In the Year of Science and Technology, several “megascience” projects have shown good results. Experts elaborated on these impressive scientific sites supporting 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 establishment 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 coast at a depth of 750-1300 meters: this is the tallest structure in Russia - higher than the Ostankino tower. The installation is similar to a net or a garland of cables, on which glass balls-detectors are strung - optical modules that register 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 telescope's power.

The main purpose of Baikal-GVD is to detect sources of ultrahigh 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, which will make it possible 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 facility is increasing 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 high-energy neutrino sources throughout the entire celestial sphere, ”said Grigory Domogatsky, head of the Baikal-GVD experiment.

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 in recent decades. Work on it is being carried out within the framework of the Science and Universities national project, which is being implemented by the Russian Ministry of Education and Science, 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 State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom.

“In 2021, TISC received a positive opinion from Glavgosexpertiza for design documentation for the facility of the SKIF Center for Collective Use. This will allow us to start the next steps in the implementation of the SKIF project - the development of working documentation and the beginning of the main construction and installation works at the capital construction facility, ”said Mikhail Tarasov, Director General of TISCI JSC.

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

The SKIF Center for Collective Use with a record emittance of 75 pm ∙ rad - 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 device, it will be possible to study the structure of various organic and inorganic substances, applying the knowledge gained in materials science, pharmacology, genetics, biology, geology, geochemistry, as well as in 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 possesses. This will enable advanced research with bright and intense X-ray beams in a variety of fields. SKIF will also help to solve urgent problems of innovative and industrial enterprises engaged in the field of high-tech technologies, ”said the press service of the SKIF Center for Collective Use.

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

PIK Gatchina reactor

The year of science and technology at the Kurchatov Institute National Research Center was marked by the completion of the second stage of the power start-up 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 around the world.

The PIK reactor project was created in the early 1970s. He was so successful that in the future his scheme was 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 revised for security and await 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 became one of the participants in the pilot project for the creation of the Kurchatov Institute NRC.

PIK is a pressurized water reactor in which ordinary water is used to remove heat, and "heavy" water is used to slow down the nuclear reaction. Neutron beams escaping from the nuclear reaction zone are removed 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 carry out 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 is ready for the implementation of the project "Creation of the instrument base of the PIK reactor complex" for the operation of the stations, the engineering infrastructure has been created, mechanisms for interaction with technical support services have been developed, that is, a scientific and technical, as well as technological groundwork has been created. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024.

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