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Dr Daniel Mitchard
MPhys PhD CPhys MInstP FHEA
- Ar gael fel goruchwyliwr ôl-raddedig
Timau a rolau for Daniel Mitchard
Uwch Ddarlithydd
Trosolwyg
Rwy'n Uwch Ddarlithydd mewn Ffiseg Mellt a Pheirianneg yn yr Ysgol Peirianneg, Prifysgol Caerdydd. Rwy'n ffisegydd gronynnau sy'n ymchwilio i bob peth sy'n gysylltiedig â mellt, ffenomenau mellt, a rhyngweithiadau mellt (ac ychydig o bethau gwyddoniaeth eraill) fel arfer trwy ddatblygu a chymhwyso technegau nodweddu sy'n seiliedig ar olau fel camerâu cyflym, sbectrosgopeg, a schlieren. Mae llawer o hyn yn cael ei wneud yn Labordy Mellt Caerdydd, lle mae mellt tebyg i fywyd yn cael eu cynhyrchu i daro popeth o gydrannau awyrennau i goed. Mae llawer o electrodau wedi toddi ac mae tân achlysurol (wedi'i reoli) wedi bod.
Cyn chwythu pethau gyda mellt, gweithiais i ymgynghoriaeth peirianneg yn bennaf ar ddatblygu peiriannau pelydr-x mawr, pwerus ar gyfer defnydd diwydiannol. Cyn hynny, cwblheais fy PhD yn CERN, y Swistir, ar greu antihydrogen. Roeddwn hefyd yn arfer dysgu sgiliau syrcas ac ar hyn o bryd mae gen i ormod o Lego yn fy swyddfa.
Mae gen i hanes sefydledig o ymgysylltu â'r cyhoedd. Dewiswyd fy ymchwil ar gyfer Arddangosfa Gwyddoniaeth Haf y Gymdeithas Frenhinol 2026 yn ddiweddar, a chefais sylw ar raglen Today BBC Radio 4, Inside Science, a Science Cafe, yn ogystal ag ychydig o gyfrifon cyfryngau cymdeithasol a sioe deledu brecwast fyw. Cyn hyn, roedd cyfraniadau eraill yn cynnwys Nature News & Views, cylchgrawn BBC Science Focus, BBC Radio 4 Curious Cases (the Shock Factor), a'r Telegraph, yn ogystal ag amrywiaeth o raglenni teledu, gan gynnwys rhaglenni dogfen fel BBC2 Wildfires a CBC/Discovery Channel The Nature of Things. Rwyf wedi cyflwyno i'r cyhoedd yng Ngŵyl y Gelli ryngwladol, yn ogystal â Techniquest, Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Cymru, ac mewn arddangosfa NERC. Rwyf hefyd wedi gweithio gyda cheiswyr lloches a ffoaduriaid, a phlant ysgol, i annog cyfranogiad mewn pynciau STEM trwy gyd-greu fideos a gweithiau celf animeiddiedig byr. Roedd llawer o'r gweithgareddau hyn yn cynnwys arddangosiadau coiliau Tesla i ddelweddu ymddygiad mellt sydd, yn ôl pob golwg, hefyd yn gweithio ar y radio.
Ond pam mellt? Mae'n un o'r grymoedd mwyaf dinistriol ac anrhagweladwy sy'n hanfodol bwysig i'n hamgylchedd naturiol gyda thua 3 miliwn o streiciau bob dydd. Y tu hwnt i'r fflachiadau adnabyddus a welir yn ystod stormydd a tharanau, mae'n cynnwys ffenomenau atmosffer uchaf a ddarganfuwyd yn ddiweddar ac a welir yn anaml yn ymestyn tuag at y gofod, sprites, elves, jets, pixies, trolls a gnomes a enwir yn ddychmygus. Mae'n cyfrannu tua 15% o'r holl nwyon tŷ gwydr NOx sy'n cynhesu'r blaned, yn cychwyn mwy na hanner yr holl danau gwyllt heb eu rheoli ledled y byd, ac yn lladd tua 20,000 o bobl a 100,000 o dda byw bob blwyddyn. Mae wedi cael ei weld ar Iau a Sadwrn, ond mae'n dal i fod yn ddirgelwch ynghylch a yw'n bodoli ar y blaned Mawrth a Gwener, a gallai fod y mecanwaith sy'n cychwyn a/neu gynnal bywyd ar exoplanets.
