Dr Timothy Clifton
Reader in Relativity and Cosmology
Postgraduate Tutor for Astrophysics
School of Physical and Chemical Sciences
Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University of London
Research
Cosmology, General Relativity, Gravity
Interests
I'm a theoretical cosmologist who builds mathematical models of the Universe, in order to understand what cosmological observations can tell us about relativistic gravity and the large-scale structure of space-time.I graduated with a PhD from the University of Cambridge in 2006, and have worked as a post-doctoral researcher at Stanford University as a Lindemann Fellow, at the University of Oxford as a Junior Research Fellow of Jesus College, and at CERN as a CERN Fellow. I joined Queen Mary in 2012 as a Advanced Fellow of the STFC research council, and am now a Reader in the Astronomy Unit of the School of Physics and Astronomy. I am also a member of the editorial board of Classical and Quantum Gravity, and the post-graduate tutor for astrophysics at Queen Mary.
Publications
Publications of specific relevance to the Centre for Fundamental Physics2024
Thomas DB, Anton T, Clifton T and Bull P (2024). Constraining Post-Newtonian Parameters with the Cosmic Microwave Background. Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics vol. 2024 (09) 01-09-2024
Anton T and Clifton T (2024). Hubble diagrams in statistically homogeneous, anisotropic universes. Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, IOP Publishing vol. 2024 (05), 120-120. 29-05-2024
Clifton T and Hyatt N (2024). A Radical Solution to the Hubble Tension Problem. Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, IOP Publishing vol. 08 29-04-2024
2023
Anton T and Clifton T (2023). Modelling the emergence of cosmic anisotropy from non-linear structures. Classical and Quantum Gravity, IOP Publishing vol. 40 (14), 145004-145004. 20-06-2023
Thomas DB, Clifton T and Anton T (2023). Scale-dependent gravitational couplings in Parameterised Post-Newtonian Cosmology. Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, IOP Publishing vol. 2023 (04), 016-016. 11-04-2023
2022
Anton T and Clifton T (2022). The momentum constraint equation in parameterised post-Newtonian cosmology. Classical and Quantum Gravity, IOP Publishing vol. 39 (9) 14-04-2022
Fernandes PGS, Carrilho P, Clifton T and Mulryne DJ (2022). The 4D Einstein–Gauss–Bonnet theory of gravity: a review. Classical and Quantum Gravity vol. 39 (6), 063001-063001. 28-02-2022
2021
Gallagher CS, Clifton T and Clarkson C (2021). Multi-Scale Perturbation Theory II: Solutions and Leading-Order Bispectrum in the $Λ$CDM Universe. Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, IOP Publishing vol. 08 20-08-2021
Fernandes PGS, Carrilho P, Clifton T and Mulryne DJ (2021). Black Holes in the Scalar-Tensor Formulation of 4D Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet
Gravity: Uniqueness of Solutions, and a New Candidate for Dark Matter. Physical Review D: Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology, American Physical Society vol. 104 11-08-2021
2020
Clifton T, Carrilho P, Fernandes PGS and Mulryne DJ (2020). Observational constraints on the regularized 4D Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet theory of gravity. Physical Review D, American Physical Society vol. 102 (8), 084005-084005. 01-10-2020
Fernandes PGS, Carrilho P, Clifton T and Mulryne DJ (2020). Derivation of Regularized Field Equations for the Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet
Theory in Four Dimensions. Physical Review D, American Physical Society vol. 102 (2) 06-07-2020
Clifton T, Gallagher CS, Goldberg S and Malik KA (2020). Viable Gauge Choices in Cosmologies with Non-Linear Structures. Physical Review D: Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology, American Physical Society vol. 101 (6) 25-03-2020
