Accessibility     Accessibility |
My DCU | Library | Loop |

☰       Department Menu

You are here

DCU » Research
Back to Search

Brien Nolan

Assoc. Prof

Contact Details


X139

T: Ext. 5778
E: Brien.Nolan@dcu.ie
Researcher Photo

Biography

Brien Nolan is an Associate Professor in the School of Mathematical Sciences, and is currently the Head of School. He graduated in Mathematical Sciences from UCD (BSc 1990, MSc 1991), and completed his PhD in Relativity Theory in the Department of Mathematical Physics, UCD in 1995. His principal research interests are General Relativity (space-time singularities and cosmic censorship; black holes; wave propagation in curved spacetimes) and Mathematics Education. He is a member of the editorial board of the IOP journal Classical and Quantum Gravity and has held various administrative positions in the School of Mathematical Sciences, including Director of the Maths Learning Centre, School Teaching Convenor and Chair of the BSc in Science Education. 

Research Interests

General Relativity and Gravitation:
Space-time singularities and cosmic censorship;
Wave propagation in curved space-time;
Self-force in general relativity
Self-similarity in general relativity;
Mathematical relativity;
Black hole physics.
Mathematics Education:
Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching;
Pre-service teacher education;
Diagnostic testing at third level;
Developing online resources for first year university mathematics students;
Creative reasoning in mathematics.



