Travel Reports

Travel report of A. Chilingarian, April 18-27, 2011 Participation in the workshop: science at the Pierre Auger Observatory (Cambridge), visit to project collaborator (Leeds univ.)

armenian version

The main role of the world biggest Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina is to study the highest energy cosmic rays, but now the collaboration is interested in opening the facilities to scientists from other disciplines. The meeting in Cambridge was being organized to this end and studies of thunderstorms and cosmic rays were of upmost interest. I made invited talk on

"Particle bursts from thunderclouds – natural particle accelerators above our heads".

Aragats research center is the world leading institution in this very dynamically developing field and our new data on the energy spectra of electrons and gamma rays from thunderclouds were in the center of discussions of possible using of Pierre Auger array for research in the high energy atmospheric physics. I made several suggestions to use data stream from Auger observatory detectors for detection of Thunderstorm ground enhancements (TGEs) firstly observed in many details at Aragats.

During visit to Leeds in numerous discussions with A1554 project collaborator and Pierre Auger experiment member Prof. Johannes Knapp we cover following problems:

  1. Prolongation of the A1554 project and program of the Summer measurement compain on Aragats;
  2. Discussion of the new project "Investigation of the energetic processes in atmosphere, ionosphere and magnetosphere at the Aragats space-environmental center", (02623), submitted to ISTC;
  3. Simulations of the response of Pierre Auger detectors (water tanks) to find out the energy threshold and possibility to detect electron and gamma ray with energies 1-20 MeV;

A.Chilingarian’s report on participation in the study tour in UK “Commercialisation of Science and Technology and the Formation of Successful Businesses based on Nuclear and Accelerator technologies”

23th – 30th May 2010.

armenian version

Aim of the Study Tour

The main aim of the Study Tour is to provide an opportunity for the directors of nuclear research institutes of the former Soviet Union (FSU) republics to see how the UK, faced with challenges of lacking of funds for fundamental science in late 80-ths, have developed effective knowledge management and transfer processes leading to the establishment of knowledge based economy. The study tour was an integral part of the UK’s Closed Nuclear Centres Programme with FSU countries which forms a part of the UK’s contribution to the Global Partnership. The programme was launched at the G8 summit in 2002 to combat the threat of nuclear proliferation. The key objective of the programme is to create sustainable job opportunities for former weapons scientists and technicians working in the Nuclear Sector in the FSU countries. The programme is managed by HTSPE Ltd and AEA Technology Ltd on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Objectives

The main objectives for the 2010 Study Tour were:

  1. Provide a series of case studies to illustrate how major research institutes and universities gain profit from programmes to support the commercial exploitation of their research;
  2. Examine how start-ups manage their intellectual property (IP) and how the value of research is divided between the various participants;
  3. Show how technological developments can be successfully commercialised and new businesses set up, creating jobs and strengthening local and regional economies;
  4. Meet companies that have been engaged in the commercialisation of research to understand the critical factors for success, and lessons that they have learnt;
  5. Look at the role of advice, consultancy support and venture funding which can assist the process and reduce risk.

The study tour provides an opportunity for delegation members to meet with a wide variety of companies CEOs and other senior level individuals within organizations that have been in similar situations and have successfully made the transition.

Among numerous meetings and presentation delivered I outline the followings:

The world shortage of Te isotope

Dewi M. Lewis, GE Health Care, Medical Diagnostics.

Professor Lewis have high energy physics background, obtained PhD from CERN on the to positron detection. Worked on CERN colliders, then turned to radio pharmaceutics –

  • Solar Wind Disturbance;
  • Energetic Particle Transport;

Professor Lewis is a consultant of British government, vice president of AIPES (the European organization of medical imaging techniques providers). Founder and director of Reviss Services Ltd, a firm for distributing on western markets the radio isotopes produced in Russia.

Status of the nuclear medicine:

Molecular imaging – nuclear medicine – most sensitive detection of diseases greatly improving the existent technologies;
Most frequently used isotopes:99Tc; 123I; 18F.
The USA usage:
90% SPECT; 10% PET;
50% heart imaging; 15% cancer; 25% bones;…

The shortage problem:

There is not enough Mo99/99Te (Canadian reactor– NRU – producing 45% of Mo is still closed to start in July 2010, but no guarantee. The Canadian MAPLE project was a complete disaster, after finishing the reactor demonstrated positive reactivity – project closed. Nederland’s reactors are not operational too, the demand is growing very fast. Price goes 4 times up (1400 pounds for generator). Although the isotope price was extremely cheap, one doze cost was equal to the price of a pint of bear.

