From 16 to 18 December 2024, the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research hosted a session of the Scientific Council of the Physics Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) on Radiation Physics of Solid State in a hybrid format. The session was aimed at sharing experience and discussing the latest achievements in condensed matter radiation physics. In addition to employees of the Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions at JINR, representatives of more than 10 Russian scientific centres took part in the event.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Scientific Council Deputy Chair Vladimir Dremov (All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Experimental Physics) opened the event. In his speech, he thanked JINR for the opportunity to hold a session in such an important scientific centre. He noted the relevance of discussing the issues raised at the General Meeting of the Russian Academy of Sciences on 10 December 2024, especially those concerning the state and prospects of the nuclear industry. Vladimir Dremov emphasised the need to study materials exposed to radiation. “Today it is highly important to develop both experimental and theoretical research in solid state radiation physics, as it covers the entire range of materials used in nuclear energy and other related areas,” he said.

In his opening remarks, Director of the Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions at JINR noted the importance of Dubna as one of the centres of radiation physics development. “It was here that the study of the radiation resistance of detectors began, which became the basis for the establishment of a new direction in nuclear membrane research,” he stressed. In addition, Sergey Sidorchuk spoke about the laboratory’s current projects, including the construction of the new DC-140 Accelerator Complex, which will contribute to the development of radiation materials science research. At conclusion of his speech, he invited the participants of the session and representatives of Russian scientific centres to cooperate with JINR, emphasising that the Institute is open to joint scientific work with the Member States.

The first scientific talk was delivered by Head of the FLNR JINR Centre of Applied Physics Pavel Apel. He spoke in detail about using accelerated heavy ions as a tool for creating micro and nanoporous structures in polymers.

The talk was devoted to the historical development of the FLNR JINR experimental facilities designed to carry out the tasks of producing nuclear filters and improving ion track technologies. Various cyclic accelerators were used to irradiate polymer films with heavy ion beams at FLNR: U-300 (1972-1989), U-400 (1992 – present), and IC-100 (2007-2023). The energy of ions used to irradiate polymer materials at these facilities varies from 1 to 5 MeV/nucleon.

Pavel Apel spoke about the new specialised DC-140 Cyclotron under construction at FLNR at JINR. The accelerator complex will have three separate channels designed for microelectronics testing, radiation materials science, and polymer film irradiation. As the scientist noted, the energies of ions accelerated at this facility (2.1 and 4.8 MeV/nucleon) will allow solving a wide range of fundamental and applied problems.

At the end of his talk, he outlined the modern applications of track membranes, including water purification, ion separation in physical chemistry experiments, and the creation of medical filters for cleaning medicines and catching cancer cells, which contributes to early oncology diagnosis. “Today, the work of the employees of the Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions is more relevant than ever,” Pavel Apel summarised.

Bochvar High-Technology Scientific Research Institute for Inorganic Materials Chief Researcher Vyacheslav Chernov delivered a talk “Low-activation structural materials (LASM) for thermonuclear and nuclear reactors: problems and the way forward”. His presentation focused on key issues of radiation materials science, emphasising the importance of LASM for improving the safety and efficiency of nuclear technologies and energy. Vyacheslav Chernov called the scientific community to continue researching ways to improve the functional properties of these materials under radiation exposure to open up new prospects for their use in modern nuclear reactors and future nuclear and thermonuclear facilities.

In addition, on the first day of the visiting session of the RPSS Scientific Council, two more employees of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research made presentations. Head of the FLNR JINR Radiation Physics Group of Sector No. 8 Alexander Sokhatsky presented a methodology for studying homogeneous ion damage and doping of reactor materials, demonstrating the first results of experiments using a helium ion beam. A senior researcher at the FLNR JINR Sector of Ion Implantation Nanotechnology and Radiation Materials Science Ruslan Rymzhanov spoke about the specifics of multiscale computer modelling in studies of the effects of irradiation of dielectrics with heavy high-energy ions.

The second day was very eventful. Head of the Department of Atomic Scale and Nuclear Physics Methods for Study of Nuclear Materials at the Institute for Theoretical and Experimental Physics of Kurchatov Institute Sergey Rogozhkin talked about the peculiarities of modern research and methods for analysing the nanostructure of reactor materials, in particular, oxide dispersion-strengthened steels. Head of the Laboratory of Silicon Material Science at the Institute of Semiconductor Physics of the Siberian Branch of RAS Vladimir Popov made a presentation on the effect of ion irradiation on the characteristics of SOI and SOS transistors. Professor at the Institute of Mathematics, Information Technologies, and Physics of Udmurt State University Evgeny Kharanjevsky presented new approaches to achieving the effect of non-wearing friction of steel materials. Head of the Laboratory of Ion-Beam Nanotechnology at the Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics of Moscow State University (MSU) Andrey Shemukhin discussed using the MSU Accelerator Complex to study radiation effects on various materials.

Chief Technical Specialist of the Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions at JINR Georgy Gulbekyan gave a presentation on the project of a new cyclotron complex with simultaneous triple irradiation under development at JINR. The CIMIS Accelerator Complex will create opportunities for obtaining high levels of radiation damage doses with an adjustable ratio of defect formation to accumulation of helium and hydrogen during irradiation. As the conclusion of the second day’s programme, an FLNR JINR researcher Ekaterina Korneeva presented the results of a study on the radiation resistance of dispersion strengthened multicomponent alloys exposed to fast heavy ions.

As part of the introduction to the advanced scientific infrastructure of the Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions at JINR, the participants toured the Superheavy Element Factory and the FLNR Centre of Applied Physics.

On the final day of the session, significant scientific results achieved in 2024 were presented, and the results of the three-day event were summarised. During the discussion, the participants talked about organizational aspects of the council’s future activities, focusing on key research areas and cooperation prospects.

Sergey Rogozhkin took the initiative to ask the Scientific Council’s leadership to prepare a special paper that would clearly define the policy and strategy for the future development of the advisory body. In addition, he stressed the importance of expanding the council’s composition and developing international cooperation.

Based on the experience of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research as an international organization, Head of the FLNR JINR Sector of Ion Implantation Nanotechnology and Radiation Materials Science Vladimir Skuratov supported the idea of attracting specialists from other countries to the work of the council. He noted that despite the current difficulties, international cooperation continues to develop, and there are great prospects in terms of both exchanging experience and establishing full-fledged cooperation. “JINR has established strong ties with many international colleagues, including those from the CIS countries, China, the Republic of South Africa, and others. This could significantly enrich the council’s activities,” Vladimir Skuratov said.

In addition, the SC RPSS members raised questions about the opportunities for holding new scientific schools, conferences, seminars, and other events dedicated to radiation physics of solid state.

Upon concluding the work of the session of the Scientific Council of the RAS Physics Division on Radiation Physics of Solid State, the council’s Scientific Secretary Denis Perminov announced an online session scheduled for the first half of 2025, aimed at further discussion of organizational issues related to future SC RPSS activities.