Dydw i ddim ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol ac weithiau rwy'n anodd dod o hyd iddynt. Os hoffech bartner ymchwil, cyfraniad yn y cyfryngau, sgwrs ar fellt, neu eisiau gwybod mwy, yna cysylltwch â mi yma ([email protected])
Cyhoeddiad
2026
- Zoletto, B. et al., 2026. Landscape, stand and tree characteristics influence the distribution of lightning damage in Central African forests. Functional Ecology 40 (5), pp.1385-1398. (10.1111/1365-2435.70301)
2025
- Mitchard, D. 2025. Is there lightning on Mars?. Nature 647 , pp.857-858. (10.1038/d41586-025-03590-8)
- Xu, X. et al., 2025. On residual tensile strength after lightning strikes. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing 194 108899. (10.1016/j.compositesa.2025.108899)
- Hills, M. , Haddad, A. M. and Mitchard, D. 2025. Spectroscopic measurements of medium voltage sparking in air. Presented at: UPEC 2024 Cardiff, Wales 02-06 September 2024. Proceedings 59th International Universities Power Engineering Conference (UPEC). IEEE(10.1109/upec61344.2024.10892485)
2024
- Hills, M. et al. 2024. Spectroscopic measurements of light emissions from high current arcs. Presented at: Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023 Cardiff, UK 12-14 July 2023. Published in: Spezi, E. and Bray, M. eds. Proceedings of the Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023. Cardiff: Cardiff University Press. , pp.158-162. (10.18573/conf1.aj)
2023
- Xu, X. et al., 2023. Developing test methods for compression after lightning strikes. Applied Composite Materials (10.1007/s10443-022-10100-w)
2021
- Mitchard, D. , Widger, P. and Haddad, A. 2021. Analysis of light emission and Schlieren from short gap high voltage streamers representing lightning impulses. Scientific Reports 11 (1) 24324. (10.1038/s41598-021-03839-y)
2020
- Widger, P. , Hills, M. and Mitchard, D. 2020. Schlieren images of negative streamer and leader formations in CO2 and a CF3I-CO2 electronegative gas mixture. Applied Sciences 10 (22) 8006. (10.3390/app10228006)
2019
- Mitchard, D. et al. 2019. Optical emission spectra of high current and high voltage generated arcs representing lightning. Applied Physics Letters 114 (16) 164103. (10.1063/1.5092875)
2017
- Mitchard, D. et al. 2017. Method for recording broadband high resolution emission spectra of laboratory lightning arcs. Journal of Visualized Experiments 150 e56336. (10.3791/56336)
- Mitchard, D. et al. 2017. Investigation of lightning direct effects on aircraft materials. Presented at: 2016 International Conference on Electrical Systems for Aircraft, Railway, Ship Propulsion and Road Vehicles & International Transportation Electrification Conference (ESARS-ITEC) Toulouse, France 2-4 November 2016. 2016 International Conference on Electrical Systems for Aircraft, Railway, Ship Propulsion and Road Vehicles & International Transportation Electrification Conference (ESARS-ITEC). IEEE(10.1109/ESARS-ITEC.2016.7841393)
- Clark, D. et al., 2017. Spectroscopic techniques for temperature measurement of laboratory generated lightning arcs. Presented at: 20th International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering Buenos Aires, Argentina 28 August - 1 September 2017.
- Mitchard, D. et al. 2017. Investigation of the effect of initiation wires on lighting arcs using spectral and high-speed imaging techniques. Presented at: International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering Winc Aichi, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan 13 - 15 September 2017.
- Mitchard, D. et al. 2017. Experimental and theoretical evaluation of aluminium deflection due to lightning strikes. Presented at: 19th International Conference on Lightning Protection Dubai, UAE 30 - 31 January 2017.
2016
- Mitchard, D. et al. 2016. Experimental and theoretical evaluation of aluminium deflection due to lightning strikes. Presented at: Lightning Protection (ICLP), 2016 33rd International Conference Estoril, Portugal 25-30 Sept. 2016. 2016 33rd International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP). IEEE(10.1109/ICLP.2016.7791428)
- Mitchard, D. et al. 2016. Technique for the comparison of light spectra from natural and laboratory generated lightning current arcs. Applied Physics Letters 109 (9) 093502. (10.1063/1.4962205)
- Crivelli, D. et al. 2016. Acoustic emission for assessment of impact and lightning damage to woven carbon fibre laminates. Presented at: 8th European Workshop On Structural Health Monitoring (EWSHM 2016) Bilbao, Spain 5-8 July 2016. 8th European Workshop On Structural Health Monitoring (EWSHM 2016).