Gallagher CS, Clifton T and Clarkson C (2020). Multi-scale perturbation theory. Part I. Methodology and leading-order bispectrum corrections in the matter-dominated era. Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, IOP Publishing vol. 2020 (03), 011-011. 03-03-2020
2019
Clifton T and Sussman RA (2019). Cosmological Backreaction in Spherical and Plane Symmetric Dust-Filled
Space-Times. Classical and Quantum Gravity, IOP Publishing vol. 36 18-09-2019
Durk J and Clifton T (2019). Discrete Cosmological Models in the Brans-Dicke Theory of Gravity. Classical and Quantum Gravity, IOP Publishing vol. 36 (18) 23-08-2019
Clifton T and Sanghai VAA (2019). Parametrizing theories of gravity on large and small scales in cosmology. Physical Review Letters, American Physical Society vol. 122, 011301-011301. 02-01-2019
2018
Gallagher CS and Clifton T (2018). Relativistic Euler equations in cosmologies with nonlinear structures. Physical Review D vol. 98 (10), 103516-103516. 14-11-2018
CLIFTON TA, Bentivegna E, DURK J, Korzynski M and Rosquist K (2018). Black-Hole Lattices as Cosmological Models. Classical and Quantum Gravity, IOP Publishing vol. 35 25-07-2018
2017
Goldberg SR, Gallagher C and Clifton T (2017). Perturbation theory for cosmologies with non-linear structure. Physical Review -Series d-, American Physical Society vol. 96 10-11-2017
Durk J and Clifton T (2017). A quasi-static approach to structure formation in black hole universes. JOURNAL OF COSMOLOGY AND ASTROPARTICLE PHYSICS (10) 12-10-2017
Sanghai VAA, Fleury P and Clifton T (2017). Ray tracing and Hubble diagrams in post-Newtonian cosmology. Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, IOP Publishing (7) 17-07-2017
Clifton T, Carr B and Coley A (2017). Persistent black holes in bouncing cosmologies. CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM GRAVITY vol. 34 (13) 06-07-2017
Bibi R, Clifton T and Durk J (2017). Cosmological solutions with charged black holes. General Relativity and Gravitation vol. 49 (7) 30-06-2017
CLIFTON TA and Durk J (2017). Exact initial data for black hole universes with a cosmological constant. Classical and Quantum Gravity, IOP Publishing vol. 34 (6) 03-03-2017
Clifton T and Barrow JD (2017). Decay of the Cosmic Vacuum Energy. Gravity and the Quantum, Festschrift for T. Padmanabhan, eds. J
Singh Bagla and S. Engineer, series Fundamental Theories of Physics 187,
(Springer, New York), pp. 61-71 (2017) 24-02-2017
CLIFTON TA and Sanghai V (2017). Parameterized post-Newtonian cosmology. Classical and Quantum Gravity, IOP Publishing vol. 34 (6), 065003-065003. 22-02-2017
Goldberg S, Clifton TA and Malik K (2017). Cosmology on all scales: A two-parameter perturbation expansion. Physical Review D, American Physical Society vol. 95 (4), 043503-043503. 06-02-2017
Clifton T, Gregoris D and Rosquist K (2017). The Magnetic Part of the Weyl Tensor, and the Expansion of Discrete Universes. General Relativity and Gravitation, Springer US vol. 49, 1-40. 27-01-2017
Clifton T, Gregoris D and Rosquist K (2017). The magnetic part of the Weyl tensor, and the expansion of discrete universes. General Relativity and Gravitation, Springer Nature vol. 49 (2) 27-01-2017
2016
Sanghai VAA and Clifton T (2016). Cosmological backreaction in the presence of radiation and a cosmological constant. Physical Review D: Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology vol. 94 (2), 023505-023505. 01-07-2016
Sanghai VAA and Clifton T (2016). Erratum: Post-Newtonian cosmological modelling (Physical Review D - Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology (2015) 91 (103532)). Physical Review D vol. 93 (8) 07-04-2016
2015
Clifton T, Gregoris D and Rosquist K (2015). Applications of black hole lattices in relativistic cosmology. 17-12-2015
