JINR Research Articles

A new approach to assessing the consequences of radiation on the eye

The authors propose a new approach to assessing the consequences of exposure to ionizing radiation on the structures of the eye. The approach is based on the results recently obtained by the authors together with employees of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, according to which radiation exposure causes oxidation of the bisretinoids contained in the structures of the eye - the retina and retinal pigment epithelium. As a result of this oxidation, the fluorescence spectrum of bisretinoids shifts to the blue region of the visible spectrum. The shift in the fluorescence spectrum can be recorded non-invasively using the method of recording fundus autofluorescence, which is currently generally accepted in ophthalmology. Since the oxidation of bisretinoids occurs during radiation exposure, it becomes possible almost immediately after irradiation to assess the degree of impact of ionizing radiation on both the structures of the eye and the body as a whole. There is no analogue to such a non-invasive assessment of the effects of radiation on the body. The proposed approach may become important for assessing the radiation safety of nuclear industry workers, astronauts, and patients undergoing proton or gamma therapy.

Small cross section of the synthesis of darmstadtium in the Ca48+Th232 reaction

The smallness of the cross section of evaporation residues formed in the hot fusion reaction Ca48+Th232 is analyzed by the dinuclear system model (DNS). The capture probability has been calculated by solving the dynamical equations of motion for the relative distance between the centers of mass of the DNS nuclei. Fusion of nuclei is considered as evolution of the DNS to a stable compound nucleus. The fusion probability has a bell-like shape and quasifission is one of reasons causing smallness of the yield of the evaporation residues products. Another reason is the decrease of the fission barrier for the isotopes Dm275–285 related with the shell effects in the neutron structure. The agreement of the theoretical results obtained for the yield of the evaporation residues with the experimental data measured in the Factory of Superheavy Elements of Joint Institute for Nuclear Research is well. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Geometry import into virtual reality visualization engine for HEP experiments at BM@N

Modern visualization and multimedia platforms, such as Unity, provide immersive interaction for HEP experiment data analysis. In this work, we present the method for importing the detector geometry, solids hierarchy, and materials from GDML format directly to Unity. This method is based on parsing files in GDML format and generating the geometry using mesh generation algorithms and Constructive Solid Geometry methods. The provided method is applied to the BM@N experiment at NICA accelerator complex in Joint Institute of Nuclear Research and can be used in virtual reality and augmented reality applications for data analysis and outreach events in high energy physics experiments.

E-ΔE detection module of DGFRS-2 setup

Thе paper describes a new E-ΔE detection module which includes a position-sensitive double-sided strip detector (DSSD) and a low-pressure pentane-filled ΔE chamber for detection of Evaporation Residues (ERs) in complete fusion reactions. The goal is to synthesize superheavy isotopes at the new DC-280 (Dubna Cyclotron) cyclotron of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR). With the 48Ca ion beam intensity of about 5–7 pμA (particle micro ampere) and the ΔE counter count rate of approximately 104 sec−1, we observe a decrease in the overall registration efficiency of the gas ΔE counter. The paper proposes a solution to this problem: introduction of an additional negatively biased electrode, which results in the stabilization of the ΔE detector operation.

Investigations of Chemical Element Distributions in Soil, North Macedonia—A Review

This review article considers the following aspects: naturally distributed chemical elements and their enrichments, and the increased occurrence of PTEs due to anthropogenic and urban activities, as well as due to the geochemical uniqueness of certain geochemical landscapes, depending on the lithological environment. The review article is the result of many years of successful cooperation between the Geological Survey of Slovenia and the Faculty of Natural Sciences in Skopje, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, as well as several other institutions from North Macedonia, Russia and Romania but, also, through the voluntary and enthusiastic work of Prof. Trajče Stafilov’s PhD and Master’s students. To create the Geochemical Atlas, the territory of North Macedonia was covered with 995 sampling locations, but 16 separate areas with soil contamination were additionally sampled. The total sum of all collected soil samples was 3983 from 2449 different sampling sites in the period from 2006 to 2017. The analyses were performed at the Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences in Skopje, at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia, at the Research Institute for Analytical Instrumentation (ICIA), Cluj-Napoca, Romania, at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Moscow Region, Russia, and at Acme Labs in Vancouver, Canada. The sum of all analysed soil samples in all four mentioned laboratories was 7991 from 2006 to 2017. Using advanced mathematical methods such as multivariate statistical methods (HCA, FA, PCA) and artificial neural networks–multilayer perceptron (ANN-MP), predictions were made about the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and their distribution in real space. In less than two decades (2007–2023) of fruitful collaboration, a large number of scientific works have been published: 188 scientific publications, 8 geochemical atlases and 23 chapters in monographs.

