Physics in Romania:

Research Capabilities and

Strategies of International

Cooperation

Dr. Florin Buzatu, Director General

Institute of Atomic Physics (IFA)

• Research institutes and main research activities

developed on the Magurele Physics Campus

• The status of ESFRO - the current national

project to assess the development possibilities of

the field of Physics in Romania

ESFRO project is envisaging the near- and far-future participation of

Romanian scientists and institutions in large research infrastructures

as well as the main directions of international cooperation at a

regional and global level.

Content

• 1949: Institute of Physics of the Romanian Academy

• 1956 Institute of Atomic Physics (IFA)

• 1976 Central Institute of Physics (ICEFIZ)

• 1990 New Institute of Atomic Physics (IFA)

• 1996 R&D National Institutes

Măgurele – Pole of Physics

NUCLEARγ – IrradiatorTandem acc. Waste Proc.

CyclotronReactor (decomm.)

----------------Adv. Detectors

Life & Env.Radioisotopes

LASERS & PLASMAMATERIALS

EARTHOPTOELECTRONIS

------------------Space Sciences

Theoretical PhysicsParticle Physics

ComputingNat. Phys. Library

-------------------UNIVERSITY

(Faculty of Physics)High School

-------------------ENGINEERING

ring rail/road

BUCHAREST

IFA

IFA

Bucharest

IFIN-HH gr. 2

INFLPR

CITON

ISS

INOE

Optoelectronica

Physics@Măgurele.ROIFIN-HH gr. 1

FF-UB

INFM

IFA

INFP

Nuclear & Vacuum

IFA: ScientificTradition & Performance

Ion AGÂRBICEANU

1907-1971

Alexandru PROCA

1897-1955

Şerban ŢIŢEICA

1908-1985

Horia HULUBEI

1896-1972

Eugen BĂDĂRĂU

1887-1975

1st Reactor, Cyclotron and Betatron (1956)

• 1st Romanian Computer (1957)

• 1st Laser (1962 – I. Agârbiceanu)

• Tandem Accelerator (1974)

• Radioisotope Production Centre (1974)

• Nuclear Waste Processing Centre (1974)

Founding Fathers:

IFA – short history

1949 Inst. Fiz. Acad.

1956 IFA & IFB

1973 ICEFIZ: IFA, IFB, IFA-Cluj, …

1977 CSEN: ICEFIZ, IRNEICEFIZ: IFIN, IFTAR, IFTM, CFPS, CASS, FAN, ITIM Cluj-Napoca, CFT Iaşi, Uzina G Rm. Vâlcea

1990 CSEN IFA (ICEFIZ)IRNE → Min. En. El.

1996 INCD: IFIN-HH, INFLPR, INFM, INFP

2008 New IFA

1999 IFA: EURATOM-FusionResearch Unit

2001 IFA: CERES

2006 IFA: CEEX

PHYSICS@MAGURELE

A realm of different constraints – of social, historical, political or

whatever other nature – has shaped the destiny of the Magurele

Campus.

The more than 60 years of Physics history in Romania, its

outstanding personalities and their major accomplishments have

defined and determined its role in the Romanian society, its

contribution to the culture and civilization of the country.

In terms of assets and personnel, the Magurele Campus, acting as

a National Lab, covers almost 40% of the national scientific

output.

The current status of Physics in Romania as well as its medium

range development perspectives are addressed.

Six of the most important research centers in Romania are

located at Magurele. These centers represent the ideal

combination between research and specialized university

education, thereby guaranteeing a permanent flow of young

researchers into the field. Five institutes and the Faculty of

Physics are presented in the following.

Physics in Romania:

Research Capabilities and Strategies

of International Cooperation

The Horia Hulubei National R&D Institute for

Physics and Nuclear Engineering (IFIN-HH)

The largest R&D institute in Romania – in terms of assets and personnel,

the institute addresses a comprehensive spectrum of research and

development activities in fundamental and applied Nuclear Physics and in

related areas including Astrophysics, Particle Physics, Atomic Physics, Life

and Environmental Physics, Theoretical Physics, Nuclear Techniques, and

Advanced Communication Systems

R&D personnel: 394 (289 researchers, 29 PhD supervisors, 173 PhD,

51 PhD students).

National interest facilities: 6 (Tandem accelerator, Multiple-purpose

irradiation facility, Radioactive waste treatment and storage plant, National

radioactive waste repository, Cyclotron, Reactor – in decommissioning).

