On February 18, in a solemn atmosphere, Latvian Academy of Sciences (LAS) held online awards ceremony for the most important scientific achievements in Latvia of 2020. The audience of the event was addressed by the President of the LAS Dr. hab. chem. Ivars Kalvins, Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia Krišjānis Kariņš and Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia Dr. philol. Ilga Šuplinska.
One of the most significant achievements in science last year was the study “In-depth understanding of the functional properties of modern materials under extreme radiation conditions and their prediction” conducted by ISSP UL’s scientists Dr. phys. A. Popov, Dr. habil. phys. V. Kuzovkov, Dr. habil. phys J. Kotomin, Dr. rer. nat. D. Grjaznovs, MSc. A. Platonenko and PhD E. Shablonin together with the researcher of the Institute of Physics of the University of Tartu, a foreign member of the LAS Prof. A. Luschik.
It is widely acknowledged that the energy of the future lies in the development of fusion reactors. Their successful work requires new materials that will work in very extreme radiation and temperature conditions. Research on such optical and dielectric materials is an important part of the activities of the EUROfusion-Latvia association. In this joint work of the teams of the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia and the Institute of Physics of the University of Tartu, the damage processes caused by neutron and heavy ion irradiation in promising functional materials were studied. The optical and dielectric as well as vibrational and magnetic properties of some oxide crystals, nanomaterials and ceramic radiation defects were carefully studied and compared. In the course of this research, new theoretical methods were developed, with the help of which it is possible to assess and predict the development of promising materials functionality and radiation damage in extreme reactor operating conditions.
One of the participants of the research, doctoral student Alexander Platonenko from ISSP UL, says that “the results of the research can be used in various fields where materials come into contact with radiation - nuclear medicine (PET tomography), space industry. The study was carried out as part of the EUROfusion project, in which scientists from all over the world are working to build the next-generation fusion reactor. The new type of reactor will be able to obtain an infinite amount of energy and practically free of charge. ISSP UL scientists are thus involved in world-class scientific projects. ”
Maris Balodis, Director of Latvenergo's Research and Development Function, emphasizes that “in large-scale energy it is very important to achieve higher efficiency indicators in turbines and power plants, thus various measures are being taken to improve them. It is known from physics that we can achieve higher efficiency by achieving higher temperatures in these heat engines. ” M. Balodis is also pleased that Latvian science has such potential and ambitious scientists who are able to participate in projects of this scale, the results of which will be used in energy development in the future.
Among the winners of the LAS President’s Letter of Commendation is the research "New 0ptical and mathematical methods to improve image quality" done by the scientists of the ISSP UL - Dr. phys. Varis Karitans, Dr. phys. Sergejs Fomins, Dr.habil.phys. Maris Ozolins, Mg. Katrina Laganovska and Mg. Karlis Kundzins.
The LAS President’s Letter of Commendation has also been awarded to ISSP UL’s Mg.phys. Natalija Tetervenoka and Dr.phys. Aivars Vembris for the research “New synthetic methods in purine chemistry and their application in materials science”, which was elaborated by group of scientists from ISSP UL, RTU Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry and Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis.
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https://www.lza.lv/images/aktualitates_2020/ZV_01_2021/ZV_01_2021_Popovs.pdf
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