Recommendations

of the Programme

Advisory Committee for

Condensed Matter Physics

23rd meeting, 14-15 November 2005

Wojciech Nawrocik

JINR Scientific Council, 19-20 January 2006

The PAC highly appreciated the

JINR Director Professor V. Kadyshevsky’s

participation at the 23rd PAC meeting.

The PAC

thanks Professor V. Kadyshevsky, the JINR

Director during 1992–2005, for the strong

support given to the condensed matter physics,

biological and medical research and to the

development and upgrade of the dedicated

instrumental infrastructure.

The PAC congratulates Professor

A. Sissakian a new Director of JINR and wishes

him successful leadership of the Institute.

PAC believes that A. Sissakian will

contribute his effort to the development in JINR

of condensed mater physics, biological and

medical sciences as well as nuclear and high-

energy physics.

The PAC heard with interest

V.Zhabitsky’s presentation

of the 98th JINR Scientific Council

Resolutions June 2005

The PAC appreciates

V. Zhabitsky’s and G. Shirkov’s well prepared

and instructive reports given at the PAC

meetings.

IBR-2 reactor

•The PAC was informed by V. Ananiev about the

status of the modernization of the IBR-2

reactor. The PAC expects that the JINR and FLNP

directorates will take all necessary measures to

ensure the continuation of the work for IBR-2

modernization according to schedule.

•The PAC appreciates the important

contribution by V. Ananiev and his team to the

reactor modernization activity.

Programme of Condensed Matter Physics

Research for 2006–2008

The PAC took note of the proposals for

the JINR Programme of Condensed Matter

Physics Research for 2006–2008 presented by

laboratories, in which the available resources

will be concentrated on the most important

directions of research and endorses these

proposals.

The PAC recommends continuation of

the research activities under the following

themes in 2006 with first priority.

Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics:

“Neutron investigations of the structure

and dynamics of condensed matter”,

“Development and creation of

elements of neutron spectrometers for

condensed matter investigations”, as

well as “Upgrade of the IBR-2

complex” as a flagship activity of JINR.

Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions:

“Radiation effects and modification of

materials, radioanalytical and radioisotopic

investigations at the FLNR accelerators”.

Bogoliubov Laboratory of Theoretical Physics

“Theory of condensed matter”.

Theory of condensed matter

•The major focus in the field of complex materials

is the theoretical analysis of the strongly

correlated electron systems, like cuprates,

vanadates, manganites.

•This involves investigations of novel cooperative

phenomena, superconductivity, new forms of order,

low-dimensional magnetism and frustrated

systems.

•Extensive experimental investigations of these

materials performed by neutron scattering

methods in the FLNP also strongly motivate

development of theoretical investigations in the

field.

•Key research directions of

nanostructures will include theoretical

studies of the electronic, magnetic,

thermal and transport characteristics of

various novel nanoscaled materials;

carbon nanostructures are of particular

interest.

Dynamics of many-particle systems and

coherent phenomena

• Different types of stochastic dynamics, in

particular, description of avalanche dynamics,

propagation of signals in non-linear and non-

stable media, irreversible processes which

classify the non-equilibrium statistical physics

will be studied.

•Self-organization in biological systems, as

e.g., investigation of a kinetic model of virus

mutations in the presence of an immune

system, and fluctuations in highway traffics

are key examples.

•Coherent phenomena and quantum properties

in mesoscopic systems will be studied. The

main examples are quantum wells, wires, dots,

atomic traps, photon confinement in a band-

gap material.

Laboratory of Radiation Biology:

“Radiation and radiobiological investigations

at the JINR basic facilities an in the

environment”.

Dzhelepov Laboratory of Nuclear Problems:

“Further development of methods and

instrumentation for radiotherapy and

associated diagnostics with JINR hadron

beams”.

Draft road map in the field of condensed matter

physics

In accordance with the Scientific Council’s

recommendation that JINR Directorate formulate a

road map to achieve the strategic goals of the

Institute research programme for the coming 10

years as the next step in the planning process

initiated with the current seven-year programme.