Publications: ~300/year in ISI journals.

Web site: www.ifin.ro.

Physics in Romania:

Research Capabilities and Strategies

of International Cooperation

The National R&D Institute for Laser, Plasma

and Radiation Physics (INFLPR)

INFLPR is carrying out basic and applied research in

the fields of laser, plasma, electron beam and space

physics:

a) Developments of laser systems (solid-state lasers

from continuous-wave to fs generation and from

microchip to high power, excimer lasers, CO2 lasers)

towards the construction of the TW -class femtosecond

laser with a further extension to higher power using

OPCPA technique. The activity in the laser field involves

all the aspects of laser, such as the laser active

medium, vacuum deposited optical components,

devices for Q-switching or mode-locking, nonlinear

devices, mechanical and electronic parts and so on;

b) The science being carried out within the Laser

Laboratories by own scientists and university

colleagues from Romania and from elsewhere in

Europe includes theory and experiments related to

laser-atoms, laser-plasma interaction towards laser

particles acceleration, and laser-surface interaction for

material processing, thin film pulsed laser deposition,

laser nanotechnologies, biomedical applications and

nonlinear optics purposes; c) Laser metrology.

R&D personnel: 337 (222 researchers, 19 PhD

supervisors, 134 PhD, 70 PhD students).

National interest facilities: 2 (Electron Accelerator -

betatron, linear accelerator, microtron, Magnetic dense

plasma plant), Laser Metrology and Standardization;

Quantum Electronics; Plasma Physics & Nuclear

Fusion; Low temperature Plasma; Electron Beam &

Accelerators. Subsidiary: Institute for Space Sciences.

Physics in Romania:

Research Capabilities and Strategies

of International Cooperation

Foreseen developments devoted to high power lasers: study and

development of high power fs laser systems, high harmonics

generation, laser sources in the X-ray domain, high power laser

interaction with matter, laser metrology, technological and

medical applications of the ultra-short pulses lasers.

Web site: www.inflpr.ro.

The National R&D Institute for Physics of

Materials (INFM)

devoted to fundamental and applied research in the fields of

solid state physics and materials research.

R&D personnel: 215 (174 researchers, 14 PhD supervisors, 89

PhD, 59 PhD students).

National interest facilities:1 (Photoemission spectroscope).

Other Departments/fields of research: Advanced Materials for

Special Applications, Solid State Magnetism, Low Dimensional

Systems, Optics and Spectroscopy, Structure and Dynamics of

Condensed Matter.

Publications: ~200/year in ISI journals

Web site: www.infim.ro.

Complex cluster for surface physics:

MBE, RHEED, STM, XPS, LEEM

RF-sputtering with in-situ characterization techniques: Auger, ellipsometry

Raman Microscope

Physics in Romania:

Research Capabilities and Strategies

of International Cooperation

The National R&D Institute for Optoelectronics

(INOE 2000)

R&D personnel: 124 (97 researchers, 1 PhD supervisor, 32

PhD, 33 PhD students).

Departments/fields of research: Lasers and fiber optics

communication; Optoelectronics methods for medical

applications; Research centre for advanced surface processing

and analysis by vacuum technologies; Optoelectronic methods

and techniques for cultural heritage restoration/conservation;

Remote sensing. Publications: ~40/year in ISI journals

Foreseen developments devoted to high power lasers: Time-

domain experiments (Spectroscopy on dilute samples), Laser-

plasma Interaction (Propagation of intense laser pulses in

dense matter), “Exotic Physics” (Exploring the fundamental

properties of vacuum), Medicine (Application to Hadron

Therapy), Secondary Sources for Material Science Studies

(Understanding fundamental aging processes in nuclear power

plant material, Improving environment: transmutation and

nuclear waste treatment), Education and Training.

Web site: www.inoe.ro.

