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being investigated. Also, some good research is underway in connection with superconductivity characteristics of "Kondo" metals regarding critical fields and temperatures. Such work has objectives related to antiferromagnetic interactions and localized spin fluctuations.
Physicists at the University of Palermo concentrate heavily in semiconductor material and device development and property studies. Their activities include the prototype development of bipolar transistors and diodes, impurity property in silicon crystals, doping of semiconductor layers, tunneling studies, and transmission energy loss of light being channeled through silicon. The research is aimed primarily at improving Italian electronics, which is needed to promote expansions in their computer and communications industries. Some of the most advanced solid-state research is being done at the University of Modena where properties of cadmium tellurides are being investigated in connection with drift mobility of holes.
Fairly advanced but limited research is being done in optics, interferometry, spectroscopy, holography, and quantum electronics. At CNEN, optics specialists are investigating optical signal processing using acoustic light modulators for treating images. Performance characteristics are being studied for optical systems illuminated by coherent light in a linear motion pattern to analyze the far-field diffraction. At the CNR-supported Optics Institute in Naples, research is being conducted on microholographic interferometry. Diffused laser light is being employed to obtain bright field interferograms. Optical spectroscopy research is being conducted at the University of Rome where approaches being used employ grating synthesis. A new technique, which appears to hold promise for producing high-resolution spectroscopy, is being emphasized; it is based on the antistokes intensity caused by photon interactions. The Italians are devoting efforts to classic interferometry experiments dealing with light beams in orthogonal states of elliptical polarization. The CNR laboratories have been following some programs to produce low-noise and high-efficiency production of holograms by developing a process for treating photographic plates to obtain an optimum ratio between noise and efficiency.
There is a strong trend toward increased research in magnetohydrodynamics and plasma physics involving studies on classic plane magnetohydrodynamic and laminar motions and plasma stabilities in specific media. Fluid mechanics research related to hydrodynamics and reactor engineering is concerned with the general theorem for nonlinear problems and boundary conditions corresponding to the motion of viscous fluids in tubes with a permeable wall.
Italy has a few scientists who pursue research into gravitation and relativity. Physicists well known throughout the world in this area are P.D. Vincensini and M. Mignani. A limited amount of research in atomic and molecular physics is carried out at the Universities of Bologna and Naples. Studies deal with the specific compounds of monochloramine and dideuteroacetylene and involve analyses of fundamental and "hot bands" that are useful in interpretation of their near infrared spectrum through use of microwave spectroscopy. Studies related to inorganic molecules comprise investigations of the vibration spectra of cobalt and rhodium carbonyls. Much of the research in acoustics and ultrasonics is related to oceanography and the propagation of sound in water. Notable work is done in ultrasonic cavitation and the utilization of shockwaves for studying the structure of solid materials and for nondestructive testing.
Mathematics has a highly respected place in the scientific community, and Italian mathematics have long been capable and productive. For example, mention should be made of the work of mathematician Ricci (19th century) for his work on tensor calculus, which underlies much differential geometry and relativity theory. Also, during the present century, mathematician physicist Enrico Fermi contributed greatly to the development of atomic energy.
Strong research areas for Italian mathematicians now include analysis, especially ordinary and partial differential equations and operator theory; geometry, both differential and algebraic; mathematical physics, especially quantum mechanics; and numerical analysis. The country's total research output is among the best in Western Europe, and the work is typically of good quality. An indication of wide acceptance of the work is that much is published abroad, largely in the United States but also in many other countries. The Italians also publish several good mathematical journals; Nuovo Cimento is a much used international vehicle for mathematical physics. The reputation of Italian mathematicians may be less than it was two or three generations ago, but it is still quite good.
In the World Directory of Mathematicians, there are 868 Italians listed; their numbers follow those of the United States and the U.S.S.R. While the Italians do produce many research papers (about 2% of the world output reviewed in the most comprehensive abstract journal), their output seems a little low for their long list of prominent mathematicians. This may be related to a criticism that has been stated regarding
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