Clifton T and Dunsby PKS (2015). On the emergence of accelerating cosmic expansion in f(R) theories of gravity. Physical Review D, American Physical Society (APS) vol. 91 (10) 15-05-2015
Sanghai VAA and Clifton T (2015). Post-Newtonian cosmological modelling. Physical Review D, American Physical Society (APS) vol. 91 (10) 15-05-2015
CLIFTON T (2015). BACK-REACTION IN RELATIVISTIC COSMOLOGY. The Thirteenth Marcel Grossmann Meeting. 29-01-2015
2014
Clarkson C, Clifton T, Coley A and Sung R (2014). Publisher’s Note: Observational constraints on the averaged universe [Phys. Rev. D 85, 043506 (2012)]. Physical Review D, American Physical Society (APS) vol. 90 (4) 15-08-2014
Clifton T, Gregoris D and Rosquist K (2014). Piecewise Silence in Discrete Cosmological Models. Class. Quantum Grav. vol. 31 13-02-2014
2013
Clifton T, Gregoris D, Rosquist K and Tavakol R (2013). Exact Evolution of Discrete Relativistic Cosmological Models. JCAP vol. 11 11-09-2013
Clifton T, Ellis GFR and Tavakol R (2013). A Gravitational Entropy Proposal. Classical and Quantum Gravity vol. 30 22-03-2013
CLIFTON TA (2013). BACK-REACTION IN RELATIVISTIC COSMOLOGY. International Journal of Modern Physics D: Gravitation, Astrophysics and Cosmology, http://www.worldscientific.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1142/S0218271813300048 vol. 22 (3) 01-03-2013
CLIFTON TA (2013). G. F. R. Ellis, R. Maartens and M. A. H. MacCallum: Relativistic cosmology. General Relativity and Gravitation 01-01-2013
2012
Clifton T, Dunsby P, Goswami R and Nzioki AM (2012). On the absence of the usual weak-field limit, and the impossibility of
embedding some known solutions for isolated masses in cosmologies with f(R)
dark energy. Physical Review D: Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology vol. 87 02-10-2012
Clifton T, Coley A and Hoogen RVD (2012). Observational Cosmology in Macroscopic Gravity. JCAP 10(2012)044 05-09-2012
Clifton T, Rosquist K and Tavakol R (2012). An exact quantification of backreaction in relativistic cosmology. PHYSICAL REVIEW D vol. 86 (4) 03-08-2012
CLIFTON TA and Bull P (2012). Local and non-local measures of acceleration in cosmology. Physical Review D: Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology vol. 85 (10) 10-05-2012
Clarkson C, Clifton T, Coley A and Sung R (2012). Observational constraints on the averaged universe. Physical Review D, American Physical Society (APS) vol. 85 (4) 07-02-2012
CLIFTON TA, BULL P and FERREIRA PG (2012). The kSZ effect as a test of general radial inhomogeneity in LTB cosmology. Physical Review D: Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology, Cornell University Library vol. 85 03-01-2012
Bull P and Clifton T (2012). Local and nonlocal measures of acceleration in cosmology. PHYSICAL REVIEW D vol. 85 (10) 01-01-2012
Clifton T, Clarkson C and Bull P (2012). Isotropic Blackbody Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation as Evidence for a Homogeneous Universe. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS vol. 109 (5) 01-01-2012
2011
Clifton T, Clarkson C and Bull P (2011). The isotropic blackbody CMB as evidence for a homogeneous universe. Phys. Rev. Lett. vol. 109 16-11-2011
Clifton T, Ferreira PG and O'Donnell K (2011). An Improved Treatment of Optics in the Lindquist-Wheeler Models. Phys. Rev. D vol. 85 14-10-2011
Shafieloo A, Clifton T and Ferreira P (2011). The crossing statistic: dealing with unknown errors in the dispersion of Type Ia supernovae. Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, IOP Publishing vol. 2011 (08), 017-017. 01-08-2011
Clifton T, Ferreira PG, Padilla A and Skordis C (2011). Modified Gravity and Cosmology. Physics Reports vol. 513 13-06-2011
Clifton T (2011). Is Dark Energy an illusion? Progress in Particle and Nuclear Physics, Elsevier vol. 66 (2), 181-192. 01-04-2011
2010
Clifton T, Bañados M and Skordis C (2010). The Parameterised Post-Newtonian Limit of Bimetric Theories of Gravity. Class.Quant.Grav. vol. 27 29-06-2010
