At the end of the year

FLNP: results are summed up, tasks are set

On 28 December, an extended director's meeting was held at the Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics, in combination with a meeting of the Science and Technology Council that was attended by a large number of FLNP staff members.

The meeting started with the awarding of diplomas to the winners of the competition of the FLNP research papers and scholarship holders. The diplomas of the I.M.Frank scholarships and the memorial collection were awarded to the young employees by the chairman of the jury of this competition A.I.Frank that noted that it is always very difficult to choose among a number of worthy candidates. He congratulated the winners, emphasizing that "this is not a grant, this is recognition of the merits of young researchers." The diplomas of the F.L.Shapiro scholarships were awarded by the chairman of the jury W.I.Furman that noted that these scholarships represent a relay of generations - scientific, human and a relay of memory. That is why the scholarship holders received a book of memoirs about Fedor Lvovich and his papers on nuclear physics and condensed matter physics.

In his year-end report, FLNP Director Egor Lychagin showed more than 50 slides with a brief description of the main achievements of all departments. Diverse work is carried out in the Department of Neutron Investigations of Condensed Matter: from the investigation of popular 2D magnetic materials to the investigation of paleontological objects; two new spectrometers are currently developed, work is underway with delays, since some components are manufactured by Western manufacturers. Vivid results were obtained in the Sector of Raman Spectroscopy.

The TANGRA project has been running in the Department of Nuclear Physics for several years now, in which new results have been obtained; statistics is still gathered in the research of rare fission modes; a series of works is underway to study the reaction (n, α). At the IREN facility, cultural heritage is currently studied using non-destructive techniques and preparations are underway to study p-violation in neutron resonances. In the Group of Neutron Activation Analysis at IREN, wall paintings of temples, as well as bone remains from the tomb of the Moscow Kremlin are studied. Hypotheses have been put forward to explain the behavioral characteristics of Ivan the Terrible and the causes of the death of his wife Marfa Vasilievna. The source of ultracold neutrons at the IBR-2 reactor or other pulsed sources is developed in the department. By the end of 2024, the accelerating part of EG-5 should be modernized; work is currently carried out in collaboration with the Institute of Nuclear Physics. In the Sector of Neutron Activation Analysis, the adjustment of new manipulators is currently completed; work on nanotoxicology is underway; radioecological investigations were carried out in the Novaya Zemlya region.

A large amount of work was carried out in the Department of Spectrometers Complex IBR-2: a section for sputtering boron carbide to develop neutron detectors were put into test operation; the assembly of a wide-aperture backscattering detector is currently completed.

In the Sector of New Source and Moderators Complex, a model of the dynamics of behavior of pulsed reactor fuel rods was developed. According to Director, this result is of great importance for understanding the behavior of the IBR-2 core. The design of the reactor under development is currently optimized.

The scientific programme for a new neutron source is currently developed in the Laboratory.

Over the past year, the Laboratory staff members made 247 publications, 4 patents were issued and 295 reports were presented at conferences. 32 postgraduate students and candidates, 35 students work at FLNP today.

The examination of documents prepared for obtaining a license for the operation of the IBR-2 reactor is delayed, so putting it into operation will be postponed to the end of 2024. The IREN source operated for 2300 hours and optimization of the operation of the LUE-200 accelerator is underway. Egor Lychagin noted the work of the mechanical-technological and electrical-technological departments. In the Pilot Production Workshop, orders were completed for the services of IBR-2, IREN, MTD, DSC, DNICM, EG-5 FLNP, as well as for LRB, NPO Aspect and other organizations. The process of obtaining a license from Rostechnadzor for the FLNP design bureau for the right to design equipment for research nuclear facilities is being completed. In the future, it is expected to increase the composition of the design bureau to ensure the development of design documentation for a new neutron source.

Over the past 5 years, the number of laboratory staff has increased from 518 to 562 people (39 part-time employees) and the number of employees with academic degrees has increased: today, there are 27 doctors, 107 candidates out of 190 researchers at FLNP. The average age of an employee is 48.6 years; at JINR it is 51 years.

Egor Lychagin named the main tasks for 2024. They include obtaining a license for the operation of the IBR-2 reactor and resuming its operation for experiments in the fourth quarter; providing the nuclear safety group with qualified personnel; preparation of IBR-2 facilities for the resumption of the user programme; providing the main research areas with qualified personnel, including from JINR Member States, attracting new users; regular operation of IREN on the experiment and increasing the intensity of the source; completion of modernization of the high-voltage system EG-5; completion of work on the development of the SANSARA small-angle neutron scattering facility and prototyping of the inelastic neutron scattering facility.

"I thank all members of our team, as well as the service department, the economic group and the scientific secretary's service that were not mentioned in the report. Success and prosperity in the new year!" FLNP Director concluded his speech.

Olga TARANTINA