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Associate Professor

Photo of Associate Professor Michael Jack.

Location
Room 413
Phone numbers
7753 (Office)
64 3 479 7753 (Office Direct Dial)
Email
michael.jack@otago.ac.nz
Research Group
http://www.physics.otago.ac.nz/research/epg

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Biography

My undergraduate studies were undertaken at the University of Canterbury and my postgraduate studies at the University of Auckland. From 2000 to 2005 I held postdoctoral positions at Hiroshima University, Tokyo Institute of Technology, NTT Basic Research Laboratories (Tokyo, Japan) and Rice University (Houston, USA). I then held a range of positions at the New Zealand Crown Research Institute Scion until 2014, including Science Leader of Clean Technologies, after which I joined the Department as a Senior lecturer.


Research

My research group carries out fundamental and applied research into a wide range of sustainable energy areas. We specialize in applying methods from theoretical physics to the sustainable energy area, but collaborate closely with a wide range of other disciplines. Areas of focus include: smart, flexible energy systems, exploring fundamentally new paradigms of energy generation and conversion and designing efficient technologies for renewable energy production and energy efficient processes.

Smart energy systems

Globally energy systems are rapidly transitioning from the traditional fossil-fuel dominated and centralized paradigm to being much smarter, more energy-efficient, distributed, highly renewable and low carbon. Electricity grids and greater electrification will play a key role in this transition. To enable this transition, we need ways of matching variable renewable electricity generation to increasingly variable energy demand, without building expensive underutilized infrastructure. This research focuses on understanding the opportunity for innovative grid-connected technologies (solar PV, EV, energy storage), ICT and business models to create flexible energy services that link generation, storage and demand to shift consumption away from periods of peak demand and respond to variable supply from renewables.

This work is carried out in collaboration with the Centre for Sustainability (CSAFE) and the University of Canterbury.

Nanoscale energy conversion – Molecular motors

At the nanoscale new possibilities and phenomena arise. For example, chemical energy can be converted directly into useful work and thermal fluctuations become an inherent part of a system's behaviour. Biological systems harness nanoscale machinery to create processes with performance far exceeding man-made technologies. If we can understand these biological nanoscale energy conversion processes we may be able to develop future technologies that are very energy efficient. Our work involves developing mathematical theories of the behaviour of nanoscale devices or molecular motors subject to large thermal fluctuations and applying this to both developing a better understanding of biological energy conversion and developing new technology concepts.

Recent work focuses on exploring the collective behaviour that spontaneously arises from many interacting molecular motors. This work is relevant to the rapidly growing field of Active Matter and may provide insights into the microscopic origin of collective behaviour and macroscopic structures that arise in biological cells.

This work is carried out in collaboration with Dr Katharine Challis from Scion.

