Prof S Molokov MSc, PhD, FIMA
Professor of Applied Mathematics

Director of Applied Mathematics Research Centre

Sergei Molokov leads a research group with broad interests in magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) and other coupled problems of continuum mechanics and electromagnetism. The group includes two Readers, three Senior Research Assistants, and two Research Students. We employ numerical methods and various analytical techniques (with particular emphasis on asymptotic methods) to study both fundamental and applied problems in the areas of MHD, magnetothermoelasticity, exploding wires, etc. In the field of MHD we are interested in duct flows, free surface flows, buoyant and thermocapillary convection, flows around obstacles, as well as their stability. Industrial applications include aluminium reduction cells, liquid metal blankets and divertors for fusion reactors and semiconductor crystal growth. The phenomenon of exploding wires is another area of research, which involves the study of magnetoelastic waves.

Selected Publications

(for a complete list click here; last updated: 17/11/09)

• Priede, J., Aleksandrova, S. & Molokov, S. (2010) Linear stability of Hunt’s flow, J. Fluid Mech (to be published)
  
  
• Kinet, M., Molokov, S. & Knaepen, B. (2009) Instabilities and transition in magnetohydro-dynamic flows in ducts with electrically conducting walls, Phys Rev Lett. 103, 154501
  
  
• Pedcenko, A., Molokov, S., Priede, J., Lukyanov, A. & Thomas, P.J. (2009) Experimental model of the interfacial instability in aluminium reduction cells. Europhys. Lett 88, 24001
  
  
• Molokov, S., Moreau, R. & Moffatt, H.K. (eds) (2007) Magnetohydrodynamics: Historical Evolution and Trends, Springer, series Fluid Dynamics and its Applications, ISBN: 978-1-4020-4832-6
  
  
• Moreau, R. & Molokov, S. (2007) Julius Hartmann and his followers: a review on the properties of the Hartmann layer. In: Magnetohydrodynamics: Historical Evolution and Trends (S. Molokov, R. Moreau,H.K. Moffatt, eds), Springer, ISBN: 978-1-4020-4832-6
  
  
• Kohno, H. & Molokov, S. (2007) Interfacial instability in aluminium reduction cells in a vertical magnetic field with a transverse gradient to the sidewall, Phys Lett A 366, 600-605.
  
  
• Wall, D.P., Allen, J.E. & Molokov, S. (2003) The fragmentation of wires by pulsed currents: beyond the first fracture, J. Phys. D.: Applied Physics., 36, 2757-2766. (Special issue in honour of J.E. Allen's 75th birthday.)
  
  
• Lukyanov, A., El, G. and Molokov, S. (2001) Instability of MHD-modified interfacial waves revisited, Phys. Lett. A., 290, 165-172.
  
  
• Molokov, S. and Allen, J.E. (1997) The fragmentation of wires carrying electric current, J. Phys. D: Applied Physics, 30, 3131-3141.
  
  
• Stieglitz, R. and Molokov, S. (1997) Experimental study of magnetohydrodynamic flows in electrically coupled bends, J. Fluid Mech., 343 ,1-28.
  
  
• Stieglitz, R., Barleon, L., Bühler, L. and Molokov, S. (1996) Magnetohydrodynamic flow in a right angle bend in a strong magnetic field, J. Fluid Mech., 326, 91-123.
  
  
• Molokov, S. & Stieglitz, R. (1995) Liquid-metal flow in a system of electrically coupled U-bends in a strong uniform magnetic field, J. Fluid Mech, 299, 73-95.
  
  
• Molokov, S. & Bühler, L. (1994) Liquid-metal flow in a U-bend in a strong uniform magnetic field, J. Fluid Mech, 267, 325-352.
  
  
• Schnerr, G.H. & Molokov, S. (1994) Exact solutions for transonic flows of dense gases in two-dimensional and axisymmetric nozzles, Phys. Fluids, 6 (10), 3465-3472.
  
  
• Molokov, S. (1993) Fully developed liquid-metal flow in multiple rectangular ducts in astrong uniform magnetic field, Eur. J. Mech./B Fluids., 12 (6), 769-787.
  
  

Supervision

Research Students:

• Completions: Ian Cox (PhD, 2007), Jie Mao (PhD, 2006), Aleksandra Tyurina (PhD, 2005, second supervisor), Svetlana Aleksandrova (PhD, 2001); Ian Cox (MSc, 1999), Dieter Emmrich (MSc, 1996), Z. Yarv (MSc, 1990)

Postdoctoral Research Assistants:

• Svetlana Aleksandrova (2001-)
  
  
• Previous Research Assistants: Alexander Pedchenko (2007-2009), Abdellah Kharicha (2003-2004), Aleksander Lukyanov (1999-2001), Guillaume Authie (2002) 
  
  

External Examiner

• M. Kinet (ULB, Brussels, Belgium, Sept 2009)

Patent

• Stabilisation of the liquid metal - electrolyte systems
  International Patent Application No: PCT/GB2003/00072.
  Iventors: A. Lukyanov, G. El and S. Molokov.
  International publication date: 17.07.2003
  Russian patent granted in 2008; No. 2313620