Books

  Year Publication
2005 General Relativity and Gravitation: Proceedings of the 17th International Conference.
(2005) General Relativity and Gravitation: Proceedings of the 17th International Conference. : World Scientific. [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
2017 'Local properties and global structure of McVittie spacetimes with non-flat Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker backgrounds'
Nolan, BC (2017) 'Local properties and global structure of McVittie spacetimes with non-flat Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker backgrounds'. Classical and Quantum Gravity, 34 [DOI] [Details]
2016 'On the stability of dyons and dyonic black holes in EYM theory'
BC Nolan and E Winstanley (2016) 'On the stability of dyons and dyonic black holes in EYM theory'. Classical and Quantum Gravity, 33 (4) [DOI] [Details]
2015 'Geometric properties of a 2D spacetime arising in 4D black hole physics'
Casals M.;Nolan B. (2015) 'Geometric properties of a 2D spacetime arising in 4D black hole physics'. Physical Review D - Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology, 92 (10) [DOI] [Details]
2014 'Collapse of a self-similar cylindrical scalar field with non-minimal coupling'
Condron E.;Nolan B. (2014) 'Collapse of a self-similar cylindrical scalar field with non-minimal coupling'. Classical and Quantum Gravity, 31 (1) [DOI] [Details]
2014 'University students' perspectives on diagnostic testing in mathematics'
Ní Fhloinn E.;Mac an Bhaird C.;Nolan B. (2014) 'University students' perspectives on diagnostic testing in mathematics'. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 45 (1):58-74 [DOI] [Details]
2014 'Particle and photon orbits in McVittie spacetimes'
Nolan B. (2014) 'Particle and photon orbits in McVittie spacetimes'. Classical and Quantum Gravity, 31 (23) [DOI] [Details]
2014 'Collapse of a self-similar cylindrical scalar field with non-minimal coupling II: Strong cosmic censorship'
Condron E.;Nolan B. (2014) 'Collapse of a self-similar cylindrical scalar field with non-minimal coupling II: Strong cosmic censorship'. Classical and Quantum Gravity, 31 (16) [DOI] [Details]
2013 'Transfer in chemistry: a study of students' abilities in transferring mathematical knowledge to chemistry'
Hoban R.;Finlayson O.;Nolan B. (2013) 'Transfer in chemistry: a study of students' abilities in transferring mathematical knowledge to chemistry'. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 44 (1):14-35 [DOI] [Details]
2013 'Quantization of fermions on Kerr space-time'
Casals M.;Dolan S.;Nolan B.;Ottewill A.;Winstanley E. (2013) 'Quantization of fermions on Kerr space-time'. Physical Review D - Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology, 87 (6) [DOI] [Details]
2012 'On the existence of dyons and dyonic black holes in Einstein-Yang-Mills theory'
Nolan B.;Winstanley E. (2012) 'On the existence of dyons and dyonic black holes in Einstein-Yang-Mills theory'. Classical and Quantum Gravity, 29 (23) [DOI] [Details]
2012 'Kirchhoff integral approach to the calculation of Green's functions beyond the normal neighborhood'
Casals M.;Nolan B. (2012) 'Kirchhoff integral approach to the calculation of Green's functions beyond the normal neighborhood'. Physical Review D - Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology, 86 (2) [DOI] [Details]
2011 'Odd-parity perturbations of the self-similar LTB spacetime'
Duffy E.;Nolan B. (2011) 'Odd-parity perturbations of the self-similar LTB spacetime'. Classical and Quantum Gravity, 28 (10) [DOI] [Details]
2009 'Einstein-Rosen waves and the self-similarity hypothesis in cylindrical symmetry'
Harada T.;Nakao K.;Nolan B. (2009) 'Einstein-Rosen waves and the self-similarity hypothesis in cylindrical symmetry'. Physical Review D - Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology, 80 (2) [DOI] [Details]
2009 'Gauge invariant perturbations of self-similar Lemaître-Tolman-Bondi spacetime: Even parity modes with 1≥2'
Waters T.;Nolan B. (2009) 'Gauge invariant perturbations of self-similar Lemaître-Tolman-Bondi spacetime: Even parity modes with 1≥2'. Physical Review D - Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology, 79 (8) [DOI] [Details]
2007 'Is the shell-focusing singularity of Szekeres space-time visible?'
Nolan B.;Debnath U. (2007) 'Is the shell-focusing singularity of Szekeres space-time visible?'. Physical Review D - Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology, 76 (10) [DOI] [Details]
2007 'Odd-parity perturbations of self-similar Vaidya spacetime'
Dr Brien Nolan (2007) 'Odd-parity perturbations of self-similar Vaidya spacetime'. CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM GRAVITY, 24 :177-200 [DOI] [Details]
2006 'Bounds for scalar waves on self-similar naked-singularity backgrounds '
Dr Brien Nolan (2006) 'Bounds for scalar waves on self-similar naked-singularity backgrounds '. CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM GRAVITY, :4523-4538 [Details]
2005 'Even perturbations of the self-similar Vaidya space-time'
Brien C. Nolan , Thomas Waters (2005) 'Even perturbations of the self-similar Vaidya space-time'. PHYSICAL REVIEW D, 71 :104030-1 [Details]
2005
Dr Brien Nolan, Raul Vera (2005) . CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM GRAVITY, :4031-4050 [Details]
2005 'Even perturbations of self-similar Vaidya space-time'
Brien C. Nolan, Thomas J. Waters (2005) 'Even perturbations of self-similar Vaidya space-time'. PHYSICAL REVIEW D, [Details]
2004 'On isotropic cylindrically symmetric stellar models'
B. C. Nolan, L. V. Nolan (2004) 'On isotropic cylindrically symmetric stellar models'. CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM GRAVITY, :3693-3704 [Details]
2004 'Physical interpretation of gauge invariant perturbations of spherically symmetric space-times'
Brien C. Nolan (2004) 'Physical interpretation of gauge invariant perturbations of spherically symmetric space-times'. PHYSICAL REVIEW D, 70 :044004-1 [Details]
2004 'Role of anisotropy and inhomogeneity in Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi collapse'
Filipe Mena , Brien C. Nolan , Reza Tavakol (2004) 'Role of anisotropy and inhomogeneity in Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi collapse'. PHYSICAL REVIEW D, 70 :084030-1 [Details]
2003 'Dynamical extensions for shell-crossing singularities'
Brien C. Nolan (2003) 'Dynamical extensions for shell-crossing singularities'. CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM GRAVITY, 20 :575-586 [Details]