Using Factor Analysis To Find Source Atmospheric Pollution By Moss Technique

The aim of this investigation was to apply the moss biomonitoring technique using Barbula Indica moss and factor analysis to evaluate the possible sources of atmospheric pollution in the Thua Thien Hue province. The Barbula Indica moss samples were collected at sixteen sites in the areas of Thua Thien Hue province, the central Vietnam. The concentrations of thirty elements in the collected Barbula Indica moss samples were determined by neutron activation analyses at the reactor IBR-2 at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) in Dubna, Russian Federation. Factor analysis has been applied to the obtained concentrations to reveal the possible pollution sources. Rotated factor loadings suggested three factors, that could explained more than 84% of variability. Additionally, factor scores were calculated, that confirmed the presence of pollution sources in the corresponding sites.

Developing and testing a program for reducing aggressive behavior in adolescents

Background. The study considers the problem of increasing aggression and anxiety among teenagers in the modern society. The programs for correction of aggressive behavior allowing for effective work with teenagers are in great demand in psychological practice. Objectives. Testing the effectiveness of the correctional program “Face of Aggression” which has its purpose to optimize (reduce) the level of aggressiveness and anxiety in teenage schoolchildren. Study Participants. The study involved 61 schoolchildren aged 11 to 14, of them 26 teenagers made up two training groups and 35 teenagers constituted the control group. The research was carried out on the basis of the Universal Library affiliated to the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research named after D.I. Blokhintsev in Dubna, RF. Methods. Personal anxiety scale for students aged 10–16 years by A.M. Prikhozhan; Bass — Perry method for assessing the level of aggression; Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Results. The obtained data analysis demonstrated effectiveness of the correction program “Face of Aggression”. Comparison of the studied psychodiagnostic indicators before and after the training in the experimental group revealed a significant decrease in the level of anger, statistically significant differences in the overall level of aggression, at the trend level — in indicators of physical aggression and the overall level of anxiety. Conclusions. Aggression and anxiety, which are significant indicators of the difficulties experienced in adolescence, are “two sides of the same coin” and can be reduced by means of the psychological training using Burno’s method. The empirical study confirmed previously obtained data on the relationship between the emotion of anger and hostility as a factor of readiness for aggressive behavior with self-assessment and interpersonal anxiety in adolescents.

Delivery of High-Intensity Proton Beam for the Study of Flash-Effect in Radiotherapy

Flash-therapy is a rapidly developing field of radiology that has the potential to revolutionize future cancer treatment techniques. The method involves delivery the therapeutic radiation dose to the tumor volume at an ultra-high dose rate in the beam, several orders of magnitude higher than that usually used in conventional radiotherapy. In this mode of irradiation, the degree of damage to normal tissues surrounding the tumor and falling under the influence of radiation decreases, at the same time, the effect on cancer cells remains at the same level, which preserves the prospect of local control of the tumor with a lower frequency of side effects.
 The paper presents the results on the delivery of a high-intensity proton beam with an energy of 660 MeV from the Phasotron of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, designed for radiobiological studies under flash therapy irradiation of cell cultures and small laboratory animals (mice, rats). In addition, the main design features and parameters of the created detectors for measuring the characteristics of this beam are presented.

