Physics Department annual progress report 1984

Research in the Physics Department covers two main fields: condensed matter physics and plasma physics. The principal activities in these fields are presented in two chapters of this Progress Report covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 1984.

The condensed matter physics research is predominantly experimental utilising diffraction of neutrons and x-rays. The research topics range from studies of structure, excitations and phase transitions in model systems to studies of ion transport, texture and recrystallization kinetics with a more applied nature. The plasma physics research is partly experimental and partly theoretical. A st'idy of pellet-plasma interaction is of applied nature and aimed at assessing the possibilit.es of refuelling a fusion reactor by shooting deuterium-tritium pellets into the plasma. A study of the fundamental physics of plasmas deals with investigations of wave propagation properties, instabilities, solitons, turbulence, etc.