Scale invariance in plasma and geospace systems. A cross-disciplinary approach to self-organized critical behavior.

The project consolidates a cross-disciplinary venture started in 2004 and brings together theorists and experimentalists, young outstanding researchers and highly qualified established scientists, with the purpose to work out tests of recently formulate d paradigms for the description of complex behavior in plasma and geospace systems. The project will include analysis of optical measurements of auroral displays, and satellite- and geomagnetic data. We will also analyze signals obtained by electric probe clusters from different magnetized plasma devices, from optical tracking of dust grains in complex plasmas, and data from a variety of computer models simulating turbulence and transport in magnetized plasmas. This effort, which also encompasses theory and mathematics of complex systems, is a collaboration involving 15 scientists from 5 different institutions with University of Tromsø as the base. A young research fellow will be employed on the project for 2 years. He will assist the project manager in coordinating the project and will have responsibility for creation of a forum for exchanging ideas between physicists and mathematicians, specialists in dynamical systems theory and in geophysical and magnetospheric plasma research. The budget will co ver travel and subsistence for a few longer visits (up to 8 weeks) to UiT for members of the team, and for a larger number of short exchange visits between the participating institutions. There may also be funding of participation at conferences where re sults from the joint work are presented. Funding is also asked to organize a workshop in the summer 2007 for the team members and a handful of other invited specialists in the field.