Physics, Astronomy, Astrophysics and Mathematics

Range of detectors/observatories, using interactions in water or ice for detecting astrophysical neutrinos, interactions in liquid noble gases or solids for searching for dark matter particles, and light emission in the atmosphere for the detection of gamma rays from astrophysical sources.

Research Centres hosting researchers and organizing scientific events at a high level. Three different types of centres can be distinguished according to their aim: a) centres organizing high level one week conferences in mathematics or their interface with sciences and industry; b) centres organizing, over three or more months, targeted advanced scientific programmes at doctoral level or on specific research challenges; c) high-level research institutes with few permanent positions and a highly developed visitor’s programme. (High level mathematics, interface between mathematics and other sciences).

Centres devoted to the development of the interface between mathematics and industry. Their research groups offer a wide range of mathematical expertise and are able to interact with scientists from other disciplines (life sciences, bio-medicine, material sciences, engineering, computer sciences, physics, social sciences, etc.) both in the academic or industrial frameworks. (Industrial mathematics, applied mathematics).

Specialised structures devoted to the interaction of mathematics with other sciences (e.g. biology, genomics, chemistry, computer sciences …). These structures strive at developing new areas of research where mathematics is known to play a founding role as it did in the development of physics. (Cross-disciplinary centres; mathematical sciences; interaction of mathematics).

All facilities where materials are studied under extreme physical conditions as in High Magnetic Field Laboratories, High Pressure Laboratories, Low Temperature Laboratories, High Radiation Facilities, and Microgravity platforms.

Instruments using laser interferometry between freely hung test masses up to several km apart in vacuum. The lengths of two perpendicular arms, defined by the test masses, are compared and fluctuations in the arm length differences are recorded and analysed for potential GW signals. Links to earth observation.

High Energy Physics Facilities include accelerators, colliders, targets, light sources and detectors of high energy particles through electrostatic or oscillating fields accelerating particles to speeds sufficient to cause nuclear and particle reactions.

Mathematics centres of competence develop mathematical models for applications in all sciences and engineering, including social sciences, and medicine. They analyse the models, develop and implement algorithms for the simulation of the models as well as for the optimization and control of the involved processes. They provide transversal competences which allow transferring concepts and methods from one specific science to another and they also provide consulting concerning the use of methods and their implementation for specific applications. When needed, they generate the basic mathematical theory that is needed to perform the described tasks. (Mathematical modelling; numerical and statistical simulation; control theory; optimization; mathematical algorithm repository).

Micro and nanotechnology facilities deals with the understanding and control of matter at the nanoscale and microscales, at dimensions between approximately 1 and 1000 nanometres, involving imaging, measuring, modelling, and manipulating matter at this length scale.

Nuclear Physics facilities include accelerators, colliders, targets and detectors to study the atomic nucleus, the nuclear matter including its fusion and fission. The facilities can be classified according to their objects of study (hadrons, nuclei, applications), the probes that are used to investigate them (lepton/ photon or hadron/heavy ion beams), or simply by the size of the facility and the type of reactions involved in the various nuclear processes.

Facilities that are required to handle materials that potentially cause biosafety, chemical, radioactive, explosive, or engineering hazards. Also clean rooms and Actinide Handling Facilities would be included. Includes Biosecurity Level-4 Laboratories.

Includes planetary/space environment simulation chambers and space environment exposure facilities as well as space plasma physics facilities

Includes ground-based telescopes with (1) optical and/or near infrared telescopes, interferometers or (2) reflector telescopes with mirrors of different diameters, operating at radio frequencies, or infrared and/or optical wavelengths and (3) Space-borne telescopes orbiting the earth including a wide range of wavelengths, from gamma-rays to the radio.

Underground spaces providing experimental areas of reduced cosmic ray background, reduced seismic noise etc. for a range of experiments in physics and particle astrophysics. Open to members of collaborations involved in installing and running experiments. These facilities also have relevance to ICT and Material Sciences, Environment, Biological and Medical Sciences, Physics.