History of creation of the
Institute
(1945-1955)
Ilia Vekua Sukhumi Institute of Physics and Technology (SIPT) was founded in 1950 as result of join two top-secret independent scientific research centers “A” and “G”. Setting up the high-technology unique center in Georgia was related to the creation of the first Soviet atom bomb. The Institute was establishing in participation with famous German scientists ( nobel laureate Gustav Ludwig Hertz, Manfred Von Ardenne, Max Steenbeck, Pieter Thiessen, Max Volmer, Nikolaus Riehl, etc.).
The major topics assigned to
Scientific-Research Center “ A” (Scientific leader-Manfred
von Ardenne , the outstanding engineer-physicist
included:
• Development of techniques for electromagmetic separation of uranium isotopes and mass-spectrometry of heavy atoms;
• Development of techniques for electromagmetic separation of uranium isotopes and mass-spectrometry of heavy atoms;
• Work on the improvement of
electron microscopes and participation in the organization of their
production;
• Development of ancillary
equipment for nuclear research;
• Development of techniques for
separation of isotopes by diffusion.
The major topics assigned to Scientific-Research Center “ G“ (Scientific leader - Gustav Ludwig Hertz, the outstanding German physicist, the Nobel prize winner) included:
• Development of techniques for
separation of uranium isotopes;
• Development of techniques for
producing heavy water;
• Development of techniques for
analyzing uranium isotopes upon minor enrichments;
• Techniques for accurate
measurement of neutrons energy.
Several laboratories were set up in the Institute, where together with German scientists Soviet specialists worked:
• Laboratory of isotope
separation by gravitation (leader - Manfred Von Ardenne;)
• Laboratory of physical
chemistry (leader - Prof. Peter Thiessen);
• Laboratory for separation of
isotopes by a centrifuge (leader - Dr. M. Steenbeck);
• Laboratory for separation of
isotopes by diffusion in solvent’s film (leader - D.P.
Andreev);
• Laboratory to study the impact
of radioactivity on living organisms (leader - Dr. Menke);
• Laboratory of mass-spectrometry
(leader - Dr. Schütze);
• Laboratory for separation of a
sublimate by diffusion against steam flow (leader Dr. Hertz);
• Laboratory for corrosion
problems (leader – Dr. V.A. Karzhavin);
• Laboratory for tubular ceramic
filters (leader – V.N. Ermin);
• Laboratory for measuring
equipment (leader – Dr. Hartmann).
In 1948-1949, the main tasks
assigned to Sukhumi institutes were implemented and introduced at
different plants of the USSR with the participation of specialists
from SIPT.
After the test of first atomic
bomb in the USSR in August 1949, German specialists were gradually
taken out from secret works and transferred to the development of
non-secret topics.
From 1955 to 1958 German
specialists started to return to their homeland, but the research
institute SIPT – best equipped by that time in the USSR and staffed
with the specialists of the highest qualification . The local
specialists that had been trained by the German scientists and
gained rich experience in the solution of complex scientific and
technological problems made further a great contribution to the
development of different branches of science and technology and
contributed to the creation of the SIPT’s high authority among the
scientific world.
The Further Development of
the Institute
(1956-1993)
During many years of successfully
activities, the main directions of the scientific work of the
Institute are the following basic fields:
1. Plasma Physics
1. Plasma Physics
1.1. Quasistationary processes
In the fifties of last century,
in connection with creation of the thermonuclear weapon, SIPT has
begun intensive investigations of toroidal plasma. The task set was
to study the interactions between the high frequency (HF) field of
the Alfven frequency range with magnetized plasma. On the basis of
an experimental research it has been made scientifically proved
conclusions:
- Heating and
stabilization of a plasma stream in magnetized plasma with
introduction of additional energy by means of a high-frequency
electromagnetic field;
- Established
collective interaction of protons and heavy ions in magnetized
plasma;
- In 1961,
acceleration of heavy ions in the plasma diode by means a stream
electrons.
1.2. Pulsed Processes
Works in this direction have
begun with studying of the phenomena occurring at explosion of
electro-conductors. During the studies of gas-plasma in Θ- and
Z-pinches on relatively small installations, occurrence of
“space-periodic structures” was discovered and in the Z-pinch the
effect of “fractional acceleration of Plasmon” was observed. This
phenomenon has confirmed American scientist G. Makmilan and named
effect of electro-dynamic acceleration Kvatskhava-Makmilan.
As a result of basic research and
in a consequence on institute installations dense n=
(2÷4)1016cm-3 high-temperature plasma (TE=
350000 K, Ti=1,6.106 K) has been received, which existence
proceeded (10÷100) ns.
