Calkins, Michael Andrew

Research

research overview

Dr. Calkins is interested in understanding many geophysical and astrophysical fluid dynamics problems, with particular emphasis on rotating convection and magnetic field generation as they apply to Earth’s liquid outer core and other planets. One of his main interests is developing simplified systems of equations that can be solved numerically for the purpose of understanding fluid dynamical regimes that are not accessible to direct numerical simulations of the full governing equations.

Publications

selected publications

journal article
- Asymptotic scaling relations for rotating spherical convection with strong zonal flows. Journal of Fluid Mechanics. 2024
- Numerical investigation of quasistatic magnetoconvection with an imposed horizontal magnetic field. Physical Review Fluids. 2023
- Small scale quasigeostrophic convective turbulence at large Rayleigh number. Physical Review Fluids. 2023
- The Puzzling Structure of Solar Convection: Window into the Dynamo 2023
- Onset of Convection in Rotating Spherical Shells: Variations With Radius Ratio. Earth and Space Science. 2023

Teaching

courses taught

MATH 5030 - Intermediate Mathematical Physics 1
Primary Instructor - Fall 2020
Surveys classical mathematical physics, starting with complex variable theory and finite dimensional vector spaces. Discusses topics in ordinary and partial differential equations, the special functions, boundary value problems, potential theory, and Fourier analysis. Department enforced prerequisite: MATH 4001. Instructor consent required for undergraduates. Same as PHYS 5030.
PHYS 1115 - General Physics 1 for Majors
Primary Instructor - Fall 2022 / Fall 2024
First semester of three semester sequence for physics, engineering physics and astronomy majors. Covers kinematics, dynamics momentum of particles and rigid bodies, work and energy, gravitation, and simple harmonic motion. Degree credit not granted for this course and PHYS 1110.
PHYS 1125 - General Physics 2 for Majors
Primary Instructor - Spring 2023
Three lect., one rec per week, plus three evening exams in the fall and spring semesters. Second semester of three semester introductory sequence for physics, engineering and astronomy majors. Covers electricity and magnetism, wave motion and optics. Normally is taken concurrently with PHYS 1140. Degree credit not granted for this course and PHYS 1120.
PHYS 2210 - Classical Mechanics and Mathematical Methods 1
Primary Instructor - Spring 2018
Theoretical Newtonian mechanics, including position and velocity dependent forces, oscillation, stability, non-inertial frames and gravitation from extended bodies. Ordinary differential equations, vector algebra, curvilinear coordinates, complex numbers, and Fourier series will be introduced in the context of the mechanics.
PHYS 3210 - Classical Mechanics and Mathematical Methods 2
Primary Instructor - Spring 2024
Lagrangian and Hamiltonian treatment of theoretical mechanics, including coupled oscillations, waves in continuous media, central force motion, rigid body motion and fluid dynamics. The calculus of variations, linear algebra, tensor algebra, vector calculus, and partial differential equations will be introduced in the context of the mechanics.