External Funding

• 2009-2011 Further studies of instabilities in aluminium reduction cells. Funded by Rio Tinto Alcan
  
  
• 2007 (two years) Proof-of-concept research project on the patented idea related to stabilization of aluminium reduction cells (see above). This is a collaborative project with the University of Warwick
  
  
• 2006 (two years) Research Project funded by Leverhulme Trust. Title: Modes of instability in buoyant flows in a strong, horizontal magnetic field
  
  
• 2005 - 2009 (four years) COST P17 'Electromagnetic Processing of Materials', funding for travel, management committee meetings, workshops and working group meetings
  
  
• 2003 (one year) Research contract funded by Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe (Germany) within European Fusion Energy Program. Title: "Analysis of MHD flow relevant to the HCLL blanket".
  
  
• 2002 (one year) Research contract funded by Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe (Germany) within European Fusion Energy Program. Title: "Analysis of MHD flow relevant to the WCLL blanket".
  
  
• 2001 (one year) Research contract funded by Argonne National Laboratory (USA) within US Fusion Energy Program. Title: "Magnetohydrodynamic free-surface flows"
  
  
• 2000-2004 (four years) COST P6 Magnetofluiddynamics, funding for travel and working group meetings
  
  
• 2000 (one year) Research contract funded by Argonne National Laboratory (USA) within US Fusion Energy Program. Title: "Modelling of the Circular Duct and Jet Problems"
  
  
• 2000 (six months) Royal Society Visiting Fellowship, which allowed Dr. G. El to visit Coventry
  
  
• 1999 (one year) Research contract funded by Argonne National Laboratory (USA) within US Fusion Energy Program. Title: "Magnetohydrodynamic free-surface flows"
  
  
• 1999 (two years) Personal grant funded by the EPSRC. Title: "Further Studies of the Fragmentation of Wires due to Pulsed Currents "; Collaborative Project with Prof. J.E. Allen (University of Oxford)
  
  
• 1988 (three years) Research contract funded by D.V. Efremov Institute of Electrophysical Apparatus (St.Petersburgh, Russia) and Latvian Academy of Sciences within SU/US Fusion Energy Program. Title: "Theoretical Development of a Slotted Channel Blanket for a Tokamak Reactor"
  
  

Committee Membership

• Faculty of Engineering and Computing Research Committee
  
  

Professional Activities and Conference Roles

Editorial and Reviewing Work

• Member of Editorial Board of the journal 'Magnetohydrodynamics'
  
  
• The Editor of the HYDROMAG Newsletter between 1998 and 2009. The Newsletter is an official press release of the HYDROMAG Association. It is issued electronically four times a year
  
  
• Referee of journal papers on magnetohydrodynamics and exploding wires (approx. 6-8 papers per year) for Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Journal of Physics D, ZAMP, Fusion Technology, Physics of Fluids, Journal of Fluids Engineering, European Journal of Mechanics/B Fluids, ANZIAM, etc
  
  
• Referee of grant proposals for the EPSRC, Leverhume Trust, and the German-Israeli Foundation for scientific research and development (G.I.F)
  
  

Participation in International Programs/Networks

• 2005-2009 Chairman of the European Network on Electromagnetic Processing of Materials, which involves around 100 researchers from about 50 laboratories/groups
  
  
• 2002-2004 European Fusion Energy Program
  
  
• 1999-2002 US Fusion Energy Program
  
  
• 2000-2004 European Network "Magnetofluiddynamics" (COST Action P6) leader of working group High Magnetic Fields
  
  

Professional Membership and Roles

• Fellow of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications
  
  
• Member of the HYDROMAG Association, HYDROMAG Council, and the Editor of the HYDROMAG Newsletter (1998 - 2009)
  The Association involves about 300 active researchers in the field of liquid metal Magnetohydrodynamics and Electromagnetic Processing of Materials
  
  
• Deputy Director of Fluid Dynamics Research Centre (University of Warwick)
  
  
• Member of EUROMECH
  
  
• Member of pool of reviewers of European Science Foundation between 1 May 2008 and 30 April 2009

Conference Roles

• 1999 Mini-symposium organizer within the frame of the International Congress on Industrial and Applied Mathematics, ICIAM99, Edinburgh, July, 5-9, 1999. Title: Liquid Metal Flows at High Hartmann and Reynolds Numbers.
  
  
• 2000 Invited, opening lecture of the 4th International PAMIR Conference "Magnetohydrodynamics at Dawn of Third Millennium", Presquile de Giens, France, September 18-22, 2000. Title: "Spreading liquid metal drop in a strong magnetic field".
  
  
• 2001 Organiser of the 1st International Seminar on Electromagnetic Control of Liquid Metal Processes, Coventry (UK), 27-29 June, 2001 (with S. Aleksandrova).
  
  
• 2002 Organiser of the 2nd International Seminar on Electromagnetic Control of Liquid Metal Processes, Grenoble (France), 17-19 June, 2002 (with Y. Fautrelle and J. Etay, EPM-MADYLAM, Grenoble, France).
  