2015
- Evans, P. R. et al. 2015. Mechanical forces due to lightning strikes to aircraft: a pseudo-stereo DIC technique for measuring full-field displacement. Presented at: 10th International Conference on Experimental Mechanics Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK 1-3 September 2015.
- Mitchard, D. et al. 2015. Preliminary results for spectrographic lightning arc measurements. Presented at: ICOLSE 2015 - International Conference on Lightning and Static Electricity Toulouse, France 9-11 September 2015. Proceedings of the 2015 International Conference on Lightning and Static Electricity. ICOLSE. , pp.50-55. (10.1049/ic.2015.0197)
- Clark, D. et al. 2015. Spectrographic characterisation of high-current arcs for a lightning direct-effects laboratory. Presented at: ISH2015 - 19th International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering Pilsen, Czech Republic 23-28 August 2015. Proceedings of the 19th International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering: ISH
- Jamoshid, N. S. et al. 2015. Modelling the deflection of carbon fibre reinforced polymer materials under lightning strikes. Presented at: [International Conference on Lightning & Static Electricity (ICOLSE 2015) Toulouse 9-11 September 2015. International Conference on Lightning & Static Electricity (ICOLSE 2015). Vol. 6., pp.42. (10.1049/ic.2015.0189)
Cynadleddau
- Hills, M. , Haddad, A. M. and Mitchard, D. 2025. Spectroscopic measurements of medium voltage sparking in air. Presented at: UPEC 2024 Cardiff, Wales 02-06 September 2024. Proceedings 59th International Universities Power Engineering Conference (UPEC). IEEE(10.1109/upec61344.2024.10892485)
- Hills, M. et al. 2024. Spectroscopic measurements of light emissions from high current arcs. Presented at: Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023 Cardiff, UK 12-14 July 2023. Published in: Spezi, E. and Bray, M. eds. Proceedings of the Cardiff University Engineering Research Conference 2023. Cardiff: Cardiff University Press. , pp.158-162. (10.18573/conf1.aj)
- Mitchard, D. et al. 2017. Investigation of lightning direct effects on aircraft materials. Presented at: 2016 International Conference on Electrical Systems for Aircraft, Railway, Ship Propulsion and Road Vehicles & International Transportation Electrification Conference (ESARS-ITEC) Toulouse, France 2-4 November 2016. 2016 International Conference on Electrical Systems for Aircraft, Railway, Ship Propulsion and Road Vehicles & International Transportation Electrification Conference (ESARS-ITEC). IEEE(10.1109/ESARS-ITEC.2016.7841393)
- Clark, D. et al., 2017. Spectroscopic techniques for temperature measurement of laboratory generated lightning arcs. Presented at: 20th International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering Buenos Aires, Argentina 28 August - 1 September 2017.
- Mitchard, D. et al. 2017. Investigation of the effect of initiation wires on lighting arcs using spectral and high-speed imaging techniques. Presented at: International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering Winc Aichi, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan 13 - 15 September 2017.
- Mitchard, D. et al. 2017. Experimental and theoretical evaluation of aluminium deflection due to lightning strikes. Presented at: 19th International Conference on Lightning Protection Dubai, UAE 30 - 31 January 2017.
- Mitchard, D. et al. 2016. Experimental and theoretical evaluation of aluminium deflection due to lightning strikes. Presented at: Lightning Protection (ICLP), 2016 33rd International Conference Estoril, Portugal 25-30 Sept. 2016. 2016 33rd International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP). IEEE(10.1109/ICLP.2016.7791428)
- Crivelli, D. et al. 2016. Acoustic emission for assessment of impact and lightning damage to woven carbon fibre laminates. Presented at: 8th European Workshop On Structural Health Monitoring (EWSHM 2016) Bilbao, Spain 5-8 July 2016. 8th European Workshop On Structural Health Monitoring (EWSHM 2016).
- Evans, P. R. et al. 2015. Mechanical forces due to lightning strikes to aircraft: a pseudo-stereo DIC technique for measuring full-field displacement. Presented at: 10th International Conference on Experimental Mechanics Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK 1-3 September 2015.
