In the Year of Science and Technology, several mega-science projects showed good results. Experts spoke in detail about these impressive scientific facilities that support research projects with international participation.

Baikal Deep-Sea Neutrino Telescope

This year, the ceremonial launch of the Baikal-GVD installation, the Baikal deep-sea neutrino telescope, took place. The event was held under the auspices of the Year of Science and Technology in Russia and the celebration of the 65th anniversary of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR).

The telescope is located in the southern basin of Lake Baikal at a distance of 3.5 km from the shore at a depth of 750-1300 meters: this is the tallest building in Russia - higher than the Ostankino Tower. The installation is similar to a network or a garland of cables, on which glass balls-detectors are strung - optical modules that detect radiation. The Baikal Deep-Sea Neutrino Telescope project will continue to develop - it is based on a modular system, so new clusters can be added to the installation and thereby increase the power of the telescope.

The main purpose of Baikal-GVD is to detect sources of superhigh-energy neutrinos, to study the evolution of galaxies and the Universe. The use of such a facility will contribute to the development of neutrino astronomy and astrophysics. Scientists plan to use the telescope to regularly conduct experimental research in the field of high-energy neutrino astrophysics, neutrino astronomy, and neutrino physics.

“The creation of a neutrino telescope that will allow us to study the natural flux of high-energy neutrinos (over 100 TeV) is the main goal of the Baikal Neutrino Project. The effective volume of the installation is increased annually, and as of 2021, the Baikal-GVD neutrino telescope is already the largest neutrino telescope in the Northern Hemisphere. His joint work with the IceCube detector (USA, Germany) in Antarctica makes it possible to search for sources of high-energy neutrinos throughout the entire celestial sphere,” said Grigory Domogatsky, head of the Baikal-GVD experiment.

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Siberian Ring Photon Source

The Siberian Ring Photon Source (SKIF) is considered to be one of the largest Russian projects in the field of research infrastructure over the past decades. Work on it is being carried out within the framework of the national project "Science and Universities", which is being implemented by the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, with the aim of developing a modern domestic network of new generation synchrotron radiation sources.

The design and architectural appearance of the SKIF collective use center was developed by the Central Design and Technological Institute of the Rosatom State Corporation.

“In 2021, the TISC received a positive opinion from the Glavgosexpertiza on the design documentation for the SKIF facility. This will allow us to proceed with the next steps in the implementation of the SKIF project - the development of working documentation and the start of the main construction and installation work at the capital construction site," said Mikhail Tarasov, General Director of SPTI JSC.

SKIF, a megascience class project with a 4+ generation synchrotron, is being built in the Novosibirsk science city of Koltsovo. This is a large scientific center of 27 buildings, including the main buildings of the accelerator-storage complex - the building of the injector, accumulator and experimental stations. All this will be equipped with engineering and technological equipment, which will ensure the implementation of scientific research on synchrotron radiation beams.

The SKIF CCU with a record emittance of 75 pm rad to date - with the brightest and most intense X-ray beam - will become the flagship of scientific experiments not only in Russia, but also in the world.

Using this installation, it will be possible to study the structure of various organic and inorganic substances, applying the acquired knowledge in materials science, pharmacology, genetics, biology, geology, geochemistry, as well as quantum chemistry.

“The goal of the SKIF Shared Use Center project is to provide scientists, primarily Russian scientists, with access to the variety of experimental possibilities that synchrotron radiation has. This will enable advanced research with bright and intense X-ray beams in a variety of areas. Also, SKIF will help solve urgent problems of innovative and industrial enterprises engaged in the field of high technologies,” the press service of the SKIF said.

Currently, preparatory work is underway at the construction site, the equipment of the accelerator complex is being designed and manufactured, and a program of scientific research is being formed.

“In addition, we cooperate with universities that train specialists both in the field of accelerator technology and users of synchrotron radiation. It is planned that the main construction work will begin at the site in the spring of 2022," the press service added.Back to news » Back to news »

PIK Gatchina Reactor

The Year of Science and Technology at the National Research Center Kurchatov Institute was marked by the completion of the second stage of the power launch of one of the world's largest neutron sources, the PIK reactor in Gatchina. This event became significant not only for the Russian scientific community, but also for scientists all over the world.

The PIK reactor project was created in the early 1970s. He was so successful that later his scheme began to be used in almost all beam reactors with a heavy water reflector in the world. The reactor complex was 70% ready when the accident happened at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. Because of this, the project had to be reworked for safety and wait for international expertise, but after the collapse of the USSR, construction was actually frozen. Fortunately, the project was given a new impetus when the St. Petersburg Institute of Nuclear Physics joined the pilot project for the creation of the National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute".

PIK is a pressurized water reactor in which ordinary water is used to remove heat, and "heavy" water is used to slow down a nuclear reaction. Beams of neutrons emitted from the nuclear reaction zone are output into special channels of various configurations. Each of them is a separate research station, which differ in the set of equipment and tasks. Five stations are already operating, the remaining 20 will be built by 2024.

Such a powerful source of neutrons will make it possible to conduct large-scale research in this direction not only for Russian scientists, but also for their colleagues from other countries. The PIK reactor is a unique way to create new materials and study the properties of substances.

At present, the team for the operation of the stations is ready for the implementation of the project “Creation of the instrument base of the PIK reactor complex”, an engineering infrastructure has been created, mechanisms for interaction with technical support services have been developed, that is, a scientific, technical and technological reserve has been created. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024.

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