The DREsden Sodium facility for DYNamo and thermohydraulic studies (DRESDYN) is an infrastructure project devoted both to large scale liquid sodium experiments with geo- and astrophysical background, as well as to investigations of various energy related ­techno­logies.

Magnetic fields of planets, stars, and galaxies are produced by self-excitation in moving electrically conducting fluids. In 1999, the underlying hydromagnetic dynamo effect was experimentally evidenced at the Riga dynamo facility. With numerical simulations, the development of measurement techniques, and extensive data analyses our department has contributed significantly to the success of this unique experiment.

Cosmic magnetic fields play a surprisingly active role in cosmic structure formation by fostering outward angular momentum transport and inward mass accretion onto central objects, like protostars or black holes, by means of the magnetorotational instability (MRI). At the PROMISE experiment, two special ­versions of MRI, the helical MRI and the azimuthal MRI are investigated.

The Tayler instability limits the up-scalability of liquid metal batteries and plays a major role in astrophysics.