Physics in Romania:

Research Capabilities and Strategies

of International Cooperation

National Institute of R&D for Earth Physics (NIEP)

NIEP carries out the seismic survey of Romania and operates the national

seismic network. It has a wide background in Earth sciences research, with

focus on seismic source and seismotectonics, seismic hazard assessment,

site effects and microzonation, lithosphere structure and dynamics,

earthquake prediction, assessment and mitigation of seismic risk. Also, NIEP

has long experience in regional and global seismic studies and ensures

Romania?s technical contribution to global seismological monitoring in

support of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).

Given its demanding operational mission, key objective of NIEP is the

development of an advanced seismic data collection and management

system, including robust real-time data acquisition techniques, reliable

communications links, rapid processing and exchange of earthquake

information, creating and handling of large data sets, compilation of bulletins

and earthquake catalogues.

www.infp.ro

Physics in Romania:

Research Capabilities and Strategies

of International Cooperation

University of Bucharest - The Faculty of Physics (FF-UB)

Academic staff: 135 (49 full Professors).

Studies on three levels: Licence (Physics - 3 years; Technological

Physics –4 years), MD (4 semesters) and PhD (3 years).

The domains covered are: (a) General -Physics, Medical Physics and

Biophysics; Educational Physics, (b) Condensed Matter Physics, (c)

Earth Physics, Environment Physics and Meteorology, (d) Theoretical

Physics, (e) Optics, Spectroscopy, Plasma and Lasers, (f) Atomic &

Molecular Physics, Nuclear and Particle Physics, Astrophysics, (g)

Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies, (h) Electronic Physics and

Metrology, (i) Polymer, (j) Econophysics.

Students: 600 (licence), 190 (MD), 170 (PhD).

Website: www.fizica.unibuc.ro.

Physics in Romania:

Research Capabilities and Strategies

of International Cooperation

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

OS1. Elaboration of a methodology for the evaluation of the scientific

and technical, human and material potential of the research trends in

Romanian physics and its capacity to participate in large international

collaboration projects

OS2. Identification of research directions in physics, institutions,

laboratories and groups with a real potential for the development and

enhancement of the international visibililty and socio-economic impact

(assesment 2001-2008).

OS3. Setting up the objectives of the scientific and technical program

of the large european research infrasturctures in which Romania can

participate in a consistent and efficient way.

OS4. Elaboration a participation strategy for Romania participation in

large short (2012-2014) and medium (2015-2020) term international

collaboration unei strategii de participare a Romaniei la marile

colaborari in physics.

OS5. Setting up strategic objectives and proposal of a set of actions

meant to enforce the human and material potential of physics research

in Romania in view of the enhancement of the socio-economic impact

and international visibililty of this field.

ESFROASSESMENT OF THE ROMANIAN RESEARCH

POTENTIAL IN THE FIELD OF PHYSICS AND

ELABORATION OF THE NATIONAL STRATEGY

CONCERNING INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Physics in Romania:

Research Capabilities and Strategies

of International Cooperation

MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES

OM1. Setting up a data basis structured according to

specific indicators to gather all the essential information for

the assesment of the human and material potential of the

research directions in Romanian physics as well as the

results obtained in the frame of the collaboration other fields

of Romania's science and technology.

OM2. Setting up an assesment algorithm of the potential of

the research directions in Romanian physics.

OM3. Setting up a selection methodology of the evaluators

in the field of physics and setting up a data basis of the

potential evaluators in Romania for different domains of

competence.

OM4. Setting up a data basis structured according to

specific indicators to gather all the essential information

concerning the partipation of Romania in large international

collaborations in the filed of physics.

OM5. Setting up a selection methodology for the proposals

concerning the partipation of Romania in large international

physics projects.

ESFROASSESMENT OF THE ROMANIAN RESEARCH

POTENTIAL IN THE FIELD OF PHYSICS AND

ELABORATION OF THE NATIONAL STRATEGY

CONCERNING INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Physics in Romania:

Research Capabilities and Strategies

of International Cooperation

Conclusions

• Large international collaborations in which Romanian

physics is involved, among which outstanding are the

participation in the CERN – LHC program and the

construction art Magurele near Bucharest of the ELI

Nuclear Physics pillar, have determined a

reconsideration of the main strategic lines of research

in physics.

• New developments in Romanian physics research

ask for a survey and updating of its main strategic

directions. The basic procedures and principles are

briefly presented, emphasizing some of the most

important objectives.