List of the proposed techniques for isotope production:

  • Reactor technique: 98Mo target bombarded by reactor origin neutron beam; needs a lot of reactor space, waste consumption, etc…
  • Cyclotron technique: (p,2n) reaction or (γ, n) reaction on 100Mo;
  • Linear accelerator based (electron energy ~ 15 MeV) photo fission reaction on the Uranium target (γ,U); LINAC power 5 MW, corresponding electricity consumption – 12 MW;
  • Proton beam (200 MeV – 1GeV energy) entering thick lead target and initiating the spoliation reaction (Carlo Rubia suggestion). Mo is inserted in the thick lead target. Via spoliation very broad energy spectra of neutrons is obtained covering energy range of the most resonances in (n, 98Mo) reaction.

Best solution from Prof. Lewis:

10-20 MW special medical high flux reactor. Rector should work 50 weeks yearly and waste consumption problem should be solved by the government.

Upcoming solutions:

Dr. Kevin Bradley

The new nuclear medicine center is governmental projects that attracted M109 pounds of private investments. PET +CT gave absolutely new quality of diagnostics, simultaneously observing both structure and functionality of the deceased organ. SIMENS introduced time of flight technique, but failed to make computer reconstruction; GE installed huge computers and solved the problem. Usually both images are disposed to doctor on two neighboring screens for immediate comparisons. PET is a revolutionary technology helping ever to see the defects of the unborn child!

Chemical therapy also profit from nuclear medicine. Very early results of chemical treatments are apparent by PET; so many new chemical drugs can be tested in short time. Doctor Bradley mentioned difficulties in education of the nuclear medicine doctors; they prepare 3-4 students per year only. The Nuclear pharmaceutics department was also demonstrated to us. There exist very strict safety regulations on the operations with radioactive materials for PET & SPECT diagnostics. 3 special equipped rooms with consequent lowering atmospheric pressure should be prepared according the existent standards. Doctor Bradley also mentioned the difficulties with SPECT operation due to deficit of Mo generators – only pediatric studies are provided by Te, because there is no alternative.


Figure 1. Dr. Bradley demonstrates the GE-PET-CT-690 molecular imaging device in Churchill nuclear Medicine centre, Oxford, UK


Figure 2. The monitoring devices of the clean rooms for the nuclear pharmaceutics in the Churchill nuclear Medicine centre, Oxford, UK

In the Nuclear Physics Institute of Kazakh Ministry of Industry and New Technologies is currently developed a regional center for the medical isotope production. The Belgian IBA 18/9 MeV machine is already installed, the IBA 30 MeV machine is purchased and the purchasing of ~100 MeV machine is under discussion. The director of institute Adil Tuleushev introduced me with the difficulties of high current cyclotrons installation. The design and implementation of the radiation safety system as well as all operations with radiation pharmacological materials are the main issues and should be made extremely carefully and professionally. Only design of safety system requires more than one year and should be made with all necessary requirements. Prof. Taleushev suggested any measures of support and coordination in the design and installation of the analogical system in the Yerevan Physics Institute. The exchange of experts and help in the safety system is anticipated.

Oxford instruments

Oxford Instruments has been designing and manufacturing superconducting magnet devices and cryogenic cooling systems since 1959. This innovation continues today with the development of new cryogen-free cooling solutions, design tools for high temperature superconducting (HTS) applications, improved Nb3Sn wires, and user-friendly refrigerators for sub-100 mK temperatures. Cryofree techniques providing experimentation with 0.007 K temperatures are used for the quantum computers and other low temperature applications. The special devices providing low temperatures are already distributed all around the world.


Figure 3. The CEO of Oxford Instruments Dr. Jonathan Flint presents company vision; On the left translator Elena Parchomenko

Visit to National Physics Laboratory (NPL) to become a National Science and Technology Laboratory, uniquely positioned at the centre of government, business and academia, undertaking work in the national interest to deliver genuine social and economic impact through world-class innovative science.

In November 1900 Queen Victoria handed Bushy House to the Commission of Works for the establishment of a national standards laboratory

Now NPL is the world-leading National Measurement Institute, 650 staff, 450 Graduate/PhD scientists.
NPL is the largest directly-owned S&T asset of the Ministry of Business Innovation & Skills (BIS). After 95 years of government operation, a private firm Serco won the contract in 1995 and in 2004 Serco won a re-bid for additional 10+5 year During the conference we also held several meetings with Rainer Hippler, Lev Dorman and Lev Pustil’nik to form a consortium for the new FP7 programme on the Space Weather forecasting based on SEVAN network.


