Proposal Full Name:

Development of Institute of Physics of University of Latvia for European centre of MagnetoHydroDynamics research

Proposal Acronym: IPUL-MHD

Call Identifier: 2001/C 264/05

Research Programme: GROW-2001

Institute of Physics of University of Latvia

IPUL is one of the world's leading MHD research centres with about 80 employees and a number of unique liquid-metal experimental facilities. IPUL is conducting both basic and applied research related with complex interactions between electromagnetic fields and liquid flows which are important for the applications ranging from metallurgy and semiconductor crystal growth to medicine and nanotechnologies. The most well-known, recent IPUL achievement is the worldwide first MHD Dynamo experiment.

Proposal abstract

The aim of this proposal is to promote integration of Institute of Physics of University of Latvia as an outstanding magnetohydrodynamics research centre into European research area. To achieve this goal the first task is to strengthen the ongoing cooperation of IPUL with a number of European partners. Second task is to increase research capacity of IPUL by attracting young researchers. This proposal is focused on two principal research directions of IUPL. The first is the liquid metal magnetohydrodynamics that is important for development of metallurgical and semiconductor growth technologies. The second is the magnetic fluids research related with several nanotechnological applications. Additional objective of this proposal is to promote dissemination of research results by organizing conferences, upgrading the Magnetohydrodynamics journal published by IPUL and by developing a web-based MHD information server.

Keywords:

    * magnetic fields

    * conducting liquid

    * magnetic fluids

Objectives:

1.  Strengthening of the ongoing cooperation between Institute of Physics of University of Latvia and European partner centers in the field of MHD research by exchange of junior and experienced researchers.
2.  Building up of research capacity of IPUL by attracting young researchers.
3.  Dissemination and exchange of information by organizing common scientific conferences by the Latvian and European partners.
4.  Improvement of the quality of publishing by advancing the information technologies of the Magnetohydrodynamics journal published by IPUL.
5. Development of a web-based MHD information server at IPUL.

Description of the work:

The proposed package of measures is based upon three major groups of work packages. The first major group is devoted to support the ongoing cooperation as well as to develop new links between IPUL and a number of European research centers. This group of measures comprises two levels: first, invitation of leading experts from European centers to the IPUL and, second, training visits of junior researchers from IPUL to the leading European centers. Additionally, the first group includes a workpackage devised for twinning between IPUL and Research Centre Rossendorf, Germany. The second major group of measures is proposed for capacity building of IPUL by attracting young researchers. It is planned to open a number of training positions for both postdoctoral researchers and PhD students on the research subjects that are defined and to be carried out in a tight collaboration with the European partners of IPUL. The third major group of measures is devoted to facilitate knowledge dissemination in the field of MHD. This group of measures is organized in the three levels. The first level is intended for operative publication of the latest research results through organizing two topical workshops and a general MHD conference at IPUL. The measure at the second level is concerned with publication of the research results of archival significance through Magnetohydrodynamics journal published by IPUL. The aim of this measure is to support upgrading of the publishing technologies of MHD journal to fully electronic level including development of an on-line version of the journal. The third-level activity is proposed for development of a public web-based MHD information server to host relevant technical and physical data, research reports, PhD thesis, and other MHD-related important information.