Dubna scientists help Armenia develop areas of nuclear research

ArmInfo. The worldwide known  international scientific center - the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna near Moscow is planning to launch a number of programs in Armenia aimed at further developing the country's scientific potential in nuclear physics. The Institute, one of the founders of which is, jointly with the other 18 states (Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Vietnam, etc.), the Republic of Armenia, intends to implement here two so-called collaborative programs. It is a question of creating a pool of scientific groups and laboratories, which by joint efforts, exchanging knowledge and experience, while teaching young scientists, will set themselves specific goals in the field of fundamental nuclear research.

As a senior researcher at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) told ArmInfo correspondent, Physical and Mathematical Sciences PHD Hrach Torosyan, today, two large research programs stand in front of the scientists of Dubna and Armenia for joint work. One of them concerns the possibility of obtaining so-called low-intensity beams from the electron accelerator (ARCS) injector, which will be implemented jointly with the Yerevan Physics Institute. The results of these studies can be used in the field of physics, medicine and radiation technologies for sterilization, radiographic inspection, control of thick- walled metal objects. According to the scientist, the research could be carried out in Western scientific centers, however, it was the electronic accelerator of the Yerevan Physics Institute that was most suitable for issuing small beams - from 15 to 75 measures. As Torosyan said, it was this circumstance that interested the specialists from JINR who concluded a corresponding agreement with the Yerevan Institute of Physics.  The first preparatory stage of the program has already been completed, and starting from September, scientists will start the main research.

Another joint project, which is interesting from the point of view of scientific knowledge, will be realized on the basis of the geophysical observatory in Garni. The program concerns the installation of a licensed laser inclinometer capable of detecting seismic activity in the region with greater accuracy and in a timely manner. Note that the inclinometer is considered the invention of the century. Dubna scientists from the Laboratory of Nuclear Problems of JINR in early 2014 received a patent for this device, which measures the angular vibrations of the earth's surface with an accuracy of one tenth of a nanno-radian. This unique device can be used in metrology, geodesy, seismography, in the space industry and other fields of scientific research and practical applications. As expected, the device will be delivered to Armenia in the near future and installed in a special tunnel of the observatory. As Torosyan said, if the program succeeds, it is possible to create a network of similar devices throughout Armenia, as is known, subject to seismic risks. It is curious that the initiative of implementing this program in Armenia belongs to the world-famous scientist from Dubna, the inventor of the inclinometer, Professor Julian Budagov, who turned 85 years old recently.  As a result of the implementation of the program, as Hrach Torosyan noted, Armenia, from one side, will receive a modern instrument capable of responding effectively and quickly to seismic risks, and on the other, JINR will have a chance to test the novelty. "This project is a clear example of a scientific collaboration - cooperation and joint activities," the scientist said.

Note that the principle of collaboration, which the great physicist, author of the General Theory of Relativity Albert Einstein, was not afraid and praised, was just taken as the basis for the creation in 1956 of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna. Armenia annually pays the membership fees, realizing in exchange a number of joint projects, among which experiments at the collider. To participate in joint experiments and conferences, Armenian scientists often visit foreign scientific centers, get acquainted with the research innovations of colleagues from Germany, France, Switzerland, Japan and other countries. By the end of this year, two specialists from the Institute of Geophysics and Engineering Seismology of the National Academy of Sciences will be sent to Dubna for the purpose of further training. The Yerevan Institute of Physics, as well as the Physics Department of the Yerevan State University with its educational functions, are the head institution for the implementation of projects with Armenia. EHU specialists undergo postgraduate studies in the JINR educational science center, where scientific personnel for Armenia are trained, their education and retraining are conducted. And all expenses for their stay are taken by JINR. Seven Armenian scientists are currently working here and raising their qualifications, who live with their families in the provided office apartments. Nevertheless, according to Hrach Torosyan, Armenia, unlike a number of countries, including our neighbors, does not sufficiently use the patent, which is able to provide JINR for the revival of fundamental physics in the country.  "I believe that this is due to the underestimation of the role of fundamental science for the development of scientific and technical potential and a more applied approach," the scientist said, adding that by joint efforts larger programs could be implemented, including building a new one in Armenia , a modern nuclear accelerator. Note that the accelerator program existed all 2000s, but was "successfully" failed.

Torosyan stressed that the Dubna Institute was famous and today is famous for its scientific personnel potential, including the high appreciation of the works of scientists - Armenians by origin. This is the former director, now the late Academician Alexei Sissakian and the now-current scientific leader of the Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions, Yuri Oganesyan, whose name was the new chemical element of the periodic table. "Armenia should show great interest in the development of science and the growth of a number of joint projects in the field of nuclear technologies, including non-energy," the scientist said. As an example, he quoted the JINR-developed technology for producing nuclear filters for water purification.  "Today, many countries have started to apply this technology, but in Armenia it did not pay proper attention. Nevertheless, the JINR leadership has always positively reacted to the initiatives of the Government of the Republic of Armenia. In 1998, in response to the proposal of the government of the republic, Alexei Sissakian and Yuri Hovhannisyan agreed to conduct a work to assess the capabilities of the Yerevan Physical Institute, "Hrach Torosyan said. - Then the leaders of the world's largest scientific laboratories from Germany, France, the USA, Great Britain, Russia and other countries responded to the appeal of Yuri Oganesyan. A commission was established from 9 leading scientists of the world, who after the evaluation proposed the government of Armenia, along with the direct appointment of a physical institute, to use its capabilities and infrastructure for other purposes. Thus, the idea of creating an excellence in the field of oncology was founded on the basis of the Center founded in 1944, the part of funds from the work of which was to be directed to the continuation of fundamental research. "Not many people know that the Institute of Dubna has initiated the creation of the Center of Excellence, which is a concrete example of the transformation of fundamental science into applied science," the scientist said, while expressing surprise at the fact that the creation of the center turned into an object of unfinished construction. "But on the basis of this cooperation it would be possible to form a powerful scientific cluster uniting the Metsamor NPP, JINR, the Armat Institute, the Institute of Physics, and other interested organizations," Hrach Torosyan stated.

Earlier, in an interview with ArmInfo correspondent, speaking about the importance of starting work on the modernization of the Armenian nuclear power plant and prolonging the time of its operation with direct participation of Roatom, the expert on management issues known in Armenia Harutyun Mesrobian correctly noted that the presence of a nuclear reactor in the country is not only the issue of energy autonomy and security, but also a great technological advantage to be a member of the club of states possessing a peaceful atom. "This advantage of having nuclear power plants, possession of appropriate nuclear technologies, developments, gives great opportunities for the development of the corresponding engineering and scientific human resources. And there are a lot of such advantages for nuclear energy, since the multiplicative effect of owning it is extensive, "the expert said. It remains to be hoped that this elementary truth will be understood by those who are called upon to take long-term fateful decisions for the country, and young people should be trained to ensure long-term solutions. In this invaluable assistance is provided to Armenia by SC Rosatom, which has agreed to almost double the number of study places in the leading profile universities of the Russian Federation. At present, 8 Armenian students are being trained in Russia, 4 of which are in MEPhI. In addition, close cooperation of Russian universities with the National Polytechnic University and Yerevan State University is carried out. Without a doubt, the potential of knowledge of future specialists will be in demand in Armenia for the near future.