  
• 2002 Chair of two Sessions, 5th International PAMIR Conference on Magnetohydrodynamics, Ramatuelle, France, 16-20 September 2002; Sessions: "Fundamentals" and "Metallurgy".
  
  
• 2003 Session Chair, 4th International Conference on Electromagnetic Processing of Materials (EPM 2003), Lyon, France, 14-17 October 2003; Session "Fundamentals".
  
  
• 2004 Organiser of the International Workshop on the History of Magnetohydrodynamics, Coventry University, 26-28 May, 2004 (with S. Aleksandrova and J. Goodband)
  
  
• 2005 Member of Scientific Committee of the 6^th International PAMIR conference on Magnetohydrodynamics (Riga, Latvia, 27 June-3 July, 2005)
  
  
• 2005 Member of Scientific Committee of Summer Research Program on Magnetohydrodynamics, ULB, Brussels, July, 2005
  
  
• 2006 Co-Chairman of the EUROMECH Colloquium on Fluid Flows in High Magnetic Fields (TU Ilmenau, Germany, 1-3 March 2006), with A Thess (Ilmenau, Germany), and Th Alboussiere (Grenoble, France)
  
  
• 2006 Organiser of Graduate School and Workshop on Instabilities and Turbulence in MHD Flows within the framework of Warwick Turbulence Symposium; University of Warwick, June 26-July 1, 2006; with S. Nazarenko (University of Warwick), A. Thess (TU Ilmenau, Germany), Th Alboussiere (Univ Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France), M.R.E. Proctor (Cambridge University)
  
  
• 2007 Co-organiser of Julius Hartmann Meeting, Coventry University, 15-16 February, 2007 (with J. Priede and S. Aleksandrova)
  
  
• 2007 Member of Scientific Committee of Summer Research Program on Magnetohydrodynamics, ULB, Brussels, July, 2007
  
  
• 2008 Member of Scientific Committee of the 7^th International PAMIR conference on Magnetohydrodynamics (Presquile de Giens, France, 8-12 September, 2008)
  
  
• 2008 Session co-chairman of session Applied MHD and ferrofluids at 7^th International PAMIR conference on Magnetohydrodynamics (Presquile de Giens, France, 8-12 September, 2008), with J. Deconninck (Brussels)
  
  
• 2008 Invited Lecture, Interfacial instability in aluminium reduction cells in the presence of a non-uniform magnetic field at Intern workshop MHD fundamentals, from liquid-metals to astrophysics, ULB, Brussels, 14-16 April, 2008
  
  
• 2009 Member of Scientific Committee of the 7^th International PAMIR conference on Magnetohydrodynamics
  
  
• 2009 Organiser of session, Instabilities in MHD flows at 3^rd Intern Symposium on Instabilities and Bifurcations in Fluid Dynamics, University of Nottingham, 10-13 August, 2009
  
  
• 2009 Co-organiser of UK MHD meeting, Coventry, June, 2009 (with A. Potherat, J. Priede, A. Pedcenko, and S. Aleksandrova)
  
  
• 2009 Member of Intern Scientific Committee, 6^th Intern Conference on Electromagnetic Processing of Materials, Dresden, Germany, 19-23 October, 2009; Chairman of session 'Fundamentals'
  
  
• 2009 Keynote speaker, 'Experimental model of the interfacial instability of aluminium reduction cells' at 6th Intern Conference on Electromagnetic Processing of Materials, Dresden, Germany, 19-23 October, 2009; co-authors: Pedchenko, A., Priede, J., Lukyanov, A., Thomas, P.J.
  
  
• 2009 Co-Chairman of two sessions; member of panel of experts ‘Looking forward’ with R. Moreau and B. Nacke; at the Seminar ‘30th Anniv of EPM-MADYLAM’, Grenoble, 25-27 March, 2009

Collaboration

• Nuclear Research Centre Karlsruhe (Germany) L Buehler
• Argonne National Laboratory (USA) C B Reed
• University of Oxford (UK) J E Allen
• Institute of Physics, University of Latvia (Latvia) A Shishko
• University of Reading (UK) A Lukyanov
• University of Warwick (UK) Dr P J Thomas
• University of Cambridge (UK) HK Moffatt FRS co-edited a book
• EPM-MADYLAM (France) R Moreau co-authored a review and co-edited a book

Academic Visitors (externally funded)

• Dr G El (Russian Academy of Sciences, 1999, six months), Dr Ch Karcher (TU Ilmenau, Germany, 2002, one week); Dr A Luedtke (TU Ilmenau, 2002, one week); Dr T Tagawa (2003, Kyushu University, Japan, one month), Dr M Conrath (TU Ilmenau, Germany, 2003, one week), Prof Y Kolesnikov (TU Ilmenau, 2004, ten days), Dr H Kohno (Visiting Research Fellow, Japan, 1 year), Mr M Kinet (ULB, Brussels, 2008, ten days)