Rate My Professor Charles Barton

Dr. Charles J. Barton is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Physics, Engineering and Technology at the University of York, where he joined as a Lecturer in 2003 and progressed to his current role. He earned his BSc and PhD in Nuclear Physics from Clark University. Barton's research specializes in experimental nuclear physics, with a focus on nuclear structure physics and nuclear astrophysics. His work explores shape evolution and coexistence in nuclei, neutrinoless double beta decay, gamma-ray and conversion-electron spectroscopy techniques, electron monopole transition rates in nuclei, isomeric states in odd-odd nuclei, and the impact of statistical uncertainties on the composition of neutron star outer crusts. He employs advanced methods such as bootstrap techniques to study correlations between neutron skin thickness and symmetry energy slopes, and investigates rotational excitations like the Hoyle state in carbon-12. Barton maintains international collaborations and supervises PhD students on projects involving nuclear structure physics spectroscopy.

Barton has produced over 30 peer-reviewed articles, including 'Ne²¹ energy levels approaching the α-particle threshold' (Physical Review C, 2024), 'Reevaluation of structures in Se⁷⁰ from combined conversion-electron and γ-ray spectroscopy' (Physical Review C, 2024), 'α decay of the neutron-deficient isotope ¹⁹⁰At' (Physical Review C, 2023), 'Identification of sub-μs isomeric states in the odd-odd nucleus Au¹⁷⁸' (2021), 'Impact of error analysis on the composition of the outer crust of a neutron star' (2020), 'Identification of a 6.6 microsecond isomeric state in ¹⁷⁵Ir' (2019), 'Bootstrap technique to study correlation between neutron skin thickness and the slope of symmetry energy in atomic nuclei' (2018), and 'First measurement of the ³⁴S(p,γ)³⁵Cl reaction rate' (2017). As Principal Investigator, he leads STFC-funded projects such as 'Neutron Detector Development Using Novel ³He' (2023–2026) and 'Neutron detector development using novel ³He encapsulated foils' (2023–2024). In teaching, he delivers Astronomy and Astrophysics modules and holds positions as Chair of the Board of Studies, Chair of the Physics with Astrophysics Executive Committee, and Radiation Protection Supervisor. Barton engages the public through events like his 2018 Pint of Science talk 'The Big Bang & the Origin of the Elements - how Nuclear Physics evolved the Universe', Nuffield Research placements, and nuclear physics masterclasses.