Philip Burke

Philip Burke has made significant contributions to theoretical atomic and molecular physics, especially through his application of computers to physics. He was the first to make a detailed study of resonances in the close coupling equations of electron–atom collision theory, his predictions being later confirmed by experiment. He has played a leading role in the developments in the theory of resonances in atomic and molecular processes. He made a pioneering investigation of spin polarisation effects in electron–atom collisions.

Philip has contributed substantially to the numerical and computational methods used in the solution of coupled integro-differential equations. He has been responsible for developments in the theory of low- and intermediate-energy scattering based upon expansions in correlation functions and pseudo states. He introduced an important new approach in atomic and molecular physics based on nuclear R-matrix theory. He is author or part author of 386 papers and 8 books. He was awarded the Institute of Physics’ Guthrie Medal and Prize (1994) and David Bates Prize (2000), and the APS Will Allis Prize in 2012.