1.3. Open aerodynamic trap
On the basis of the device combined pinch, at SIPT has been created open aerodynamic trap GDLKP-2M with following parameters: energy – 10MJ, pinch – 50cm, the mirror ratio ≤ 100, magnetic induction – 15T. The research program is intended for creation of the powerful neutron generator and studying of problems of radiating resistance of materials.
1.3. Open aerodynamic trap
On the basis of the device combined pinch, at SIPT has been created open aerodynamic trap GDLKP-2M with following parameters: energy – 10MJ, pinch – 50cm, the mirror ratio ≤ 100, magnetic induction – 15T. The research program is intended for creation of the powerful neutron generator and studying of problems of radiating resistance of materials.
1.4. Plasma Focus
On plasma-focus installations
KPF-1 and KPF-3, created in SIPT, have been received interesting
results:
- at the energy of
accumulator of 100 kJ in D-D plasma the neutron yield of
N~1011 n-discharge was obtained;
- The energy
dependence of the neutron yield N~E2~J4 tends to scaling;
- Addition of
lithium vapor to D-D plasma leads to an increase of the neutron
yield by a factor of 5÷6;
- The obtained
X-rays have a dose rate of about 1012 Rad/s in the
energy range (20÷150) KeV with duration of 50 ns.
In 1991-1992 a new powerful experimental
facility KPF-4 was built, which capacity was 0,2÷1,5
MJ.
2. Physics of High-Current Electron and lone Injectors and Accelerators
The first high-current sources at
SIPT were created in 1948-1949 to solve a problem of separation of
heavy nuclei isotopes under the direction of Prof. M. von
Ardenne and Prof. M. Steenbeck.
On the basis of powerful electron
injectors was created direct function and resonance high-current
electron accelerators.
3. Solid-State Physics
The works in this field include
many aspects of research of metals, semiconductors and dielectrics.
The basic results of research is:
- The
first germanium and silicon single crystals in
the USSR were obtained at SIPT;
- The phenomenon of
instant crystallization of all weight of the fused metal, it was
repeated in space during the experiment, named "Melting":
4. Thermoelectricity
In 1962 jointly with "Kurchatov
Institute" and others the first in the world thermoelectric
reactor-converters "Romashka"(0,5kw) was created.
At institute thermoelectric the
instrument making developed in two directions:
a) Working out and
batch production of the powerful nuclear thermoelectric generator
for space;
b) Working out of
the thermoelectric generator (TEG) using radio isotope fuel for
civil and military use.
5. Thermo-emission
It is developed high-temperature
cesium-plasma thermo-emission generator which is the basic knot for
a space thermoissue reactor-converters.
It is developed two types of the
electro-generating channel: single-element and multi-element.
Powerful thermo-emission nuclear power installations "TOPAZ" and
"Yenisei" have been accordingly developed for space.
6. Instrument Engineering
According to a wide program, at
SIPT works were carried out on creation of various physical,
measuring, analytical, control instruments intended for equipping
in-house experimental installations and stands and delivery to many
customers.
Except a mass-spectrometer, a
beta-spectrometer, an oje-spectroscope and a microscope, at
institute the equipment for diagnostics and measurement of
parameters of hot plasma is created. The electronic control system
for space reactors which and works today at university of
Albuquerque at stand "TOPAZ" is created.
SIPT in
Tbilisi
After some military actions in
Abkhazia (1992-1993) most of the personnel of the Institute had to
leave Sukhumi for Tbilisi. As decided by the Government of Georgia,
in December 1993 SIPT settled down in Tbilisi.
Valter Kashia, Doctor of
Technical Sciences, Professor, famous specialist of thermo-emission
converters physics headed the Institute during 2001-2005. In those
years SIPT renewed collaboration with former Soviet Union leading
institutions and performed joint works on thermo-emission
converters physics and radiation safety for thermo-emission
reactors-converter.
Since 2006 Dr. Guram Bokuchava
has been the director of SIPT. Same year, scientific-technology
direction was created in the Institute, with appropriate
scientific-structural units, involvement in the international
scientific researches and projects was increased
respectively.
In 2006, the Institute was
granted the status of a legal entity of public law (LEPL).
The conception of the institute
covers wide spectrum of science and technology:
• Nuclear physics, radiation
materials science and technologies;
• Solid body physics,
semiconductors and superconductors physics;
• Semiconducting, thermoelectric
and optoelectronic instrument-making;
• Quantum radiophysics, laser,
electric and electronic systems;
• Cryogenic technique and
technologies, nanomaterials and nanotechnologies;
• Chemical technologies, new
compositions and ceramic materials (i.e. On the basis of local raw
materials);
• Environmental protection
problems, i.e., researching radioactive contamination, monitoring
and methods to reduce and non-proliferate pollution through the
environment.
• Expert works.