2002 '``Strength and genericity of singularities in Tolman-Bondi-de Sitter collapse'' and a note on central singularities'
Brien C. Nolan, Filipe C. Mena, Sergio M. C. V. Goncalves (2002) '``Strength and genericity of singularities in Tolman-Bondi-de Sitter collapse'' and a note on central singularities'. PHYSICS LETTERS A, A294 :122-125 [Details]
2002 'Cauchy horizon stability in self-similar collapse: scalar radiation'
Brien C Nolan, Thomas J Waters (2002) 'Cauchy horizon stability in self-similar collapse: scalar radiation'. PHYSICAL REVIEW D, 66 [Details]
2002 'Naked singularities in cylindrical collapse of counter-rotating dust shells'
Dr Brien Nolan (2002) 'Naked singularities in cylindrical collapse of counter-rotating dust shells'. PHYSICAL REVIEW D, 65 [Details]
2002 'Geometry and topology of singularities in spherical dust collapse'
Brien C. Nolan, Filipe C. Mena Cla (2002) 'Geometry and topology of singularities in spherical dust collapse'. CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM GRAVITY, :2587-2606 [Details]
2001 'Non-radial null geodesics in spherical dust collapse'
F.C. Mena(1), B.C. Nolan (1) Queen Mary, University of London (2001) 'Non-radial null geodesics in spherical dust collapse'. CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM GRAVITY, 18 :4531-4548 [Details]
2001 'Sectors of spherical homothetic collapse'
B.C. Nolan (2001) 'Sectors of spherical homothetic collapse'. CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM GRAVITY, 18 :1651-1676 [Details]
2001 'A note on behaviour at an isotropic singularity'
B.C. Nolan (2001) 'A note on behaviour at an isotropic singularity'. CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM GRAVITY, 18 :1127-1136 [Details]
2000 'The Central Singularity in Spherical Collapse'
B.C. Nolan (2000) 'The Central Singularity in Spherical Collapse'. PHYSICAL REVIEW D, 62 :044015(1)-044015(9) [Details]
1999 'A point mass in an isotropic universe: II. Global properties'
B.C. Nolan (1999) 'A point mass in an isotropic universe: II. Global properties'. CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM GRAVITY, 16 :1227-1254 [Details]
1999 'Strengths of singularities in spherical symmetry'
B.C. Nolan (1999) 'Strengths of singularities in spherical symmetry'. PHYSICAL REVIEW D, 60 :024014(1)-024014(9) [Details]
1999 'A point mass in an isotropic universe: III. The region $R\leq 2m$'
B.C. Nolan (1999) 'A point mass in an isotropic universe: III. The region $R\leq 2m$'. CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM GRAVITY, 16 :3183-3191 [Details]
1998 'Yang's gravitational theory'
B.S. Guilfoyle, B.C. Nolan (1998) 'Yang's gravitational theory'. GENERAL RELATIVITY AND GRAVITATION, 30 :473-495 [Details]
1998 'A point mass in an isotropic universe. Existence, uniqueness and basic properties'
B.C. Nolan (1998) 'A point mass in an isotropic universe. Existence, uniqueness and basic properties'. PHYSICAL REVIEW D, 58 :064006(1)-064006(10) [Details]
1997 'A Characterisation of Strong Wave Tails in Curved Space-Times'
B.C. Nolan (1997) 'A Characterisation of Strong Wave Tails in Curved Space-Times'. CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM GRAVITY, 14 :1295-1308 [Details]
1997 'The Goldberg--Kerr Approach to Lorentz Covariant Gravity'
B.C. Nolan (1997) 'The Goldberg--Kerr Approach to Lorentz Covariant Gravity'. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY, SECTION A, 97A :31-59 [Details]
1995 'On multipole moments of the electromagnetic field'
B.C. Nolan (1995) 'On multipole moments of the electromagnetic field'. ANNALS OF PHYSICS, 242 :117-134 [Details]
1993 'Sources for McVittie's mass particle in an expanding universe'
B.C. Nolan (1993) 'Sources for McVittie's mass particle in an expanding universe'. JOURNAL OF MATHEMATICAL PHYSICS, 34 :178-185 [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
2015 CETL-MSOR Conference 2015
Ní Shé, C.;Breen, S.; Brennan, C.; Doheny, F.; Lawless, F.; Mac an Bhaird, C.; McLoone, S.; Ní Fhloinn, E.; Nolan, B. and O’Shea, A. (2015) Identifying problematic mathematical topics and concepts for first year students CETL-MSOR Conference 2015 Greenwich, United Kingdom, , 08-SEP-15 - 09-SEP-15 , pp.76-86 [Details]
2016 Thirteenth International Congress on Mathematics Education
O'Shea, A., Breen, S., Brennan, C., Doheny, F., Lawless, F., Kelly, C., Mac an Bhaird, C., McLoone, S., Ni Fhloinn, E., Ni She, C., Nolan, B. (2016) Using technology to develop formative assessment resources for first year undergraduate modules Thirteenth International Congress on Mathematics Education [Details]
2016 CETL-MSOR 2016
Lawless, F.; O’Shea, A.; Mac an Bhaird, C.; Ní Fhloinn, E; Ní Shé, C.; Nolan, B. (2016) Assessment for learning: resources for first year undergraduate mathematics modules CETL-MSOR 2016 , 06-SEP-16 - 07-SEP-16 , pp.41-49 [Details]
2012 12th Marcel Grossmann Meeting on Recent Dev. in Theoretical and Experimental General Relativity, Astrophysics and Relativistic Field Theories - Proc. of the MG 2009 Meeting on General Relativity
Duffy E.;Nolan B. (2012) Analytic study of odd parity perturbations of the self-similar ltb spacetime 12th Marcel Grossmann Meeting on Recent Dev. in Theoretical and Experimental General Relativity, Astrophysics and Relativistic Field Theories - Proc. of the MG 2009 Meeting on General Relativity , pp.1799-1801 [Details]
2012 12th Marcel Grossmann Meeting on Recent Dev. in Theoretical and Experimental General Relativity, Astrophysics and Relativistic Field Theories - Proc. of the MG 2009 Meeting on General Relativity
Harada T.;Nakao K.;Nolan B. (2012) Einstein-rosen waves and the self-similarity hypothesis in cylindrical symmetry 12th Marcel Grossmann Meeting on Recent Dev. in Theoretical and Experimental General Relativity, Astrophysics and Relativistic Field Theories - Proc. of the MG 2009 Meeting on General Relativity , pp.1893-1895 [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
2015 CETL-MSOR 2015,
Ní Shé, C., Breen, S., Brennan, C., Doheny, F., Lawless, F., Mac an Bhaird, C., McLoone, S., Ní Fhloinn, E., Nolan, B. and O’Shea, A. (2015) Identifying topics and concepts that First Year students struggle with in Mathematics. [], CETL-MSOR 2015, Greenwich, U.K , 08-SEP-15 - 09-SEP-15 [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
1990 Conway Medal in Mathematical Physics UCD
2012 Outstanding Referee Award American Physical Society