Publications

Deaker, A., & Jack, M. W. (2023). Gutzwiller approximation for indistinguishable interacting Brownian particles on a lattice. Physical Review E: Statistical, Nonlinear, & Soft Matter Physics, 107, 044109. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.107.044109
Journal - Research Article
López-Alamilla, N. J., Challis, K. J., Deaker, A. G., & Jack, M. W. (2023). The effect of futile chemical cycles on chemical-to-mechanical energy conversion in interacting motor protein systems. Physica A, 615, 128608. doi: 10.1016/j.physa.2023.128608
Journal - Research Article
Jack, M., & Konings, H. (2022). Will net-zero energy buildings break New Zealand's electricity grid? Proceedings of the 16th Otago Energy Research Centre (OERC) Symposium: An Equitable and Low-Cost Energy Transition. (pp. 33). Retrieved from https://www.otago.ac.nz/oerc/symposia
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Powell, A., Jack, M., & Purdie, J. (2022). Modelling the long-term impacts of EV uptake within a 100% renewable New Zealand power system. Proceedings of the 16th Otago Energy Research Centre (OERC) Symposium: An Equitable and Low-Cost Energy Transition. (pp. 31). Retrieved from https://www.otago.ac.nz/oerc/symposia
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Mirfin, A., Jack, M., & Xiao, X. (2022). Determining the true value of energy efficiency improvements and demand flexibility services. Proceedings of the 16th Otago Energy Research Centre (OERC) Symposium: An Equitable and Low-Cost Energy Transition. (pp. 30). Retrieved from https://www.otago.ac.nz/oerc/symposia
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Hall, P., & Jack, M. (2014). Bioenergy opportunities from forests in New Zealand. In T. Fenning (Ed.), Challenges and opportunities for the world's forests in the 21st century. (pp. 659-676). Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-94-007-7076-8_29
Chapter in Book - Research
Deaker, A., & Jack, M. W. (2023). Gutzwiller approximation for indistinguishable interacting Brownian particles on a lattice. Physical Review E: Statistical, Nonlinear, & Soft Matter Physics, 107, 044109. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.107.044109
Journal - Research Article
López-Alamilla, N. J., Challis, K. J., Deaker, A. G., & Jack, M. W. (2023). The effect of futile chemical cycles on chemical-to-mechanical energy conversion in interacting motor protein systems. Physica A, 615, 128608. doi: 10.1016/j.physa.2023.128608
Journal - Research Article
Jack, M. W., & Deaker, A. (2022). Nonequilibrium master equation for interacting Brownian particles in a deep-well periodic potential. Physical Review E, 105, 054150. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.105.054150
Journal - Research Article
Razaq, A., & Jack, M. W. (2022). An inverse-problem approach to simulating smart control of domestic electric hot water cylinders using electricity demand time-series data. Energy & Buildings. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2022.112644
Journal - Research Article
Dew, J. J. W., Jack, M. W., Stephenson, J., & Walton, S. (2021). Reducing electricity demand peaks on large-scale dairy farms. Sustainable Production & Consumption, 25, 248-258. doi: 10.1016/j.spc.2020.08.014
Journal - Research Article
Jack, M. W., Mirfin, A., & Anderson, B. (2021). The role of highly energy-efficient dwellings in enabling 100% renewable electricity. Energy Policy, 158, 112565. doi: 10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112565
Journal - Research Article
Khan, I., Jack, M. W., & Stephenson, J. (2021). Dominant factors for targeted demand side management: An alternate approach for residential demand profiling in developing countries. Sustainable Cities & Society, 67, 102693. doi: 10.1016/j.scs.2020.102693
Journal - Research Article
Mair, J., Suomalainen, K., Eyers, D. M., & Jack, M. W. (2021). Sizing domestic batteries for load smoothing and peak shaving based on real-world demand data. Energy & Buildings, 247, 111109. doi: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111109
Journal - Research Article
Vaiaso, Jr., T. V., & Jack, M. W. (2021). Quantifying the trade-off between percentage of renewable supply and affordability in Pacific island countries: Case study of Samoa. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 150, 111468. doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2021.111468
Journal - Research Article
Dortans, C., Jack, M. W., Anderson, B., & Stephenson, J. (2020). Lightening the load: Quantifying the potential for energy-efficient lighting to reduce peaks in electricity demand. Energy Efficiency, 13, 1105-1118. doi: 10.1007/s12053-020-09870-8
Journal - Research Article
Jack, M. W., López-Alamilla, N. J., & Challis, K. J. (2020). Thermodynamic uncertainty relations and molecular-scale energy conversion. Physical Review E: Statistical, Nonlinear, & Soft Matter Physics, 101(6), 062123. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.101.062123
Journal - Research Article
López-Alamilla, N. J., Jack, M. W., & Challis, K. J. (2020). Enhanced diffusion and the eigenvalue band structure of Brownian motion in tilted periodic potentials. Physical Review E, 102(4), 042405. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.102.042405
Journal - Research Article
Fahmy, M., Sohel, M. I., Vaidya, A. A., Jack, M. W., & Suckling, I. D. (2019). Does sugar yield drive lignocellulosic sugar cost? Case study for enzymatic hydrolysis of softwood with added polyethylene glycol. Process Biochemistry, 80, 103-111. doi: 10.1016/j.procbio.2019.02.004
Journal - Research Article
Khan, I., Jack, M. W., & Stephenson, J. (2019). Identifying residential daily electricity-use profiles through time-segmented regression analysis. Energy & Buildings, 194, 232-246. doi: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2019.04.026
Journal - Research Article
López-Alamilla, N. J., Jack, M. W., & Challis, K. J. (2019). Reconstructing free-energy landscapes for cyclic molecular motors using full multidimensional or partial one-dimensional dynamic information. Physical Review E: Statistical, Nonlinear, & Soft Matter Physics, 100, 012404. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.100.012404
Journal - Research Article
Suomalainen, K., Eyers, D., Ford, R., Stephenson, J., Anderson, B., & Jack, M. (2019). Detailed comparison of energy-related time-use diaries and monitored residential electricity demand. Energy & Buildings, 183, 418-427. doi: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.11.002
Journal - Research Article
Jack, M. W., Suomalainen, K., Dew, J. J. W., & Eyers, D. (2018). A minimal simulation of the electricity demand of a domestic hot water cylinder for smart control. Applied Energy, 211, 104-112. doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.11.044
Journal - Research Article
Khan, I., Jack, M. W., & Stephenson, J. (2018). Analysis of greenhouse gas emissions in electricity systems using time-varying carbon intensity. Journal of Cleaner Production, 184, 1091-1101. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.02.309
Journal - Research Article
López-Alamilla, N. J., Jack, M. W., & Challis, K. J. (2018). Analysing single-molecule trajectories to reconstruct free-energy landscapes of cyclic motor proteins. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 462, 321-328. doi: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2018.11.015
Journal - Research Article
López-Alamilla, N. J., Jack, M. W., & Challis, K. J. (2018). Reconstructing free-energy landscapes for nonequilibrium periodic potentials. Physical Review E: Statistical, Nonlinear, & Soft Matter Physics, 97(3), 032419. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.97.032419
Journal - Research Article
Devine, J., & Jack, M. W. (2017). Self-induced temperature gradients in Brownian dynamics. Physical Review E: Statistical, Nonlinear, & Soft Matter Physics, 96(6), 062130. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.96.062130
Journal - Research Article
Suckling, I. D., Jack, M. W., Lloyd, J. A., Murton, K. D., Newman, R. H., Stuthridge, T. R., … Vaidya, A. A. (2017). A mild thermomechanical process for the enzymatic conversion of radiata pine into fermentable sugars and lignin. Biotechnology for Biofuels, 10, 61. doi: 10.1186/s13068-017-0748-6
Journal - Research Article
Jack, M. W., & Tumlin, C. (2016). Intrinsic irreversibility limits the efficiency of multidimensional molecular motors. Physical Review E: Statistical, Nonlinear, & Soft Matter Physics, 93, 052109. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.93.052109
Journal - Research Article
Nguyen, P. T. T., Challis, K. J., & Jack, M. W. (2016). Local discretization method for overdamped Brownian motion on a potential with multiple deep wells. Physical Review E: Statistical, Nonlinear, & Soft Matter Physics, 94(5), 052127. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.94.052127
Journal - Research Article
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