- Mitchard, D. et al. 2015. Preliminary results for spectrographic lightning arc measurements. Presented at: ICOLSE 2015 - International Conference on Lightning and Static Electricity Toulouse, France 9-11 September 2015. Proceedings of the 2015 International Conference on Lightning and Static Electricity. ICOLSE. , pp.50-55. (10.1049/ic.2015.0197)
- Clark, D. et al. 2015. Spectrographic characterisation of high-current arcs for a lightning direct-effects laboratory. Presented at: ISH2015 - 19th International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering Pilsen, Czech Republic 23-28 August 2015. Proceedings of the 19th International Symposium on High Voltage Engineering: ISH
- Jamoshid, N. S. et al. 2015. Modelling the deflection of carbon fibre reinforced polymer materials under lightning strikes. Presented at: [International Conference on Lightning & Static Electricity (ICOLSE 2015) Toulouse 9-11 September 2015. International Conference on Lightning & Static Electricity (ICOLSE 2015). Vol. 6., pp.42. (10.1049/ic.2015.0189)
Erthyglau
- Zoletto, B. et al., 2026. Landscape, stand and tree characteristics influence the distribution of lightning damage in Central African forests. Functional Ecology 40 (5), pp.1385-1398. (10.1111/1365-2435.70301)
- Mitchard, D. 2025. Is there lightning on Mars?. Nature 647 , pp.857-858. (10.1038/d41586-025-03590-8)
- Xu, X. et al., 2025. On residual tensile strength after lightning strikes. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing 194 108899. (10.1016/j.compositesa.2025.108899)
- Xu, X. et al., 2023. Developing test methods for compression after lightning strikes. Applied Composite Materials (10.1007/s10443-022-10100-w)
- Mitchard, D. , Widger, P. and Haddad, A. 2021. Analysis of light emission and Schlieren from short gap high voltage streamers representing lightning impulses. Scientific Reports 11 (1) 24324. (10.1038/s41598-021-03839-y)
- Widger, P. , Hills, M. and Mitchard, D. 2020. Schlieren images of negative streamer and leader formations in CO2 and a CF3I-CO2 electronegative gas mixture. Applied Sciences 10 (22) 8006. (10.3390/app10228006)
- Mitchard, D. et al. 2019. Optical emission spectra of high current and high voltage generated arcs representing lightning. Applied Physics Letters 114 (16) 164103. (10.1063/1.5092875)
- Mitchard, D. et al. 2017. Method for recording broadband high resolution emission spectra of laboratory lightning arcs. Journal of Visualized Experiments 150 e56336. (10.3791/56336)
- Mitchard, D. et al. 2016. Technique for the comparison of light spectra from natural and laboratory generated lightning current arcs. Applied Physics Letters 109 (9) 093502. (10.1063/1.4962205)
Ymchwil
Summary
My main research area is the characterisation of lightning, electrical discharges and related phenomena primarily via the development of optical and spectral techniques and other non-contact methods. My research is cross-disciplinary across physics, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and material science. I am primarily based in the Morgan-Botti Lightning Laboratory within the Advanced High Voltage Engineering Research Centre.
Affiliations
Themes: Energy and Environment, Mechanics, Materials and Advanced Manufacturing
Centres and Groups: Advanced High Voltage Engineering Research Centre, Mechanical and Structural Performance Laboratory, Magnetics and Materials Research Group
Cross-Disciplinary Research: Aerospace, Materials
Facilities: Morgan-Botti Lightning Laboratory, Structural Performance Laboratory, Wolfson Centre for Magnetics
Projects
