Indian Institute of Astrophysics

First Announcement

Background of the Workshop

It is well established and appreciated by now that more than 99% of the matter in the universe is in the plasma state. Most astrophysical systems could be approximated as conducting fluids in a gravitational field. It is the combined effect of these two that gives rise to the mind boggling variety of configurations in the form of filaments, loops , jets and arches. The plasma structures that cannot last for more than a second or less in a laboratory remain intact for astronomical time and spatial scales in an astrophysical setting. The case in point is the well known extragalactic jets whose collimation and stability has remained an enigma inspite of the efforts of many for many long years. The high energy radiation sources such as the active galactic nuclei again summon the coherent plasma radiation processes for their exceptionally large output from regions of relatively small physical sizes. The generation of magnetic field, anomalous transport of angular momentum with decisive bearing on star formation processes, the ubiquitous MHD turbulence under conditions irreproducible in terrestrial laboratories are some of the generic issues still awaiting a concerted effort for their understanding. Quantum Plasmas, pair plasmas and pair-ion plasmas exist under extreme conditions in planetary interiors and exotic stars. In this workshop of the intended series, We wish to bring the plasma physicists, the astrophysicists and the plasma astrophysicists together and first just get acquainted with the systems and the issues. In subsequent workshops a subset of the topics could be selected for deeper and more technical deliberations.

Venue:

Kodaikanal Observatory, Kodaikanal, India is a part of Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), an autonomous institution funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. Kodaikanal is one of the most popular hill resorts in India. With its rocks, woods, lakes and bracing air, it offers an ideal location for intellectual activity. The Kodaikanal Observatory was established in 1899 as a Solar Observatory. It has several experimental facilities, notably, the solar tunnel telescope, spectrographs, a broadband seismograph, GPS receiver and magnetic variometers to study the sun and and Sun-Earth connections. Several national and international workshops have been conducted in the Observatory in the past. The Kodaikanal Observatory is located at an altitude of 2343 m in the Palani range of hills in southern India.

Latitude : 10 13' 50'', Longitude : 77 28' 07'', Altitude : 2343m

Reaching Kodaikanal

Air Connection

The nearest airport to the Kodaikanal Observatory is Madurai (130km from Kodaikanal Observatory), in the state of Tamil Nadu.

Rail Connection

The nearest railway station is Kodaikanal Road (80km from Kodaikanal observatory).

Road Connection

Kodaikanal Observatory is located 4km from Kodaikanal town and may be reached by road from Bangalore, via Salem and Dindigul and from Madurai via Kodaikanal road.

Programme of the Workshop

The workshop will be structured around the following topics:

Astrophysical Turbulence
Plentary, Stellar and galactic dynamos
Global Instabilities in Inhomogeneous Plasmas with flows
Plasma processes in star formation
Fundamental Plasma Processes
Coherent Radiative processes
Partially Ionized Plasmas
Quantum Plasmas
Plasma Cosmology

Key Dates for the Workshop

21st January 2007:	First Announcement
1st April 2007:	Closing date for applications
15th April 2007:	Selection of Applicants and notification
1st May 2007:	Final Registration opens
1st June 2007:	Registration Closes
15th June 2007:	Final announcement of Scientific program

Information and application Form Available on the World Wide Web

Updated information about the workshop and information material can be obtained via the World Wide Web at www.iiap.res.in/kt1

Financial Arrangements

All participants will be provided with local hospitality during their stay in Kodaikanal. There is no registration fee. Within the limited funds available, a few of the selected participants from developing countries will be offered partial travel support to attend the Workshop.

Selection of Participants

Participants will be selected on the basis of information provided in the Application Form.

Language of the Workshop

English will be the working language for the workshop.

International Advisory Committee

D.O.Gomez ( Argentina)
J.L.Han (China)
P.K.Kaw (India)
G.Murtaza (Pakistan)
R.Opher (Brazil)

Directors of the workshop

Vinod Krishan and Siraj Hasan
Indian Institute of Astrophysics

Contact Person

Prof. K. E. Rangarajan
India Institute of Astrophysics, Koramangala, Bangalore 560034, INDIA
Phone: +91 80-2553-0583 (or) +91 80-2553-0672
Fax: 91-80-25500482
Email: kt1@iiap.res.in
Web: http://www.iiap.res.in/kt1