Figure 4. The CEO of NPL Brian Boucher introduces to NPL mission

Metrology influences, drives and underpins much of what we do and experience in our everyday lives, though often unseen. Industry, trade, regulation, legislation, quality of life, science and innovation all rely on metrology. It is estimated that in Europe today we measure and weigh at a cost equivalent to 2%-7% of GDP.

NPL successfully meets grand challenges for metrology: health, energy, environment, new technologies for nano and security. BPL develops standards and measurement methodologies for the nuclear medicine and pharmacology, significantly enhancing reliability and quality of patient treatment.

The nuclear medicine use ionising radiation extensively for diagnosis and treatment NPL provides ionisation radiation standards and guidance to ensure safety and effectiveness of treatment. These standards minimise the risk to the thousands of people exposed to ionising radiation - making a vital contribution to saving lives.

Knowledge Transfer (KT) is a process containing work with any piece of knowledge that is recognised as being novel and having commercial value. The main task to identify, evaluate and exploit Intellectual Property (IP) through licensing deals and formation of spin out companies. The process prioritises the exploitation of cases that are commercially valuable i.e. the technology is unique/novel, potentially patentable and have a sizeable commercial market.

Some conclusions and recommendations:

The tour highlighted all problems connected with science support and technology transfer/knowledge sharing and demonstrated many successful cases. Knowledge transfer can lead to the knowledge based economy and without understanding and supporting it the nation cannot reach the goal.

  • First of all we have to have a world-class science. In each centre we visited was it very clearly declared in which field they are world leaders and where they are world class. It is of utmost importance for Armenia to re-examine the fundamental science we have and outline competitive fields. Only competitive science can produce ideas leading to products and services with any market value.
  • Sciences should have all what they need for work: clean and modern laboratories, offices with all necessary means, including fast Internet, money for equipment and travel. It is absolutely nonsense to support thousands of scientists with providing no means for their productive work.
  • In is necessary to form a unit in Institute to estimate value of generated IP, help scientists to find applications and to apply for seed funds. In addition, this unit will be responsible for explaining to scientists the economical and social benefits of technology transfer.
  • Each large physical scientific institution should organize education centre on its premises. Physical education has always been the basis for any applied science and technological application.


Report on the participation in the Management Committee Meeting of the COST Action ES0803 “Developing space weather products and services in Europe”, and the Sixth European Space Weather Week, Brugge, Belgium, and visit to DESY, November 15-25, 2009

COST is one of the European Union (EU) most successful instruments  of scientific projects' promotion on the European level. There are hundreds of COST projects in numerous fields of science with thousands researchers from all the European and non-European countries (unfortunately only 2 from Armenia) making joint researches most important to the EU projects. Twice a year meetings, short visits are organized for the  COST country representative to exchange results and plan new investigations, etc. Recently a new program has launched for the young Phd, postdoctoral researchers: to provide up to 3,000 euro for participation in the conferences. At Brugge meeting Cosmic Ray Division (CRD) was accepted as a non-COST Institutes to join the ES0803 Action. The COST action also planned Space Weather School in Trieste in October 2010.

The traditional Space Weather week was also held in Brugge, an ancient Belgian town with old narrow streets and channels full of beautiful 3-flored old buildings and toll chapels (see CRD picture gallery for details).  The conference is focused on the creation of the commercial Space Weather forecasting services, crucial for the Space Exploration. The motto of the conference is to provide right information at the right time to the right people to make right decisions! Moving from physics to monitoring and forecasting.

Thomas J.Bogdan, director of the NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center presented the joint NOAA-Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA) Space Weather Prediction Testbed project, a numerical heliospheric solar storm propagation model (the Geospace Response Model - GRM), that will dramatically enhance the lead time for the prediction of the onset of geomagnetic storms from the current 20 to 50 minutes, provided by NASA's Advanced Composition Explorer spacecraft, out to one to four days.

The GRM consists of the following parts:

  1. Solar Wind Disturbance;
  2. Energetic Particle Transport;
  3. Solar Irradiance Prediction;
  4. Magnetograms simulation – likelihood of the Solar Flares;
  5. Solar general Circulation Model.

Ability to respond to the space weather community expeditiously and build a strong trust relationship within the community is planned by 2012. Transition from models design, verification and validation to commercial operation is planned in 2010-2018.

