IOP Groups
The Vacuum Group
A Vacuum Physics Group was inaugurated in 1965. Its success in arranging meetings involving many disciplines besides physics led to the amendment of the name of the Group to 'The Vacuum Group'. The Group continues its endeavours to appeal to as many people as possible in industry and research by arranging meetings covering the widest possible range of subjects. The composition of the Group Committee reflects the broad coverage of the subject aimed at by the Group, encompassing academics, representatives of vacuum manufacturers and vacuum users in government and industrial laboratories. The Group has been successful in bringing together those engaged in the production and improvement of vacuum equipment with those concerned with its application in such diverse areas as medical physics, large machines for research in the physical sciences, industrial process control and the electronics and semiconductor industries.
The Vacuum Group takes an active interest in education for those working with vacuum technology. The Group maintains close links with the BVC - a member of the Group committee serving as one of the Institute of Physics representatives on the Council. Through the BVC, which represents national vacuum interests, members are able to participate in the work of IUVSTA.
During the past few years, the Group has organised a wide programme of half-day and full-day meetings, some of which have taken the form of workshops or included mini-exhibitions. The subjects of recent meetings have included choosing and using vacuum equipment, environmentally friendly cleaning, energy assisted coating, motion in vacuum, automation and control, diamond growth, pressure measurement, ion sources, plasma sampling, surface analytical techniques etc.
More recently, the Group has arranged meetings on subjects ranging from electron beam welding to issues in nano-vacuum technology.
^ To the top ^