John Proctor

My research focusses on the behaviour of materials at high pressure and temperature, and the use of high pressure and temperature to synthesize new materials. High pressure research has a diverse range of scientific applications: Using high pressure and high/low temperature it is possible to test the mechanical properties of industrially important materials, recreate the conditions found in planetary interiors, recreate the conditions found in explosions and impacts, test key concepts in condensed matter physics and synthesize new materials.

In my own work, I focus on studying nanomaterials, superhard materials and simple molecular materials, and on synthesizing novel hydrides. Experimentally, I use a variety of techniques to study materials both in-situ at high pressure and following recovery from pressure-treatment but focus primarily on Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Raman spectroscopy is performed in-house here in Salford, and I regularly travel to synchrotron light sources to perform X-ray diffraction.

I have a substantial track record of publications, international conference presentations and research grant income in the field, maintain a number of active collaborations with other institutes both in the UK and internationally, and am also secretary of the recently formed Shock Waves and Extreme Conditions (SWEC) Institute of Physics group.

My google site can give you a flavour of what I do from the experimental point of view: https://sites.google.com/site/salfordhighpressure/