The director of the ESA’s Space Situational Awareness (SSA) Project, J.P.Luntama, informed that the overall objective of the project is to provide timely and quality data, information, services and knowledge regarding the environment, the threats and the sustainable exploitation of the outer space surrounding the planet Earth. SSA serves to the implementation of the strategic missions of the European Space Policy based on the peaceful uses of the outer space by all states, by supporting the autonomous capacity to securely and safely operate the critical European space infrastructures. The SSA preparatory program started in 2009 and will continue until 2011. The aim of the preparatory program includes a number of precursor services in the areas of Space Surveillance, Space Weather and Near Earth Objects (NEOs). The Space Weather (SWE) segment of the SSA will provide user services related to the monitoring of the Sun, the solar wind, the radiation belts, the magnetosphere and the ionosphere. These services will include near real time information and predictions about the characteristics of the space environment and space weather impacts on man- made systems, and a permanent database for analysis, model development and scientific research. These services are aimed at supporting, for example, spacecraft designers, spacecraft operators, human space flights, users and operators of transionospheric radio links, other SSA segments, and the space weather research community. The precursor SWE services will include a selected subset of these services based on pre-existing space weather applications. Spanish, French and German Space Weather programs were also presented. At the poster session numerous facilities and methods were presented and discussed. I presented the concept and the first results of the SEVAN world-wide network of hybrid particle detectors, measuring 3 species of the secondary cosmic rays. The considerable advantage of SEVAN type detectors upon the 60 years old neutron monitors is as follows:

  • Enlarged statistical accuracy of measurements;
  • Probe different populations of primary cosmic rays with rigidities from 7 GV up to 20-30 GV;
  • Reconstruct SCR spectra and determine position of the spectral “knees”;
  • Classify GLEs in   “neutron” or “proton” initiated events;
  • Estimate and analyze correlation matrices among different fluxes;

Significantly enlarge the reliability of Space Weather alerts due to detection of 3 particle fluxes instead of only one in existing neutron monitor and muon telescope world-wide networks.

Detection of electrons and gamma-quanta from showers  generated by powerful natural accelerators operating during thunderstorms – research of detection of  relativistic feedback accelerator operation in low atmosphere.

During the conference we also held several meetings with Rainer Hippler, Lev Dorman and Lev Pustil’nik to form a consortium for the new FP7 programme on the Space Weather forecasting based on SEVAN network.


Figure 1.  L. Pustil’nik, R.Hippler, A. Chilingarian and L. Dorman at 6 ESWW, Brugge, 2009

At DESY I conducted several meetings with DESY directorate members, met HERMES, H1 groups, examined the ARGUS detector dismounted by the YerPhI technicians and gave a seminar on the recent cosmic ray research.

During the meetings with new DESY research director Joachim Mnich and deputy research detector Manfred Fleischer  the ongoing joint projects were discussed and a firm intention to continue and enlarge the collaboration between YerPhI and DESY was confirmed. YerPhI  got invitation to actively participate in the last high energy physics experiment at DORIS rings - the OLYMPYS* experiment. The funds from EU and USA are already  allocated, the preparatory works already started (by YerPhI group), MOU planned to be signed in the end of 2009 and the experiment is planned in 2012. By that time a lot of preparatory simulations should be done to be sure that all parameters of experiment are chosen optimally. 2012 is the last year of DORIS operation, therefore, there will be no time to reuse the beam and correct possible mistakes.  A decision was made to donate YerPhI large computer cluster for the GRID operation. The transportation of computers was planned for the Spring, 2010.

 
 Figure 2 The ARGUS magnet to be dismounted by Armenian group

During the meeting with the former chair of DESY directors board Albrecht Wagner we discussed the situation in YerPhI after external board meeting in July 2009. Albrecht Wagner, one of the most active commission members, once again emphasized the necessity to  form urgently a Permanent External Board for YerPhI. He claimed that without this board he will not be able to run DESY.

During the visit to the HERA west hall the exhibition of the HERA experiments detectors and the new workshop for particle detector assembling were demonstrated to me. During recent “open doors” at DESY more than 13,000 Hamburg citizens visited the specially prepared expositions at DESY. This shoul be exemplary for YerPhI: we have to prepare the exhibition of our facilities, invite students from all the Armenian universities and schools to interest the new generation in high energy physics. In contrast with YerPhI the age structure of DESY is balanced and they have no problems to incorporate students in current activities.


