Welcome to the Gravity and Cosmology Group.
Emeritus professors
Research students
Supervisor: Chris Stevens听(many of the below are co-supervised by Prof. J枚rg Frauendiener, University of Otago)
- James Thomas, Math. Phys. Hons, "Conformal geodesics in asymptotically flat space-times" with Mariem Magdy (Perimeter Institute) (2025-)
- George Bassett-Smith, Math. Phys. Hons, "The S3 topology in general relativity" with Pierre Mourier (UC) and Florian Beyer (Otago) (2025-)
- Jesse Satherley, Ph.D., "Astrophysical implications of non-linear gravitational and electromagnetic scattering" (2024-)
- Breanna Camden, MSc., "The Physical interpretation of the Newman-Penrose constants and Newman's H-space", (2024-)
- Lachlan Campion, MSc. "The generalised conformal field equations in the presence of trace-free matter fields" , (2024-)
- Joseph Galinski, MSc. "Angular momentum in general relativity", (2024-)
- Areeba Merriam, Ph.D., "A numerical implementation of the Friedrich-Nagy gauge" (2023-)
- Sebenele Thwala, Ph.D., "Scattering of gravitational waves in asymptotically flat space-times" (2023-)
Supervisor: David Wiltshire
- Marco Galoppo
- Sam Kelly
- Saskia Cosgrove-Drayton
- Jonathan Brook
- Morag Hills
- Zachary Lane
Students completed after 2022 (David Wiltshire):
- Michael Williams
- Manon Van Zyl
- Tegan Gould
- Christopher Harvey-Hawes
Students completed after 2022 (Chris Stevens):
- Jonathan Brook, Math. Phys. Hons, "Identifying singularities in General Relativity", (2024)
- Tanmayee Boddu, Math. Phys. Hons, "Global linearised gravitational wave scattering in an expanding universe", (2024)
- Merlyn Barrer, MMathSci, "Constructing initial data on past null infinity" (2023-2024)
- Ollie Markwell, MSc., "Numerically Investigating The Conformal Field Equations Near Spatial Infinity" (2024)
- Jack Zidich, MSc., "Toward a numerical implementation of Cauchy-characteristic matching" (2024)
- Breanna Camden, Math. Phys. Hons, "Colliding non-linear gravitational and electromagnetic plane waves in plane symmetry" (2023)
- Lachlan Campion, Math. Phys. Hons, "Conformal geodesics and the conformal Gauss gauge" (2023)
- Jack Aimer, MMathSci, "Quasinormal modes of black holes" (2023)
- Alex Goodenbour, MSc., "Covariant charges on the null boundary of space-time" Co-supervised by David Wiltshire (2022)
Recent Publications
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- Camden, B., Stevens, C., & Forbes, J. (2025). Nonlinear scattering of plane gravitational and electromagnetic waves. Physical Review D, 111(2), 024032
- Williams, M. J., Macpherson, H. J., Wiltshire, D. L., & Stevens, C. (2025). First investigation of void statistics in numerical relativity simulations. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 536(3), 2645-2660.
- Satherley, J. C., Gordon, C., & Stevens, C. (2025). Axion-photon conversion signals from neutron stars with spacetime curvature accounted for in the magnetosphere model. Physical Review D, 111(6), 063008
- Frauendiener, J., Goodenbour, A., & Stevens, C. (2024). The non-linear perturbation of a black hole by gravitational waves. III. Newman鈥揚enrose constants. Classical and quantum gravity, 41(6), 065005.
Preprints
- J枚rg Frauendiener,听Chris Stevens, and Sebenele Thwala听(2025) Fully non-linear gravitational wave simulations from past to future null-infinity .
- Michael J. Williams, Hayley J. Macpherson, David L. Wiltshire, and Chris Stevens听(2024) First investigation of void statistics in numerical relativity simulations听.
- David L. Wiltshire (2024) Solution to the cosmological constant problem .
- Leon Escobar-Diaz and Chris Stevens (2024) Approximations of the quasi-local Bartnik mass in general relativity .听
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News, events and seminars
2 November 2023:听David Wiltshire and Chris Stevens have secured a total of $1.3 million in funding over three years through a standard and fast-start Marsden grant respectively. David's project is on "Changing the face of the Universe: Cosmological simulations from first principles in general relativity" and Chris' is on "Shedding new light on fundamental physics through the scattering of gravitational waves".
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Stellar Kiwi鈥檚 crucial black hole theory turns 60
Spend an evening with Canterbury Distinguished Professor Roy Kerr, renowned for his influential work in astrophysics, solving Einstein鈥檚 equation of relativity relating to rotating black holes 60 years ago. (These are now called Kerr Black Holes.)
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Stellar Kiwi鈥檚 crucial black hole theory turns 60
Spend an evening with Canterbury Distinguished Professor Roy Kerr, renowned for his influential work in astrophysics, solving Einstein鈥檚 equation of relativity relating to rotating black holes 60 years ago. (These are now called Kerr Black Holes.)
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Stellar Kiwi鈥檚 crucial black hole theory turns 60
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UC maths student awarded scholarship to study at Cambridge
Jack Aimer is one of nine recipients nationwide to receive a competitive William Georgetti Scholarship from Universities New Zealand.
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UC maths student awarded scholarship to study at Cambridge
Jack Aimer is one of nine recipients nationwide to receive a competitive William Georgetti Scholarship from Universities New Zealand.
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UC maths student awarded scholarship to study at Cambridge
