Open lecture: Alfvén waves – a journey from laboratory to the solar system and beyond
A short journey from the discovery of Alfvén waves to nowadays where Alfvén wave physics is studied in supercomputer simulations, laboratories, the solar system, and the distant Universe.
Time: Tue 2022-11-01 12.15 - 13.00
Location: KTH Biblioteket Entréhallen/KTH Library Entrance
Language: English
Participating: Andris Vaivads, Division of space and plasma physics
KTH professor Hannes Alfvén received the Nobel prize in 1970 for the discovery of Alfvén waves; which the discovery itself was published in 1942. Alfvén waves and the related magnetohydrodynamics has had a major impact on the scientific development of studying plasmas, the state of matter that is dominating our Universe.
Similarly, as air is filled with sound waves, Alfvén waves are filling plasmas in a laboratory and space. Alfvén waves play a fundamental role in such phenomena as the formation of stellar wind, stellar flares, auroras, geomagnetic storms, and many more.
Andris Vaivads will make a short journey from the discovery of Alfvén waves to nowadays where Alfvén wave physics is studied in supercomputer simulations, laboratories, the solar system, and the distant Universe.
No need for registration, just show up at the library! The lecture will take place in the KTH Library Entrance.