The School of Physics in Durban has a number of research focus areas, including:
- Quantum Information Science
- Space, Plasma and Atmospheric Physics
- Southern Hemisphere Auroral Radar Experiment (SHARE)
- Waves and Instabilities in Space Plasmas
- Geospace Physics
- Atmospheric Physics
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Plasma Spectroscopy
- Theoretical Physics (NITheP)
Perhaps its biggest strengths lie in the areas of Quantum Information Science, Space and Geospace Physics, Atmospheric Physics and Space Plasma Physics. In particular, the quantum information group has been particularly successful in attracting external funding, and has a large number of graduate and post-graduate students.
Quantum Information Science
The Quantum Research Group (QRG) has embarked on an ambitious avenue of research into quantum computing and information. The QRG has recently been awarded a sum of R10 million (about USD 1.39 million) from the Innovation Fund to establish a Centre for Quantum Technology. The QRG has already initiated collaboration with leading research institutes around the world such as the Applied Physics Group at the University of Geneva (Switzerland), Centre for Quantum Computing Technology (Australian Research Council, Centre of Excellence) and the Ultra-Cold Matter Group at Umeå University (Sweden). The research projects under investigation in the group range from the purely experimental (quantum key distribution and optical networks) to the theoretical aspects involved in understanding and describing the effects of the environment on quantum systems and devices (open quantum systems). Whatever the new quantum devices used in future technologies will be, there will definitely be a great demand for young scientists trained in applications and computational methods of the theory of quantum information. Please see the group's webpage for the list of collaborations and description of projects that are being undertaken by the group.
You can find out more details by visiting the Centre's website here.
Space, Plasma and Atmospheric Physics
Members of the Space, Plasma and Atmospheric Research Group conduct research on, but not limited to, the following projects.
Southern Hemisphere Auroral Radar Experiment
The Southern Hemisphere Auroral Radar Experiment (SHARE) is located at the South African Antarctic base SANAE at Vesleskarvet, Antarctica. The experiment is a collaborative effort with the Hermanus Magnetic Observatory. SHARE is part of the SuperDARN (Super Dual Auroral Radar Network) programme. SuperDARN is an international radar network for studying the Earth's upper atmosphere, ionosphere, and connection into space. SuperDARN HF radars aim to increase understanding of Geospace by:
- Observing the motion of the high latitude ionosphere over a large region.
- Collaborating with a wide variety of programmes to provide co-ordinated observations of Geospace.
- Deducing the behaviour of the convection in the magnetosphere.
- Understanding energy transport between the solar wind and the upper atmosphere.
The group concentrates on using SuperDARN convection and other data to understand ULF pulsations as well as the effect of the solar wind on ionospheric convection.
Waves and Instabilities in Space Plasmas
The Space Plasma Physics group undertakes basic theoretical plasma research with a view to explaining some of the satellite observations of waves and particle velocity distributions in the terrestrial magnetosphere, as well as in the magnetospheres of other planets. In particular, linear and nonlinear waves and instabilities in plasmas are investigated using both analytical and numerical techniques, and a wide variety of plasma models (kinetic, multi-fluid and magnetohydrodynamic). Fully non-linear multi-fluid plasma models are devised and are applied to the understanding of some of the features of high time resolution measurements of the electromagnetic fields in the earth's magnetosphere. Theoretical studies are carried out of magnetohydrodynamic waves and their application to the understanding of ULF (Ultra-Low Frequency) pulsations in the magnetosphere.
Charged dust is also a common feature of space and astrophysical plasmas. Perhaps the closest example of such a dusty plasma occurs in the polar mesosphere where the "dust" is ice particulates (the ingredient responsible for noctilucent clouds). Several members of the Space Plasma Group conduct research in the field of dusty plasmas. Here the primary interest has been the study of coherent non-linear phenomena, such as solitons and solitary waves.
The group has a number of international collaborations with colleagues in North America (University of California Riverside), Germany (University of Bochum), India (Indian Institute of Geomagnetism) and Belgium (University of Ghent). The group also frequently collaborates with members of the Hermanus Magnetic Observatory.
Geospace Physics
The Geospace Physics Group operate radio and particle experiments in Antarctica and on Marion Island. The group also has a VLF (very low frequency) wave experiment on the 2nd South African satellite, to be launched in 2007, and operate
lightning detection stations at Durban and
Hermanus, which are part of a world-wide global network.
Members and students frequently travel to and work at the South African Base at
Sanae, Antarctica.
Atmospheric Physics Content still to be provided...
Condensed Matter Physics
(Moyo, Mathe) The condensed matter research group undertakes research on the magnetic properties of materials, including bulk and nanosized compounds and thin films.
They have ongoing collaborations with CBPF Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and the Open University, UK.
You can find further details here.
Plasma Spectroscopy
The study of atomic processes in
plasmas provides one of the keys to understanding the physical state of the medium. Data obtained from atomic spectra are interpreted in terms of the
collisional and radiative processes responsible for populating and depopulating the atomic levels, and the shapes of the spectral lines provide information on the interactions between the radiators and perturbing fields, both magnetic (
Zeeman effect) and electric (
Stark effect). Plasmas of particular importance currently are those produced with magnetic confinement (high-temperature fusion plasmas) and astrophysical plasmas of low particle concentration and temperature in large regions of space. Atomic physics is a versatile tool which can be applied to a huge range of plasma parameters.
The main international collaboration has been with the
Institut fuer Plasmaphysik, Forschungszentrum Juelich (Germany), through the projects "Atomic data for fusion edge plasmas", and "Radiative processes for fusion edge plasmas" (WTZ-NRF).
You can find further details here.
National Institute of Theoretical Physics, KwaZulu-Natal Centre
The School is proud to host the regional node of the
National Institute of Theoretical Physics (NITheP), and we hope to use it as a vehicle to develop the
theoretical physics endeavour in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, beyond the boundaries of the University of Kwazulu-Natal.