Quantum field theory in external fields, nonperturbative pair production, high energy physics, lightfront quantisation, intense laser physics

Anton works on particle physics and quantum field theory under the influence of external conditions. He is interested in how strong electromagnetic fields (as found in magnetars, in the collision point of particle colliders, and as may be produced by ultra-intense lasers) can be used to probe fundamental physics both within the standard model and beyond. He is especially interested in nonperturbative phenomena, such as Schwinger pair creation, the use of Schrödinger picture and lightfront methods.

Anton is a co-author of the Technical Design Report for the intense laser facility ELI-NP in Romania, and a co-author of the White Paper of the International LightCone Advisory Committee.

After completing his PhD in Durham, Anton held postdoc positions at University of Plymouth, Trinity College Dublin, Umeå University and Chalmers. Anton has won research grants, as P.I., from the Irish Research Council, the Swedish Research Council and the Olle Engkvist Foundation. He rejoined University of Plymouth in 2016, having won a Marie Curie Individual Fellowship, and in 2017 was appointed as a lecturer in theoretical physics.

Research Grants

Anton has recently won a research grant from The Leverhulme Trust together with Tom Heinzl.

“Quantum phenomena in high-intensity laser-matter interactions” (2018-2020)

together with Ben King and Co-PI on the Royal Society Newton Mobility Award

“New contributions for quantum electrodynamics in background fields” (2018-2019)

together with James Edwards.

Recent publication highlights

“Gluon helicity flip in a plane wave background” — Tim Adamo and Anton Ilderton, published in JHEP 1906 (2019) 015

“Note on the conjectured breakdown of QED perturbation theory in strong fields” — published in Phys.Rev. D99 (2019) 085002

“Screw-symmetric gravitional waves: a double copy of the vortex” — published in Phys.Lett.B

---