Recommendations of the Programme Advisory Committee for Condensed Matter Physics 25th meeting, November 2006 Wojciech Nawrocik JINR Scientific Council, January 2007

The PAC heard with interest an overview, given by JINR Vice-Director M. Itkis, of the main scientific tasks in the field of condensed matter physics at JINR and the information about expected funding of this field in The PAC approves the general guidelines formulated in the report by the Vice-Director. The PAC appreciated the JINR Directorate’s full support of the guaranteed financing of the IBR-2 modernization activities.

LaboratoryEmployed staff Financing from JINR budget FLNP~ 30016% BLTP~ 351,5% LRB~ 771,4% FLNR~ 15Out of budget TOTAL~ 42718,9% JINR’s resources in condensed matter physics

JINR Chief Scientific Secretary N. Russakovich informed the PAC about the new approach to the contents and template of the Topical Plan of Research and International Cooperation. This approach, based on three- year planning, is intended to be fully consistent with the actual limitations of the JINR budget. The PAC looks forward to reconsidering the current project and expects the presentation of the coherent plan of the radiotherapy programme at the forthcoming PAC meeting.

IBR-2 reactor and status of the cold moderators for IBR-2M The PAC was informed by V. Ananiev about the status of the modernization of the IBR-2 reactor. The PAC took note of the report, presented by E. Shabalin, on the status of the cold moderators of the IBR-2M reactor. The PAC expects the JINR and FLNP directorates to take all necessary measures to ensure the continuation of the work for IBR-2 modernization, including cold moderators, according to schedule.

1.A compact reactor core. 2.Lower speed of rotation of the main movable reflector, counter rotation of rotors, use of a nickel alloy as a reflector material. 3.Use fuel pellets configuration that will allow to increase the depth of fuel burn up to 9%. 4.New design of safety system which improves its parameters. 5.Creation of easily replaceable moderators, their optimization for each neutron beam. AVB Main directions of reactor modernization:

S JINR Rosatom Total Plan of charges for the IBR-2 modernization (k$)

under commission control the first FA has been assembled, the commission has noted high quality of welder’s work

Scientific research programme for 2007–2009 The PAC took note of the proposals for the JINR road map in the field of condensed matter physics for 2007–2009 presented by Directors of FLNP, LRB, FLNR and BLTP. The PAC recommends continuation of the activities under the themes in the fields according to the JINR Topical Plan. Although the modernization of the IBR-2 is the most important task for FLNP, the PAC endorses that the scientific and educational activities at this Laboratory during the IBR-2 modernization should be kept at the current high-quality level and funded not less than at the existing level.

The PAC appreciates the well-structured plan of research for the period of the IBR-2 modernization. The PAC encourages the JINR Directorate to undertake all possible efforts to ensure concentration of high-quality work of the staff, including young scientists, on the topical research activities. The PAC expresses its opinion that Dubna has personnel and technique advantages in bio-medical applications of ion-beam facilities. The PAC notes the significant progress in the study of nanostructures at FLNR. The PAC notes the successful collaboration between BLTP theorists and experimental physicists in other laboratories.

Priorities of the development and upgrade of spectrometers for IBR-2M The PAC heard and considered the first plan for the priority developments and upgrade of spectrometers for the IBR-2M reactor presented by A. Balagurov. The PAC recommends that JINR set up a group of JINR and external experts to carry out the ranking of the projects taking into account the foreseen construction of the broad-band moderators and current trends in modern condensed matter physics.

4,000 K$ Development of existing spectrometers New spectrometers General-purpose projects 1.HRFD 2.FSD 3.DN-2 4.SKAT 5.EPSILON 6.YuMO 7.REMUR 8.DIN 9.NERA 1.DN-6 2.RTS 3.SANS-C 4.GORIZONT 5.SESANS 6.REFAT 1.Moderators 2.Detectors 3.Sample environment 4.Cryogenics 5.Electronics 3,000 K$ 2,700 K$ In total: 9.7 M$ for 5 years Proposals for 2007 – 2011 AMB

The PAC looks forward to hearing about results of simulation calculations of all instruments, existing ones and new or to be upgraded ones before a comprehensive evaluation where necessary. The PAC would like to encourage close collaboration with an uprising new long-pulse ESS instrumentation concept, possibly providing beam lines for prototyping new dedicated long-pulse instrument concepts and/or components.

The PAC heard with interest the scientific report “MD Simulations of RecA Protein: The Influence of Amino Acid (Mutant) Exchanges In Beta-Sheet Loops and DNA Inhibition Sites” presented by Kh. Kholmurodov and R. Selwyne from RBL. The PAC notes the importance of the relationship between the theoretical calculations and experimental results observed at this laboratory.

The PAC heard with interest the scientific report “Utilizing IBR-2 as a Dedicated Medium- to Long-Pulse Neutron Source” presented by H. Tietze-Jaensch. The PAC supports the future collaboration between the groups of IBR-2 and ESS long-pulse neutron sources. „ why not complement IBR-2M with new state-of-the-art instruments at the top of their classes? why not using IBR-2M’s potential for LP instrument development & prototyping in collaboration with ESS? for a brighter future in NEUtrope and a more integrated collaboration between JINR-IBR-2 and ESS / SNS and co.”

The PAC heard with interest the scientific report “Pressure-Induced Magnetic Phase Transitions in Pr 1- x Sr x MnO 3 Manganites (x = 0.3 – 0.85)” presented by D. Kozlenko. The PAC notes that this is a good example of neutron diffraction experimental study in the field of strongly correlated systems.

Poster presentations by JINR young scientists The PAC notes the II poster presentation by young scientists in the fields of medicine, radiobiology and life sciences, and appreciates the wide range and the high quality of these activities.

Information on meetings The PAC took note of the information about the V Workshop on Investigations at the IBR-2 Pulsed Reactor (Dubna, 14–17 June 2006) presented by S. Vasilovskiy. The PAC notes the special importance of this Workshop for the development and realization of the road map of the JINR research programme in condensed matter physics.

The PAC took note of the information about the introductory course and training “Neutron Applications at the IBR-2 Reactor” (Dubna, 1–8 October 2006) within the agreement between JINR and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. The PAC appreciates this activity which contributes to the involvement of young scientists from Member States to JINR. The PAC members would like to receive invitations to such important meetings.

Thank you for your attention