physics and astronomy 3
P H Y S I C S A N D A S T R O N O M Y
tal (now UKZN), responsible for data man- pa distribution plasmas, and geomagnetic
agement, and Potchefstroom (now NWU), field line resonances.
who carried out the construction from
1994 to 1996, and who were responsible for This discipline as a whole strongly experi-
engineering operations for the subsequent ences the enabling effects of government
eight years. The SHARE group and HMO policy and legislation to provide South Af-
have a long history of working on ultra-low rica with world-class facilities for astrophys-
frequency (ULF) geomagnetic pulsations ics and space physics. The Space Agency Bill
arising from solar-terrestrial effects. Ob-
of 2008 strives to integrate the space appli-
servations of naturally-occurring very low
cations more strongly with the basic space
frequency (VLF) waves by UKZN and HMO
sciences. The big challenge remains to edu-
are related to particle precipitation effects
cate more South Africans to a level where
in the auroral region. Cosmic-ray neutron
they can make full use of these facilities.
monitors at SANAE have been operated by
the research group at NWU (Potchefstroom
The ASS group has a specific focus on
campus) continuously since 1964, provid-
student training and development. The
ing a valuable long-term data resource
National Astrophysics and Space Science
which contributes to valuable insights into
Programme (NASSP) was formed in 2003 to
the modulation of cosmic rays.
address the problem of shortage of South
African astronomers that are capable of
Since 1974, the group at NWU has focused
using SALT, and the extreme lack of black
strongly on the theoretical side of cosmic-
South African astronomers. The programme
ray transport in the heliosphere. Their mod-
has been quite successful in producing
els are based on numerical solutions of the
postgraduate students with various skills
cosmic-ray transport equation, and they
that can also be applied in a range of other
provide explanations for the observations
fields and industries. The primary problem
made over many decades, ground-based
so far has been attracting sufficient black
as well as by spacecraft throughout the
South Africans into the programme, but
heliosphere, of how the sun modulates the
this is addressed with the introduction of
cosmic-ray intensity. These insights are ap-
an extended programme that caters for
plicable to new so-called astrospheres that
South African students with disadvantaged
are being discovered and to cosmic rays
educational backgrounds.
created in the remnants of supernova ex-
plosions.
3.6 Condensed matter physics
For many years there has been a strong
and materials science
involvement at UKZN in theoretical re-
search on linear and nonlinear waves
in plasmas. Their interests in space plasma
physics include studies of electrostatic M
aterials physics is the most widely
practised branch of physics in
South Africa, and also one of the
solitons, dusty plasmas, waves in kap- oldest and most established. Researchers
93
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