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
International Society on General Relativity and Gravitation Nominations committee member; auditor /
Irish Mathematical Society Member /
British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics Member /

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
1990 UCD BSc Mathematics; Mathematical Physics
1991 UCD MSc Mathematics; Mathematical Physics
1995 NUI (UCD) PhD Relativity Theory

Other Activities

  Description

Referee for a variety of journals: Classical and Quantum Gravity, Physical Review Letters, Physical Review D, International Journal on General Relativity and Gravitation, Physics Letters A, Physica, Applicable Analysis, Journal of Mathematical Physics.

Member of the editorial board of Classical and Quantum Gravity, 2015-18

Relativity Theory PhD external examiner: University of Sheffield, 2015, 2006; University of Cape Town, 2013; University of Cambridge, 2012; University of Linköping, 2008. Mathematics Education PhD external examiner: NUI Maynooth, 2012

Enterprise Engagement

  Area Client Description
Department of Education and Skills
Design and delivery of training course on Mathematical Literacy across the Curriculum

Outreach Activities

  Description

Mathsweek - maths festival running annually since 2005; organising and presenting range of outreach activities for primary and secondary schools.

Teaching Interests

Mathematics (variety of service and specialist courses)
Mathematics Teacher Education (emphasis on Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Geometry and Calculus and on Lesson Study)
General Relativity and Cosmology

Modules Coordinated

  Term (ID)) Title Link Subject
2016 Mathematics for Economics and Business MS136Mathematics for Economics and Business
2016 Teaching & Asses. Junior Cycle Maths MS220Teaching & Asses. Junior Cycle Maths
2016 Mathematics Education Project MS451Mathematics Education Project
2016 Mathematics Education Project MS351Mathematics Education Project
2016 Topics in Astrophysics MS445Topics in Astrophysics
2016 Geometry for Teachers MS302Geometry for Teachers