Role
Part-time lecturer in geomatics (the maths of positioning in space), with research interests in physics.
I have suggested a new model for inertial mass which assumes that 1) inertia is caused by Unruh radiation, 2) which is subject to a Hubble-scale Casimir effect. This model predicts cosmic acceleration and galaxy rotation without dark matter, and without adjustable parameters. This agreement suggests that inertia is controllable, and I would like to do an experimental test of this. The model also suggests: 1) a new way to launch spacecraft, and 2) the speed of light can be exceeded. There are articles about my work in New Scientist here, and in phys.org here & here. My blog is: Physics from the Edge.
Qualifications & background
1988-1991. BSc in Physics at the University of York, UK.
1992-1995. PhD in Physical Oceanography at the University of Liverpool, UK.
1995-1998. Post-doctoral work at the Universities of Liverpool & Strathclyde, UK.
1998-2008. Ocean Scientist at the Met Office in Bracknell, then in Exeter, UK.
2008-now. Lecturer in Geomatics (positioning in space) at the University of Plymouth.
Professional membership
Member of the Institute of Physics.
Member of the British Interplanetary Society.
Member of the Lifeboat Foundation.
Member of the Institute for Interstellar Studies
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Teaching interests
Geodesy & positioning (IMS5105). I teach geodesy/gravity & satellite positioning (module leader).
Marine positioning (EOE2309). I teach satellite positioning using matrix algebra (module leader).
Climatology (EOE3304). Predicting the climate using maths (module leader).
Integrated digital systems (IMS5205). I teach the maths of satellite positioning.
Positioning and GIS (EOE2308). The parts on geodesy and reference frames.
Field & professional skills (EOE2301). One lecture on programming in UNIX/LINUX.
Research interests
Physics, astrophysics, ocean & climate, always with a close link between experiment & maths.
I look for anomalous observations, and try to devise a theory that fits them as well as the nominal observations. I also try for simplicity, and an attitude that unconventional ideas are fine, so long as they satisfy experiment first, & simplicity second. Possible research projects with me:
Possible Undergraduate 3rd year projects:
1. Testing for the Maritime Casimir effect in a small wave tank (Practical skills, physics).
2. How deep do raindrops penetrate in the ocean? (Dropping fresh water into salty water).
3. A sensitivity study of Stommel's salt fountain (Lab experiment).
Possible MSc Geomatics projects:
1. Testing quantised inertia using spacecraft trajectory data (Needs algebra, geometry). Link
2. Modelling the mixing of rain in the ocean (Numerical experiment using GOTM). Link
3. Can hurricanes be deflected by warm ocean eddies? (Needs statistics, data analysis). Link
4. XNAV: the feasability of Pulsar navigation: GPS for deep space.
Publications
McCulloch, M.E., 2013. Inertia from an asymmetric Casimir effect. EPL, 101, 59001, arXiv: 1302.2775
McCulloch, M.E., 20??. Does inertia fail at light speed? Submitted to JBIS on the 10th April 2012..
McCulloch, M.E., 2012. Testing quantised inertia on galactic scales. Astrophysics and Space Science, Vol. 342, No. 2, 575-578. Journal. Preprint
Font et al., 2012. SMOS first data analysis for sea surface salinity determination. Int. J. Rem. Sensing (iFirst).
McCulloch, M.E., P. Spurgeon, A. Chuprin, 2012. Have mid-latitude ocean rain-lenses been seen by the SMOS satellite?. Ocean Modelling, Vols. 43-44, p108-111. Journal paper (free)
McCulloch, M.E., 20??. Quantised inertia and faster than light travel. Submitted to 100YSS/JBIS, Sept' 2011.
McCulloch, M.E., 2011. Can the Podkletnov effect be explained by quantised inertia? Physics procedia, 20, 134-139. Journal, Preprint
McCulloch, M.E., 2011. The Tajmar effect from quantised inertia. EPL, 95, 39002. Abstract (EPL) (free access to the pdf). Preprint (Selected by the journal to be in its 'Best of 2011 collection').
Spurgeon, P. et al., 2010. Ocean salinity retrieval approaches for the SMOS satellite. ESA Living Planet Symposium, Bergen, Norway, 2010. Proceedings, SP-686. pdf file
McCulloch, M.E., 2010. Minimum accelerations from quantised inertia. EPL, 90, 29001 (4pp). Journal pdf (not free). Preprint: http://arxiv.org/abs/1004.3303
Font J. et al., 2010. Overview of SMOS level 2 ocean salinity processing and first results. IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium 2010. IGARSS, p3146-3149.
