Events

Visiting session of the Scientific Council of the Physical Sciences Department of the Russian Academy of Sciences at JINR

On 16 - 18 December, the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research hosted a mixed-format visiting session of the Scientific Council of the Physical Sciences Department of the Russian Academy of Sciences on the topic "Radiation physics of solids". The event was aimed at exchanging experience and discussing the latest achievements in the field of radiation physics of condensed matter. Besides the staff of the Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions, the representatives of more than 10 Russian scientific centres took part in the session.

Opening the session, Deputy Chairman of the Scientific Council Vladimir Dremov (RFNC-VNIITF) expressed gratitude to JINR for the opportunity to hold the meeting in such a significant scientific centre. He highlighted the significance of discussing the issues raised at the general meeting of the Russian Academy of Sciences on 10 December, 2024, especially those related to the state and prospects of the nuclear industry. Vladimir Dremov emphasized the need to develop and study materials susceptible to radiation exposure. "Today, it is especially important to develop both experimental and theoretical research in the field of radiation physics of solids, since they cover the entire range of materials used in nuclear power and other related fields," he said.

In his opening remarks, Director of the Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions Sergey Sidorchuk highlighted the importance of Dubna as one of the centres for the development of radiation physics. "It was here that the investigation of the radiation resistance of detectors started that became the basis for the development of a new area in the field of nuclear membrane research," he emphasized. Sergey Sidorchuk also spoke about the laboratory's current projects, including the construction of a new accelerator complex DC-140 that will facilitate the development of research in the field of radiation materials science. In conclusion of his speech, he invited the session participants and representatives of Russian scientific centres to cooperate with JINR, emphasizing the Institute's openness to joint investigations with JINR Member States.

The scientific programme of the session was opened by Head of the FLNR Centre for Applied Physics Pavel Apel. In his speech, he spoke in detail about the use of accelerated heavy ions as a tool for developing micro- and nanoporous structures in polymers.

The participants of the meeting were presented with the historical development of the FLNR experimental facilities designed to perform the tasks of producing nuclear filters and improving ion-track technologies. For irradiation of polymer films with beams of heavy ions, various cyclic accelerators were used at FLNR: U-300 (1972-1989), U-400 (from 1992 to the present) and IC-100 (2007-2023). The energy of ions used for irradiation of polymer materials at these facilities varies from 1 to 5 MeV/nucleon.

Pavel Apel spoke about the new specialized cyclotron DC-140 that is under construction at FLNR. The accelerator complex will have three separate channels designed for testing microelectronics, radiation materials science and irradiation of polymer films. As the scientist emphasized, the energies of the ions accelerated at this facility (2.1 and 4.8 MeV/nucleon) will allow meeting a wide range of fundamental and applied tasks.

In conclusion of his speech, he outlined current areas of application of track membranes, including water purification, ion separation in physical and chemical experiments, as well as development of medical filters for purifying medications and catching cancer cells that facilitates early diagnosis of oncological diseases. "The work of the FLNR employees is more relevant today than ever," Pavel Apel concluded.

Chief researcher at the A.A.Bochvar All-Russia Scientific Research Institute of Inorganic Materials Vyacheslav Chernov presented a report "Low-activated structural materials (LASM) for thermonuclear and nuclear reactors - challenges and the way forward". In his speech, he focused the attention of the session participants on current issues in radiation materials science, emphasizing the importance of LASM for improving the safety and efficiency of nuclear technologies and energy. Vyacheslav Chernov called on the scientific community to intensify research aimed at improving the functional properties of these materials under radiation exposure that opens up new prospects for their use in today's nuclear reactors, as well as nuclear and thermonuclear facilities designed for the future.

Also, on the first day of the visiting session of the RFTT Scientific Council, two more employees of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research delivered reports. Head of the Radiation Physics Group of Sector No.8 of FLNR Alexander Sokhatsky presented the methodology for studying homogeneous ion damage and doping of reactor materials, demonstrating the first results of experiments on a helium ion beam. Senior researcher of the Sector for Ion-Implantation Nanotechnology and Radiation Materials Science of FLNR Ruslan Rymzhanov spoke about the specifics of multiscale computer simulation technique in studying the effects of irradiation of dielectrics with high-energy heavy ions.

The second day's programme was rich and diverse. Head of the Department of Atomic-Scale Research of Nuclear Engineering Materials at the National Research Centere "Kurchatov Institute" - ITEP Sergey Rogozhkin spoke about the specifics of current research and techniques for analyzing the nanostructure of reactor materials, in particular, steels dispersion-hardened with oxides. Head of the Laboratory of Physical Foundations of Silicon Materials Science at the Institute of Physical Problems of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vladimir Popov made a report on the effect of ion irradiation on the characteristics of SOI and SOS transistors. Professor of the Institute of Mathematics, Physics and Information Technologies at Udmurt State University Evgeny Kharanzhevsky presented new approaches to achieving the effect of wear-free friction in steel materials, Head of the Laboratory of Ion-Beam Nanotechnologies at the MSU Institute of Nuclear Physics Andrey Shemukhin spoke about the use of the Moscow State University accelerator complex to study radiation effects in various materials.

Chief technical specialist of the Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions Georgy Gulbekyan presented a report on the project of a new cyclotron complex with simultaneous triple irradiation. The CIMIS accelerator complex currently developed at JINR will provide opportunities for obtaining high levels of radiation damage doses with an adjustable ratio of the rates of defect formation and accumulation of helium and hydrogen during irradiation. Concluding the programme of the second day, Ekaterina Korneeva, a researcher at the Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions, presented the results of an investigation of the radiation resistance of dispersion-hardened multicomponent alloys under irradiation with fast heavy ions.

As part of the introduction to the advanced scientific infrastructure of the Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions, all participants were also given a tour of the Superheavy Element Factory and the FLNR Applied Physics Centre.

On the final day of the session, significant scientific results achieved in 2024 were presented and the results of the three-day meeting were summed up. During the discussion, the participants spoke about the organizational aspects of the further activities of the Council, focusing on key research areas and prospects for cooperation.

Sergey Rogozhkin turned to Directorate of the Scientific Council with an initiative to prepare a special document that would clearly define the policy and strategy for the future development of the expert body. Separately, he emphasized the significance of expanding the composition of the council and developing international cooperation.

Based on the experience of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research as an international organization, Head of the Sector of Ion Implantation Nanotechnology and Radiation Materials Science at FLNR Vladimir Skuratov expressed support for the idea of involving foreign specialists in the work of the Council. He highlighted that despite the current difficulties, international cooperation develops and is a promising way to expand opportunities for both exchanging experience and establishing full-fledged cooperation. "JINR has established strong cooperation with colleagues from many countries, including the CIS countries, the Republic of South Africa, China and others. It could significantly enrich the activities of the Council," Vladimir Skuratov said.

Also, members of the Scientific Council of the Physical Sciences Department of the Russian Academy of Sciences raised issues about the possibilities for organizing new scientific schools, conferences, seminars and other events dedicated to solid state radiation physics.

Concluding the work of the visiting session of the Scientific Council of the Physical Sciences Department of the Russian Academy of Sciences "Radiation physics of solids", Scientific Secretary of the Council Denis Perminov announced that in the first half of 2025, an online meeting will be organized for further discussion of organizational issues related to the future activities of the Scientific Council of the Physical Sciences Department.

Based on the information from the JINR Press Office