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BJN Spectrometer for next level research

On 20 January, the 62nd meeting of the PAC for Condensed Matter Physics was completed. Chairman of the Committee Professor Denes Nagy that chaired the meeting in a remote format, answered our questions after its completion.

The operation of the IBR-2 reactor was resumed for the experiment after a long shutdown. The number of proposals for implementing experiments increases, the countries-users also change. How did the PAC evaluate these processes?

- Bagdaulet Mukhametuly reported on the resumption of the FLNP User Programme at the IBR-2 reactor and the results of the first sessions. The Committee appreciated and supported these efforts. In addition, the PAC agreed to assist in attracting additional experts to carefully review and evaluate the submitted proposals for experiments, as well as to nominate potential candidates for the expert group. It will ensure a high level of scientific expertise, the successful implementation of the international programme of FLNP users and increase the efficiency of its work in 2026.

Denis Kozlenko presented an extensive plan for the modernization of the current and the development of new spectrometers. Did the Committee experts approve it? Perhaps, they have prioritized modernization?

- After an excellent and detailed report by Denis Kozlenko, we discussed the definition of the term. Indeed, the term "development" refers to the process of creating, building, or designing something new from scratch, while "modernization" involves replacing or improving the current system, the component or the software version with a newer, better, or more advanced version. Development provides with new functionality; the modernization improves the current functionality. Of course, all devices are constantly developed but it is not modernization. As for the second question: no, the Programme Advisory Committee did not prioritize the development of spectrometers. In fact, it was not requested by either Dr. Kozlenko or FLNP Directorate.

Evgeny Goremychkin told about the progress of developing a new spectrometer BJN. Are the PAC members satisfied with the rate of development of the instrument? Did they give any recommendations?

- The development of a new BJN inelastic neutron scattering spectrometer in inverse geometry with parameters comparable to those of the best specialized instruments in the world's leading neutron centres will bring research on the dynamics of condensed matter to a qualitatively new level and will allow implementing an internationally competitive research programme in this area. The Committee appreciated the development of the BJN spectrometer, yet no specific recommendations were made in this regard.

The poster session this time was, one might say, crowded and diverse in terms of research topics. Did the Committee members again face the task of choosing the best poster?

- After numerous test reports over the past few years at this meeting, we have taken a completely new approach: we organized a kind of mini-conference. All 16 reports of young scientists were presented either in person or online. The choice of the best report was not difficult; the overwhelming majority of votes went to the report of E.Kolupaev "Development of reflectometric techniques in oscillating magnetic fields on the REMUR polarized neutron spectrometer". The PAC also highlighted two more high-level reports: "Interatomic machine learning potentials for molecular crystals of flexible organic compounds" by P.Kobchikova and "Ibuprofen vibrational spectroscopy: experimental properties and DFT calculation" by P.Gergelejiu.

JINR Directorate members extensively worked at the meeting. Was the PAC meeting with Directorate productive?

- Yes, the meeting was very productive, even though for technical reasons not all JINR Directorate members were able to attend the closed meeting. The main topic of discussion was the development of the publishing policy of the new JINR journal Natural Science Review.

Olga TARANTINA