Jan 17 - Dec 20: "Lightning, an Invisible Driver of Background Tree Mortality in the Tropics" (led by Exeter University) Co-Investigator, NERC
Nov 16 – Nov 17: "Streak Camera for High-Speed Spectral Analysis" Co-Investigator, Research Infrastructure Fund
Jan 15 – Dec 16: Combined Travel Grants, Co-Investigator, Sêr Cymru NRN
Jan 15 – Dec 16: "Dynamic Capacitive Sensor for the Measurement of Millimetre Displacement of Carbon Composite Panels: Application to Aircraft Materials Subjected to Lightning Strikes" Co-Investigator, Sêr Cymru NRN
Apr 15 – Mar 17: "Musculoskeletal Research Centre" Co-Investigator, WEFO
Apr 14 – Jul 14: "GW4 Initiator Fund: Lightning" Co-Investigator, GW4 Initiator Fund
Jun 14 – Aug 14: "Optimisation of the Morgan-Botti Lightning Laboratory Control and Data Acquisition System" Co-Investigator, CUROP
Jun 13 – Dec 14: "Lightning Effects on Aerospace Carbon Composite Materials, the Next Generation of Materials and Components" Manager/Specialist, WEFO A4B
Oct 13 – Sep 15: "Develop Autonomous Load Cells through Power Management Electronics, Wireless Communication and Energy Harvesting Technologies for Monitoring Applications" Facilitator, KTP
Jul 12 – Jun 13: "Business Gateway, Knowledge Transfer Centre Extension" Co-Investigator, WEFO A4B
Aug 12 – Aug 12: "Testing of Rucksacks" Co-Investigator, BCB International
Feb 12 – Apr 12: "Impact Strength Testing and Flow Testing" Facilitator, Fuel Defend Global
Jun 09 – Jul 12: "Knowledge Transfer Centre" Manager/Specialist, WEFO A4B
Addysgu
Gweinyddiaeth
Pennaeth ail flwyddyn peirianneg fecanyddol a meddygol
Cadeirydd y panel Amgylchiadau Lliniarol ar gyfer peirianneg fecanyddol a meddygol
Addysgu Cyfredol
Arweinydd modiwl ar gyfer labordai ail flwyddyn
Cyd-arweinydd modiwl ar gyfer rheoli pedwaredd flwyddyn
Goruchwyliwr ar gyfer prosiectau unigol MSc israddedig yn y drydedd flwyddyn ac ôl-raddedig
Rolau Blaenorol
Pennaeth trydedd flwyddyn peirianneg fecanyddol a meddygol
Arweinydd modiwl / cyd-arweinydd ar gyfer MatLab blwyddyn gyntaf / ail
Cyd-arweinydd modiwl ar gyfer blwyddyn gyntaf SolidWorks
Bywgraffiad
Trosolwg o Yrfa
Ar hyn o bryd:
Uwch Ddarlithydd, Ffiseg Mellt
Ynghynt:
Darlithydd, Ffiseg Mellt a Pheirianneg
Pennaeth Blwyddyn 3, Peirianneg Fecanyddol
Arweinydd Diwydiannol, Peirianneg Fecanyddol
Cymrawd Ymchwil, Labordy Mellt Morgan-Botti, ac Athro, Peirianneg Fecanyddol, Ysgol Peirianneg, Prifysgol Caerdydd
Cymrawd Ymchwil, Canolfan Wolfson ar gyfer Magneteg, Ysgol Peirianneg, Prifysgol Caerdydd
Cymwysterau
FHEA, Cymrawd yr Academi Addysg Uwch
CPhys, Ffisegydd Siartredig, Sefydliad Ffiseg, Llundain
PhD, Ffiseg Gronynnau, Prifysgol Abertawe yn CERN, Genefa
MPhys, Meistr mewn Ffiseg, Prifysgol Abertawe
Aelodaethau proffesiynol
MInstP, Aelod o'r Sefydliad Ffiseg, Sefydliad Ffiseg, Llundain.
Safleoedd academaidd blaenorol
Hydref 17 ymlaen: Cymrawd Ymchwil, Labordy Mellt Morgan-Botti, a Darlithydd, Peirianneg Fecanyddol, Ysgol Peirianneg, Prifysgol Caerdydd
Ebrill 17 - Medi 17: Cymrawd Ymchwil, Canolfan Magneteg Wolfson, Ysgol Peirianneg, Prifysgol Caerdydd
Ionawr 15 - Mawrth 17: Cymrawd Ymchwil, Labordy Mellt Morgan-Botti, Ysgol Peirianneg, Prifysgol Caerdydd
Meysydd goruchwyliaeth
Ardaloedd dan oruchwyliaeth
Mellt, ffenomenau mellt a rhyngweithiadau, synwyryddion ysgafn / electromagnetig ac offeryniaeth, delweddu cyflym, foltedd uchel / cerrynt uchel.
Cymdeithion Ymchwil
2023: Phillip Lugg-Widger
Myfyrwyr PhD
2022 - 2026: Bryniau Meirion
News articles
Contact Details
+44 29208 74975
Adeiladau'r Frenhines - Adeilad y Dwyrain, Ystafell E3.10, 5 The Parade, Heol Casnewydd, Caerdydd, CF24 3AA