McCulloch, M.E., 2010. Can the Tajmar effect be explained using a modification of inertia? EPL, 89, 19001 (4pp). Journal pdf (not free). Preprint. Selected by the journal for its "Best of 2010 collection".
McCulloch, M.E., 2008. Modelling the flyby anomalies using a modification of inertia. Mon. Not. Royal. Astro. Soc., Letters, 389 (1), L57-60. Journal pdf (free). Preprint: arXiv:/astro-ph/0806.4159
McCulloch, M.E., 2008. Can the flyby anomalies be explained by a modification of inertia? J. British Interplanetary Soc., Vol. 61, 373-378. Journal pdf (not free). Preprint: arXiv:/astro-ph/0712.3022
McCulloch, M.E., J.T.Heming, J.D.Stark, 2008. Hurricane deflection by sea surface temperature anomalies. 28th Conference on Hurricanes & Tropical Meteorology, Orlando, Florida, US.
McCulloch, M.E., 2007. Modelling the Pioneer anomaly as modified inertia. Mon. Not. Roy. Astro. Soc., 376, 338-342. Journal pdf (free). Preprint: http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0612599/
Stark, J.D., C.J.Donlon, M.J.Martin and M.E.McCulloch, 2007. OSTIA: an operational, high resolution, real time, global sea surface temperature analysis system. Oceans '07 IEEE Aberdeen, conference proceedings. Vol 1-3, 331-334.
McCulloch, M.E., 2006. The effect of ocean currents on surface storm waves. Met Office, NCOF Technical Note, Number 4.
McCulloch, M.E., J.O.S.Alves & M.J.Bell, 2004. Modelling shallow mixed layers in the northeast Atlantic. J. Marine Systems, Vol. 52(1-4), pp 107-119. journal paper (free)
Leach, H., S.J. Bowerman, M.E. McCulloch, 2002. Upper ocean eddy transports of heat, potential vorticity and volume in the Northeastern North Atlantic. J. Phys. Oceanogr, 32 (10), 2926-2937.
McCulloch, M.E., 1998. Air-sea heat fluxes derived from sub-surface data in the Northeast Atlantic. Physics & Chemistry of the Earth, 23, No.5/6, 527-530.
McCulloch, M.E. and H. Leach, 1998. Air-sea fluxes inferred from an upper ocean heat budget northeast of the Azores. Q. J. Royal Met. Soc., 125, No.551, Part A, 2465.
Leach,H and R.T.Pollard et al., 1998. RRS Discovery Cruise 223 Report, 28 September - 19 November 1996. Southampton Oceanography Centre.
McCulloch, M.E., 1997. Inferring heat content changes from single hydrographic sections. Ocean Modelling, 113, 1-4.
McCulloch, M.E. and H. Leach, 1997. Seasonal heat and freshwater budgets of the upper ocean in the Northeast Atlantic. Q.J. Royal Met. Soc., 123, 767-784.
Leach, H, M.E. McCulloch, J. Bauer et al., 1995. Compendium of SEA ROVER long sections. Report, Liverpool University.
McCulloch, M.E., 1995. Seasonal heat and freshwater fluxes in the Northeast Atlantic. PhD thesis , Liverpool University.
McCulloch, M.E., 1993. Bubbles in accelerated reference frames, or: General relativity and cider do mix. POLemic (Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory Newsletter, Winter 1993).
Reports & invited lectures
2012. Invited to talk to the Physics Dept at St Andrews University on "Can inertia be modified electromagnetically?"
2011. Invited to talk at the NASA/DARPA 100 Year Starship Symposium in Orlando, US on "Quantised inertia and FTL".
2009 & 2010. Invited to talk at the International Flyby Anomaly Collaboration, at the International Space Science Institute (ISSI) in Bern, Switzerland.
Links
My blog "Physics from the Edge":
http://physicsfromtheedge.blogspot.com/
I have written several short stories that are available on the H2G2 website here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/U246476
My older webpage with the University of Exeter's Astrophysics Group:
http://www.astro.ex.ac.uk/people/mem/