Clifton T and Zlosnik TG (2010). FRW cosmology in Milgrom's bimetric theory of gravity. Phys.Rev.D vol. 81 07-02-2010
Clifton T and Barrow JD (2010). Observational Constraints on the Completeness of Space near
Astrophysical Objects. Phys.Rev.D vol. 81 25-01-2010
2009
Clifton T and Ferreira PG (2009). Errors in Estimating Omega_Lambda due to the Fluid Approximation. JCAP vol. 0910 31-08-2009
Clifton T and Ferreira PG (2009). Archipelagian Cosmology: Dynamics and Observables in a Universe with
Discretized Matter Content. Phys.Rev.D80:103503,2009; Phys.Rev.D84:109902,2011 vol. 80 (10) 23-07-2009
Clifton T and Ferreira PG (2009). Does Dark Energy Really Exist? Scientific American, Springer Nature vol. 300 (4), 48-55. 01-04-2009
Clarkson C, Clifton T and February S (2009). Perturbation Theory in Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi Cosmology. JCAP vol. 06 29-03-2009
Clifton T, Ferreira PG and Zuntz J (2009). What the small angle CMB really tells us about the curvature of the
Universe. JCAP vol. 0907 08-02-2009
Clifton T and Zuntz J (2009). Hubble Diagram Dispersion From Large-Scale Structure. Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. vol. 400 04-02-2009
2008
Clifton T, Ferreira PG and Land K (2008). Living in a Void: Testing the Copernican Principle with Distant
Supernovae. Phys. Rev. Lett. 101 (2008) 131302 vol. 101 (13) 09-07-2008
Clifton T (2008). Properties of Black Hole Radiation From Tunnelling. Class.Quant.Grav. vol. 25 16-04-2008
Clifton T (2008). The Parameterised Post-Newtonian Limit of Fourth-Order Theories of
Gravity. Phys.Rev.D vol. 77 07-01-2008
2007
Clifton T and Weisberg JM (2007). A Simple Model for Pulse Profiles from Precessing Pulsars, with Special
Application to Relativistic Binary PSR B1913+16. Astrophys.J. vol. 679, 687-696. 07-08-2007
Clifton T, Shenker S and Sivanandam N (2007). Volume Weighted Measures of Eternal Inflation in the Bousso-Polchinski
Landscape. JHEP vol. 0709 21-06-2007
Clifton T (2007). Exact Friedmann Solutions in Higher-Order Gravity Theories. Class.Quant.Grav. vol. 24, 5073-5091. 26-03-2007
Clifton T and Barrow JD (2007). The Ups and Downs of Cyclic Universes. Phys.Rev.D vol. 75 12-01-2007
2006
Clifton T (2006). Spherically Symmetric Solutions to Fourth-Order Theories of Gravity. Class.Quant.Grav. vol. 23 22-07-2006
Clifton T and Barrow JD (2006). Further Exact Cosmological Solutions to Higher-Order Gravity Theories. Class.Quant.Grav. vol. 23 27-01-2006
2005
Clifton T and Barrow JD (2005). The Existence of Godel, Einstein and de Sitter Universes. Phys.Rev. D vol. 72 14-11-2005
Barrow JD and Clifton T (2005). Exact cosmological solutions of scale-invariant gravity theories. Class.Quant.Grav. vol. 23 21-09-2005
Clifton T, Barrow JD and Scherrer RJ (2005). Constraints on the Variation of G from Primordial Nucleosynthesis. Phys.Rev. D vol. 71 19-04-2005
2004
Clifton T, Mota DF and Barrow JD (2004). Inhomogeneous Gravity. Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc. vol. 358 01-06-2004
Grants
Grants of specific relevance to the Centre for Fundamental PhysicsAstronomy Research at Queen Mary 2023 - 2026Christopher Clarkson, Richard Nelson, Timothy Clifton, William Sutherland, Edward Gillen, Karim Malik, Thomas James Haworth, Sijme-Jan Paardekooper, Theresa Baker, David Mulryne, Philip Bull, Juan Antonio Valiente Kroon, Charalampos Markakis, Mohammad Mahdi Godazgar, Katherine Clough, Pau Figueras and Chung Tse Shao
£1,625,769 Science & Technology Research Council (STFC) (01-04-2023 - 30-09-2026)
Astronomy Research at Queen Mary 2020 - 2023Karim Malik, Philip Bull, Christopher Clarkson, Timothy Clifton, Richard Nelson, Sijme-Jan Paardekooper and Juan Antonio Valiente Kroon
£1,868,745 Science & Technology Research Council (STFC) (01-04-2020 - 31-03-2024)