An examination on the porosity of Er[formula omitted] doped Ca[formula omitted] crystal using the Rutherford back-scattering method

This work investigates the porosity of ErF3 doped CaF2 crystals using the Rutherford back-scattering (RBS) method. Two ErF3:CaF2 samples of 2.0 and 5.5% doping ratios were prepared using the Bridgman method. The RBS spectra of these samples at two incident angle configurations of the projectile alpha, i.e., 0 and 30 degree, were collected using the Rutherford back-scattering spectrometer at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia. The measured spectra were analyzed with sample models of porous materials using the SIMNRA program. It turns out that the porous volume ratio and diameter are probably in the intervals of 18 to 22% and 2.4×1018 to 3.0×1018 atoms per cm2, respectively. However, the RBS method exhibits significant uncertainty, impeding our ability to establish a correlation between porosity characteristics and doping ratios.

Interaction of photons with silver and indium nuclei at energies up to 20 MeV* *The authors express their gratitude to the team of the LINAC-200 electron accelerator and the management of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research for their support in conducting the experiments.

The yields of photonuclear reactions in the 107Ag, 113In, and 115In nuclei were measured. Monte Carlo simulations were performed using the Geant4 code, and the results were compared with the experimental values. The isomeric ratios of the yields in the reactions 107Ag(γ, n)106m,g Ag and 113In(γ, n)112m,g In were determined, and the cross sections for the reactions 107Ag(γ, n)106g Ag and 107Ag(γ, 2n)105Ag at an energy of 20 MeV were calculated based on the experimental data.

II International Scientific School-Conference “Atom. Science. Technology”

June 6-9, 2023, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan School Organizers • Council of young scientists of RSE on REM "Institute of Nuclear Physics" of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan • Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan • International intergovernmental organization Joint Institute for Nuclear Research “Atom. Science. Technology.” is a scientific conference with the participation of leading Kazakhstani and foreign scientists on its subject, within which leading scientists conduct a scientific school for young scientists and specialists in order to familiarize them with the latest results of scientific research on the subject of the conference, discuss the progress and results of research by young scientists . The conference provides for the presentation in the form of reports of the results of research works of young scientists, students, undergraduates and doctoral students, contains plenary review and specialized reports of leading scientists in the field of theory, practice and innovation management on the subject of the conference, is multi-sectional for a wider coverage of participants. The conference is dedicated to the Day of Science in Kazakhstan.Like ANT-2021, ANT-2023 is held online. In 2024, our conference will be held in a hybrid format, that is, it will be possible to participate both online and come in person. This will provide an opportunity for participants to get to know each other better, establish contacts, etc. At the same time, from 2024 the conference will be held only in English.List of Organising Committee, School topics, Registration of participants, Rules of speech, s, Important dates, Contact addresses of the secretariat of the School are available in this pdf.

Pneumatic Transport System REGATA-2 for Automation of Activation Analysis at the IREN Facility, FLNP JINR

The IREN facility at the Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics (FLNP) of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR) is used for experiments to determine elemental composition of various samples by neutron activation analysis (NAA). A pneumatic transport system (PTS) REGATA-2 was implemented to automate the delivery of containers with samples to the irradiation position and back. The article describes the characteristics of the PTS, its adaptation for operation at the IREN facility, and also plans for subsequent modernization and future prospects. After the assembling of the system, the optimal parameters were chosen for irradiating the typical samples, and a calibration was created for a high-purity germanium detector, which let to consider the volume nature of the samples. Samples of archaeological ceramics from Kazakhstan were studied using the PTS. The features of the IREN facility let to use not only a neutron, but also a gamma-producing target. The first experiments on the qualitative determination of elements by gamma-activation analysis (GAA) were carried out, and the prospects for using the facility for these purposes were confirmed. The creation of the PTS let to automate the process of irradiation samples and increase the efficiency of research in NAA and GAA, especially for short-lived isotopes. It also reduces the negative impact of radiation on the human body.

NICA heavy-ion collider at JINR (Dubna). Status of accelerator complex and first physics at NICA.

