About
The Plasma Dynamics Group (PDG) carries out fundamental research in the stability, dynamics, structure, and evolution of astrophysical fluids (heliospheric and stellar interiors and atmospheres, together with their environments) and laboratory plasmas (magnetically confined fusion).
Our research relies heavily on analytical methods, state-of-the-art numerical modelling (HPC and GPU computing), as well as on high-resolution observations and laboratory experiments.
Our aim is to give answers to crucial questions such as:
How is the plasma in solar and stellar atmospheres heated to million degrees (by linear and nonlinear waves, magnetic reconnection/diffusion, turbulences)?
How are the various regions in these atmosphere coupled?
How do instabilities affect the evolution of energy and the flux of plasmas?
How do small scale processes (such as turbulences and waves) affect the dynamical and thermal state of the plasma and structure?
How are magnetic fields generated through dynamo processes, and what is their evolution in different astrophysical objects?
How do we improve the confinement of plasmas in laboratory devices?
How can ionospheric perturbations help us to predict natural hazards: application to climate prediction and natural hazard risk assessment?
