About

I am Professor of High Pressure Physics in the School of Physics & Astronomy at The University of Edinburgh, Head of the School’s Institute for Condensed Matter and Complex Systems, Deputy Director of the University’s Centre for Science at Extreme Conditions (CSEC), a William Penney Fellow, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

My research interests are in using x-ray diffraction and scattering to investigate the behaviour of simple materials to extreme pressures and temperature. I am a frequent user of synchrotron light sources in the UK, Europe and the US, where we have developed techniques to collect and analyse diffraction data from both polycrystalline and single-crystal samples. Most recently, my research interests have moved to the use of dynamic compression techniques, utilising powerful laser sources, to push structural studies of matter well beyond the current limits of static compression science.

More details of current research projects, latest results, and possible PhD projects can be found on my Research Projects page.

Contact Details:

School of Physics & Astronomy
The University of Edinburgh
James Clerk Maxwell Building
Kings Buildings, Mayfield Road
Edinburgh EH9 3FD, UK

Email: m.i.mcmahon[AT]ed.ac.uk
Phone: +44 (0)131 650 5956
Fax: +44 (0)131 650 5902