The NICA facility is under active realization at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR, Dubna). Its main goal includes experimental studies of hot and dense baryon rich matter forming in heavy ion collisions to search for possible manifestations of phase transitions and critical phenomena, as well as investigation of nucleon spin structure with polarized proton and deuteron beams. The NICA general design, construction status, and prospects for physics program are presented.

Neutron Scattering in Studies of Ferroelectrics, Ferroelastics, and Superprotonics: Structure, Microstructure, and Phase Transitions

The results of the studies of ferroelectric, ferroelastic, and superprotonic crystals, performed by the researchers from the laboratory headed by L.A. Shuvalov at the Institute of Crystallography of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Laboratory of Neutron Physics of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, using methods of neutron diffraction and inelastic scattering, are briefly reviewed. The main results in this field were obtained in the period from the end of the 1970s to the end of the 1990s.

Residual strain investigation of a polycrystalline quartzite rock sample using time-of-flight neutron diffraction

In this work, we studied the residual micro lattice strain of an onyx sample, which is a micro- to the cryptocrystalline variety of the mineral quartz SiO2. That the investigation has been carried out using in-situ stress experiments with the time-of-flight neutron diffraction method. The aim of the study is to investigate residual lattice strains and pressure directions in the sample using time-of-flight neutron diffraction, which is a powerful tool for the study of the residual strain behavior in bulk materials, like geological rock samples containing large grains. The residual strain was detected in different sample directions turning the sample in steps of 30° by 180° around the cylindrical z-axis. These experiments have been performed at the time-of-flight neutron strain diffractometer EPSILON, situated on the pulsed neutron source IBR-2M of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia. The results of this study will provide insights into the compressional and tensional residual strain of the crystallographic lattice planes, and will have implications for our understanding of the tectonic history of this region. These different strains are arranged in the sample by a sinusoidal distribution in radial directions.

First Tests of the GRAND Gas-Filled Separator at the Superheavy Element Factory (Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research)

First Tests of the GRAND Gas-Filled Separator at the Superheavy Element Factory (Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research)

Study of the 242Pu + 48Ca Reaction at Super Heavy Element Factory

Experiments on the synthesis of isotopes of element 114 in the 242Pu + 48Ca reaction were carried out at a new gas-filled separator DGFRS-2 online to the DC-280 cyclotron of the Superheavy Element Factory at the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research. The decay properties of 286Fl and 287Fl, as well as their α-decay products, were refined. The possibility of the existence of isomeric states in successive α-decays of 287Fl is discussed. The maximum cross section of \\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$10.4_{{ - 2.1}}^{{ + 3.5}}$$\\end{document} pb was measured for the 242Pu(48Ca, 3n)287Fl reaction.

Geodetic Control of Structural Magnets of the Accelerating Facility at the Laboratory of High Energy Physics of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research

Geodetic Control of Structural Magnets of the Accelerating Facility at the Laboratory of High Energy Physics of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research

Proton Polarimeter at the Internal Target Station of the Nuclotron at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research

Proton Polarimeter at the Internal Target Station of the Nuclotron at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research

JUNO sensitivity on proton decay p → ν K + searches* *We are grateful for the ongoing cooperation from the China General Nuclear Power Group. This study was supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the National Key R&D Program of China, the CAS Center for Excellence in Particle Physics, Wuyi University, and the Tsung-Dao Lee Institute of Shanghai Jiao

The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) is a large liquid scintillator detector designed to explore many topics in fundamental physics. In this study, the potential of searching for proton decay in the mode with JUNO is investigated. The kaon and its decay particles feature a clear three-fold coincidence signature that results in a high efficiency for identification. Moreover, the excellent energy resolution of JUNO permits suppression of the sizable background caused by other delayed signals. Based on these advantages, the detection efficiency for the proton decay via is 36.9% ± 4.9% with a background level of events after 10 years of data collection. The estimated sensitivity based on 200 kton-years of exposure is years, which is competitive with the current best limits on the proton lifetime in this channel and complements the use of different detection technologies.