GRK 1114:  Optical Techniques for Measurement of Interfacial Transport Phenomena

• Subject Area: Fluid Mechanics, Technical Thermodynamics and Thermal Energy Engineering ; Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas ; Physical Chemistry ; Process Engineering, Technical Chemistry
• Term: from 2005 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 462057

Interfacial transport phenomena of heat, mass and momentum govern a large number of processes in both nature and technical applications, overall having a vast economic importance. This is a strongly interdisciplinary research topic, involving several different fundamental physical processes, a wide variety of experimental techniques and virtually an infinite number of application areas. Despite the importance of such phenomena, their experimental study and modelling is not typically a topic in undergraduate programmes, nor does this topic clearly belong to any research discipline. Furthermore, there is a distinct need for understanding and modelling these phenomena on time and length scales much smaller than those previously used. Especially these demands on resolution indicate the important role which optical measurement techniques, being non-intrusive, will play in future research efforts in this area. The conclusion drawn from these observations is that progress in this area is best assured by introducing and insuring strong cooperation between developers of measurement techniques and application-orientated research groups, preferably at the post-graduate level. Hence, these topics lend themselves to a dedicated Research Training Group.
The focus of this Research Training Group is on the development and application of optical techniques for measurement of interfacial transport quantities. Particularly innovative solutions are found in the combination of various measurement techniques and in the high spatial and temporal resolution to be achieved. The Research Training Group will establish an interdisciplinary teaching and research environment in which developers and users work closely together and in which students receive an increased exposure to optical measurements techniques. A strong overlap in methodology, techniques and application has been established among the proposed research topics.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität Darmstadt
• Co-Applicant Institution: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr.-Ing. Cameron Tropea
• Participating Researchers: Professor Dr. Andreas Dreizler; Professor Dr. Volker Ebert; Professor Dr. Wolfgang Elsäßer; Professor Dr. Markus Engstler; Privatdozent Dr. Christoph Garbe; Professor Dr. Thomas Halfmann; Professor Dr. Dirk-Peter Herten; Professor Dr. Bernd Jähne; Professor Dr. Axel Rosenhahn; Professor Dr. Kurt Roth; Professor Dr.-Ing. Samuel Schabel; Professor Dr.-Ing. Peter Stephan; Professor Dr. Motomu Tanaka; Professor Dr. Gerhard Thiel; Professor Dr. Thomas Walther