APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R00020011022-9
University, University of Rostock, Martin Luther University, and Technical University of Dresden.
Strong research is being done in plasma physics, although much of it is based on work done in other countries. A few highly competent researchers pursue research in the field, especially at the Institute of Plasma Research in Ilmenau and the Physical-Technical Institute of the AW in East Berlin. They have engaged in research on many aspects of plasma generation, confinement, and applications. Past accomplishments have shown good capabilities in magnetohydrodynamic power generation and development of plasma jets. One of the most noteworthy achievements has been the construction of an ion-source duoplasmatron which is effective in creating a high-density plasma. The Physical-Technical Institute has shown a special interest in research concerning cyclotron radiation propagation in nonequilibrium plasma by measurements of emission coefficients. There has been some decline in basic studies but applied research has continued at the same rate.
In basic and applied optics, East Germany lags behind the U.S.S.R., which it once led, but appears to be significantly ahead of other Soviet bloc countries. A major portion of the research and development in applied optics is being done at the Friedrich Schiller University's Institute of Applied Optics, Jena. All of the departments at the institute conduct research for the VEB Carl Zeiss and the VEB Schott and Genossen Glass Plant at Jena. The Institute of Optics and Spectroscopy of the AW in East Berlin is well equipped and adequately staffed for research in nearly all aspects of basic research in optics. Among recent developments has been the completion of a design for a geodetic beacon lamp of high performance which is low in systematic errors.
A small program of research in high- and low-energy nuclear physics is underway. The low-energy physics aspect is associated primarily with isotope production and nuclear engineering. Most of the work occurs at the Central Institute for Nuclear Physics; Institute of Applied Radioactivity, Leipzig; Institute of Applied Isotope Research, East Berlin-Buch; Institute of Stable Isotopes, Leipzig Institute of Radioisotope Applications at the Dresden Technical University; and the radiochemical division of Dresden Central Institute of Solid State Physics and Materials. These facilities promote the use of irradiation techniques, particularly of radiation sterilization of metal articles, use of tracer techniques to investigate reaction mechanisms, production of sealed sources, and isotopic analysis; development and production of dosimetric devices and nuclear physics and isotopic instruments; and development of a variety of radiation detectors. In high-energy nuclear physics, the major interest and activities are at the institutes of AW, University of Leipzig, and Karl Marx University. Interest is centered on the study of elementary particles involving pion-nucleon theories, and the sum-rules of energy-momentum for single- and multi-particle distributions resulting from energy momentum conservation. Hadron interactions also are being studied to gain understanding associated with models of multi-particle production.
Research in relativity and gravitation is conducted by competent physicists at the Friedrich Schiller University and institutes of AW. Theoretical studies underway at the university have concerned the exact solutions associated with perfect fluids. Researchers at AW institutes are examining the formalism of the tetrad theory of gravitation. Studies also are in progress on the relations between the velocity of light and gravitational theories. Researchers are attempting to disprove the theory that vacuum velocity of light is a function of the gravitational field and are working along lines which involve the theory that frequency and wavelength of light also affect the vacuum velocity.
East Germany has profited from the strong German tradition for research in mathematics. Before World War II Germany had an outstanding reputation in both pure and applied mathematics. The war and subsequent division of the country spread the mathematical talent not only throughout the two German sectors but all over the world. During the late 1950's many of the mathematicians in East Germany defected and mathematical research subsequently declined in quality. The young mathematicians who have grown up in East Germany are adding to the research underway in the country. The quantity of mathematical research is extensive, and the quality is very good. There is little participation in international mathematical journals or meetings, although one of the leading international journals for applied mathematics, Zeitschrift fur Angewandte Mathematik und Mechanik, is published in East Germany.
Most of the effort is directed toward applied mathematics. Some research is underway in pure mathematics and the greatest effort has been on analysis and algebra; within these two general areas, the subjects of function theory, sets, and logic are receiving the most attention. Some research in algebraic and differential geometry is being pursued, but the interest in topology remains low. The emphasis in applied areas is on probability, statistics, numerical
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R00020011022-9
