral gaps II

Current Favourite Book of the Year

There is no Antimimetics Division - Qntm

Get in Touch

For research questions, collaborations, or general inquiries, please use one of the contact details below or alternatively the form below:

01 / EMAIL

olivergtburch@gmail.com

02 / LINKEDIN

linkedin.com/in/oliver-burch-846b80263

03 / LOCATION

University of Sheffield, UK