Faculty of Science and Information Technology

Professor John O'Connor

Research interests lie in three main areas: 

• Materials science with a particular emphasis on surface physics
• Science and engineering communication and education
• Medical physics

In the main area of research the emphasis has been on developing new experimental techniques to extend the understanding of the fundamentals of ion-surface interaction (charge exchange, inelastic energy loss) and apply these principles to surface modification and analysis.

The use of Low (0.1-10keV) and Medium (50-200keV) projectiles to determine the structure and composition of the outermost atomic layers of solids.  These techniques combined with LEED, STM and AES allow the structure and composition of the surface atomic layer to be measured.  Studies include the measurement of the structure of metal surfaces exposed to adsorbates, the structure and kinetics of alloy surfaces and the growth of surface alloys.  Development of optimised binary collision computer programs for the simulation of ion-surface processes.

New studies into the use of High Energy Heavy Ions (Z>3, E>0.5MeV) is focussed on the development of new tools for the characterisation of material surfaces.

Recent expanding involvement in the study of the potential of innovative materials which have potential in extreme environments including fusion reactor environments, solar thermal, high temperature coal fired power and aerospace applications.

• Fellow of the Australian Institute of Physics (President 2001-2003)
• Fellow, Institute of Physics (UK) and Chartered Physicist
• Member of the American Vacuum Society
• Member of the Vacuum Society of Australian (and Secretary since 1990)
• Member of the Australian Association of von Humboldt Fellows
• Foundation member of the Association of Science Communicators

• 2004-08: Visiting Professor, Manchester Metropolitan University
• 2003: Awarded the Sir William Hudson Award for outstanding engineering excellence jointly with         A. Page and R. Nelson for the Science and Engineering Challenge program
• 2002: Organiser and Chair, International conference on the Structure of Surfaces, Newcastle, Australia
• 2001-04: Secretary, Federation of Scientific and Technological Societies
• 2001-03: President, Australian Institute of Physics
• 2000-02: Physical Sciences representative on the Board of the Federation of Science and Technology Societies
• 2000-02: Member, National Committee for Physics which is a committee of the Australian Academy of Science
• 1999-2001: Deputy President of the Australian Institute of Physics 
• 1999: Awarded University of Newcastle Teaching Excellence Award jointly with R.J. MacDonald, B.V. King and P.C. Dastoor for excellence in postgraduate teaching
• 1997-2000: Trustee of the Welch Foundation, an international scholarship award function of IUVSTA
• 1996:  Awarded a Bede Morris Fellowship by the Australian Academy of Science to undertake research in France 
• 1995-2001: Australian Councillor to International Union of Vacuum Science, Technology and Applications
• 1995-2001: Secretary, Surface Science Executive Committee of the International Union of Vacuum Science, Technology and Applications
• 1993: Member, inaugural editorial board of 'Surface Review and Letters' journal published by World Scientific
• 1988: Awarded an Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship to undertake a 12 month research program at the University of Osnabruck, West Germany

• 1979-1981 Research Fellow at Sussex University
• 1981-1985 Lecturer in Physics, University of Newcastle, Shortland, N.S.W.
• 1986-1991 Senior Lecturer in Physics, University of Newcastle, Shortland, N.S.W.
• 1992-2003 Associate Professor in Physics, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, N.S.W.
• 1991-1998 Department head, Department of Physics, University of Newcastle
• 2000-2003 Director, Centre for Materials, University of Newcastle
• 2001- Head, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Newcastle
• 2004 Professor of Physics