The first draft of such a road map for

condensed matter physics was presented by

A. Belushkin.

The PAC endorses the proposed draft and

recommends its further elaboration, taking into

account the comments and suggestions made at

23rd PAC meeting, in particular a better

structuring in terms of the priority fields of

research at JINR, namely basic research, applied

research, and educational programme.

The PAC is concerned that the momentum

of the condensed matter programme should be

maintained over the three-year shut-down

period of IBR-2.

There is a particular urgency to secure the

continuing research activity of young scientists

based at JINR – either through placement at

international neutron facilities or through

association with assignment to appropriate

University groups.

For successful implementation of the

strategic research programme of JINR it is of

vital importance to attract young scientists

from Member States by providing all necessary

conditions for work at JINR, including

substantial salary increase.

Development of IBR-2 spectrometers

The PAC heard a plan for the

development of spectrometers at IBR-2

presented by A. Balagurov.

The PAC would appreciate a more

detailed evaluation of the spectrometer

development projects in accordance with the

needs of the Institute’s strategic research

programme in condensed matter physics.

Discussion of the new project

The PAC took note of the report,

presented by G. Shirkov, on the theme

“DELSY”, previously approved for completion

in 2005.

The PAC heard a proposal of the new

project “Free-electron lasers based on LINAC-

800”. After due discussion, the PAC has the

following comments:

The PAC is aware of the strategic need to

develop JINR expertise in FEL technology. The PAC

also welcomes proposals to strengthen the JINR

programmes in condensed matter science, and in

this context is keen to keep a watching brief on the

FEL project.

However the PAC does not believe that, at

this stage, the LINAC-800 FEL proposal is

sufficiently mature to fall within the remit of the

PAC for Condensed Matter Physics, as it is

principally a project in accelerator technology and

accelerator development.

Before the PAC can either consider or

endorse this proposal it must be made clear:

•what the potential for condensed matter

research will be, and on what time scale this

potential will be realized;

•what specific strategic areas of condensed

matter science will be addressed;

•how the facility and instruments made

available will compare with existing and

planned facilities in Russia and abroad.

Unless the proposed condensed matter

facilities can be shown to be internationally

competitive, no funds should be diverted from

the existing condensed matter strategic road

map to support FEL development.

To do so would seriously prejudice existing

projects which are considered to be both

strategic and internationally competitive.

The FEL accelerator issue highlights a

problem with JINR procedure for evaluating

new projects which do not readily fall within

the remit of specific PACs and yet would divert

funds from existing strategic proposals

endorsed by these PACs.

Scientific reports

The PAC noted with interest the report “EXAFS spectroscopy study of the cobaltites

La1-x Srx CoO3 (x = 0.0 ÷ 0.5)” presented by

V. Efimov.

The PAC noted with interest the report “Application of laser confocal microscopy in physics of condensed matter” presented by Yu. Kovalev.

The PAC noted with interest the report “Research of a visual pigment of rhodopsin: spectroscopy and molecular modeling” presented by T. Feldmann.

JINR Educational Programme

The PAC took note of the information

about the III International Summer School on

Nuclear Physics Methods in Biology and

Medicine (Dubna, 30 June–11 July 2005)

presented by S. Ivanova,

The PAC notes the success of this school

and recommends its continuation in the future

on a regular basis.

The PAC highly appreciates the successful

implementation of the JINR Educational

Programme and its important role in promoting

contacts with Member States and for attracting

young people to JINR. This activity should be

continued with high priority.

The PAC thanks S. Ivanova, and T. Strizh

and the JINR University Center team for their

enthusiasm, competency and hard work for

attracting young people to JINR and to –

PHYSICS!

Next meeting of the PAC

The next meeting of the PAC for Nuclear Physics will be held on 3–4 April 2006.

Its tentative agenda will include:

– Information about the national strategic research programme in condensed matter science being developed in Russia

–  FLNP’s programme in the field of nanoscience

–  Medical activities at JINR

–  Scientific reports

– Poster presentations of highlight research activities in condensed matter physics by JINR young scientists

Thank you for your attention