Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics

Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics
Name	Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics
Established	1959
Founder	Gersh Budker
City	Akademgorodok, Novosibirsk
Country	Russia
Type	Russian Academy of Sciences
Director	Pavel Logachev
Field	Particle physics, accelerator physics, plasma physics
Staff	~3000

Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics. It is a world-renowned center for fundamental research in particle physics and the development of advanced particle accelerator technologies. Founded as part of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the institute is located in the scientific town of Akademgorodok near Novosibirsk. Its work has been pivotal in advancing the fields of colliding beam physics, synchrotron radiation applications, and plasma physics.

History

The institute was established in 1959 on the initiative of its founding director, the eminent physicist Gersh Budker. It was created as a key component of the newly formed Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, spearheaded by Mikhail Lavrentiev. Budker's vision was to create a world-class laboratory focused on novel accelerator concepts, particularly the development of colliding beam facilities, which was a revolutionary idea at the time. Under his leadership, the institute quickly gained international recognition, constructing pioneering storage rings like VEP-1, the world's first electron-positron collider. Throughout the Cold War, it served as a major scientific hub in the Soviet Union, maintaining significant autonomy and a strong focus on fundamental science. Following the dissolution of the USSR, it continued its research as a leading institute within the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Research and major achievements

The institute's research portfolio is centered on high-energy physics, accelerator technology, and applied physics. Its most celebrated achievement is the invention and development of the electron cooling method for particle beams, a technique conceived by Gersh Budker and Simon van der Meer, which earned the latter a share of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1984. The institute pioneered the use of synchrotron radiation from its accelerators for research in materials science, chemistry, and structural biology, leading to the creation of dedicated synchrotron light source facilities. Other major contributions include groundbreaking experiments in quantum electrodynamics, the development of the plasma lens, and advanced studies in neutral beam injection for thermonuclear fusion research. Its scientists have made significant strides in the physics of beam-beam interaction and the creation of intense positron sources.

Scientific facilities

The institute operates a suite of large-scale experimental facilities. The VEPP-4 and VEPP-2000 are electron-positron colliders used for precise measurements in the physics of charm and tau leptons. The Novosibirsk Free Electron Laser (NovoFEL) is a unique user facility providing powerful terahertz radiation for interdisciplinary research. The GOL-3 and SMOLA devices are major experiments in plasma physics and controlled thermonuclear fusion. The institute also hosts the Siberian Synchrotron and Terahertz Radiation Center (SSTRC), which utilizes radiation from the VEPP-3 and VEPP-4M storage rings. These facilities attract researchers from across Russia and the international scientific community.

Organizational structure

The institute is organized into several large scientific divisions and laboratories, each specializing in distinct research areas. Key divisions include the Department of Colliding Beams, the Department of Plasma Physics, and the Department of Theoretical Physics. It also contains specialized centers like the Siberian Center for Synchrotron Radiation and the Novosibirsk Free Electron Laser user facility. The institute is governed by a directorate and a scientific council, with the current director being Pavel Logachev. It maintains close ties with Novosibirsk State University, where many of its researchers hold professorships, ensuring a strong pipeline of young scientists.

Notable personnel

Many distinguished scientists have been associated with the institute. Its founder, Gersh Budker, was a full member of the USSR Academy of Sciences and a recipient of the Lenin Prize and the Socialist Labor Hero. Other notable figures include theorist Alexander Skrinsky, a longtime director and academician known for his work on collider physics, and experimentalist Boris Chirikov, famous for his discovery of the Chirikov criterion in chaos theory. Vladimir Shiltsev, a leading expert in accelerator physics, and plasma physicist Dimitri Ryutov are also among its prominent researchers. The institute has nurtured several winners of the Russian State Prize and members of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

International collaborations

The institute actively participates in major global scientific projects. It is a key contributor to the Large Hadron Collider experiments at CERN, particularly in the development of accelerator components and diagnostics. It has long-standing collaborations with research centers like DESY in Germany, Fermilab in the United States, and KEK in Japan. The institute's scientists are involved in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, contributing expertise in plasma heating and diagnostics. Furthermore, its synchrotron radiation and free-electron laser facilities serve as an international user platform, hosting scientists from across Europe and Asia for collaborative experiments.

Category:Research institutes in Russia Category:Particle physics laboratories Category:Russian Academy of Sciences Category:Buildings and structures in Novosibirsk