Nanoscience and EngineeringNanoscience and Engineeringin Superconductivity (NES - ESF)in Superconductivity (NES - ESF)

Mid-term evaluation report presented to the32nd PESC Plenary Meeting of the ESF

Victor V. MoshchalkovKatholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium)

Institute for Nanoscale Physics and Chemistry (INPAC)

Programme objectives

Main objective: to investigate the effect of the nanoscale confinement of condensate and flux on superconductivity in order to reveal its nanoscale evolution and to determine the fundamental relations between quantized confined states and the physical properties of these systems, enabling “quantum design” of their properties

Main topics:• Evolution of superconductivity at nanoscale, superfluidity in restricted

geometries

• Superconductivity in hybrid superconducting – normal (SN) and superconducting – magnet (SM) nanosystems with tuneable boundary condition

• Confined flux in nanostructured superconductors and hybrid SN and SM nanosystems

• Josephson effects and tunneling in weakly coupled condensates

• Fundamentals of fluxonics, superconducting devices

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The NES-ESF - teams

17 EU countries (in total > 70 groups) + USA + Japan + Brasil

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Programme activities

Workshops and conferences:

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Programme activitiesGrant scheme:

Steering committee meetings:

Dedicated books:

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Programme activities

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Programme activitiesPublications:

Many publications in top JournalsMany of these are inter-NES partner publicationsNES confirms European leadership in this area

2007 2008 2009 20100

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Regular Dedicated

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Programme activitiesPublicity:

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Programme activitiesWeb page:

Regular updatesLinked to ESFConference registrationGrant request submission

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Programme activitiesConference CD’s & NES-ESF Flyer:

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Typical expenditures

Available means allow annual working without excess carried to next yearFocus on large events, allowing as many as possible interactions between scientists in the field

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Conclusion

• Europe and beyond.• Providing an excellent exchange of ideas for the scientists via regular meetings.• Enabling supported travel for young scientists between leading research groups.• Generating a clear overview of the progress achieved in this research area via

special issues of books.• Attracting leading groups in Europe and beyond as one community, keeping open

mind for new joint collaborations.• Streamlining the NES research in Europe (avoiding double work).• Enhancing International cooperation (Europe, Japan, USA, Brasil).• Enhancing access to international facilities and sharing equipment.

The European teams were able to exploit further on a very valuable accumulated joint expertise, thus conserving the important gained momentum on a really global scale with a very strong European leading position.

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Planned activities

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