Figure 3.  N.Akopov at HERA detectors exhibition


Figure 4.  New detector assembling workshop, placed in the hall cleaned in 2008 by YerPhI technicians

 * Striking differences have been observed in the ratio between the electric and magnetic proton form factors as function of Q2, either from measurements using the Rosenbluth separation method or using polarisation transfer. Two-photon exchange (TPE) effects are one possible explanation for this discrepancy. The most elegant and direct way to measure the TPE is to measure the ratio of elastic electron-proton and positron-proton cross-sections, where the contribution enters with different sign.Such an experiment, now named OLYMPUS, has been proposed to be performed at the DORIS storage ring at DESY utilizing the BLAST detector. The details of experiment and YerPhI participation in it will be presented by N.Akopov  in Spring 2009.

 

Report on participation in the Armenian high tech industry (ArmTech) Congress’ 09, Silicon Valley and meetings in SLAC, November 4-13, 20

1. On November 4 I was among the delegation accompanying the PM of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan in his visits to  Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) and Berkley University.  At SLAC Mr. Sargsyan met with Director of SLAC – Dr. Persis Drell, Associate Lab Director -  Dr. Dale Knutson, Director of Accelerator Research department Dr. Tor Raubenheimer, and Armenian students of the Stanford university. PM was introduced to the history of SLAC, ongoing research and development of new accelerators for powerful light sources and for medicine. Also, the status of national lab (SLAC present status) was explained and discussed. During the meetings with the Armenian students and the representative of the Silicon valley Armenian diaspora in Berkeley, PM talked over the RA politics to support the education of Armenian students  in the country and abroad in world-best universities. The new organized National Competitiveness council and Luis foundation will coordinate projects in tourism, education and healthcare. The Yerevan Physics institute, to be turned to National lab, will actively participate in nuclear medicine establishing in Armenia.

2. On November 6 and 7 I participated in the plenary and section sessions of the ArmTech congress. Plenary sections were very interesting; the presidents and CEO of big companies based in the Silicon Valley presented a  broad picture of the high tech industry development and possibilities of Armenia to take part in it. Unfortunately, ArmTech section sessions were not much populated and business contacts were very rare. Seem, that Armenian presenters, despite very interesting projects, were not suffisiently prepared for business contacts. They did not elaborate business schemes to involve private capital (asking for loans, selling part of business, etc...) and they were not ready to share the business with  private people to recieve investments. The estimates of the expected profit and of the product price were also a bit arbitrary. In my plenary presentation “Applied Cosmic Ray Physics: Science-Technology-Innovation" I tried to demonstrate the connections between fundamental science and innovation illustrating the Space Weather research in Cosmic Ray Division of Yerevan Physics Institute. It is a new emerging scientific field, as well as a new emerging commercial service. Fundamental science in this case is directly creating a new innovative technology.  In the Space Weather research we  have performed  fundamental research, technological know-how and elaborated business schemes in one and the same project, that is very challenging. However, this has resulted from a big demand in new innovative technologies and products necessary for the overcoming of the economical crisis. The ArmTech congress has the goals to develop knowledge based economy in Armenia via business/academia cooperation invoking the intellectual capital and entrepreneurship experience from Diaspora. This goal can be achieved  through improvement of education at all levels; building strong Internet presence; focusing on programs to end up on the products or services; and by reforming and creating transparent government agencies.



Figure 1. Armenia’s PM Tigran Sargsyan and Economy Minister Nerses Yeritsyan with Stanford students,
SLAC, Stanford, 5 November, 2009

Accelerator Division at SLAC: 

3. Meeting with Dr. Sami Tantawi, head of the group of the Advanced Microwave Technology Research (ATR), 10 November, 2009. Different applications of the accelerator technologies were discussed:  The total volume of the accelerator production industry in the USA reached 3.5 bln in 2008; most popular are small 7-8 MeV electron accelerators for cancer treatment. 3,000 of such accelerators have already been installed in the USA. 60% of the world market of these accelerators is occupied by the Silicon Valley based Varian firm, producing one accelerator per day. Another promising application is the welfares cutting technology - proton beam by charging the chip can cut on atomic length scale - economy up to 70% of silicon; very important for the 60 nm technology. In 2008, 30% of food in the USA was exposed to radiation sources (sterilized) to survive at least 10 time more. All tires in the USA also passed radioactive treatment to serve longer.

4. At the meeting on November 11with SLAC Director of Accelerator Research department Dr. Tor Raubenheimer participated also senior ISTC manager Dr. Karen Bunyatov and academician Robert Avagyan from YerPhI.
A.Chilingarian and T.Raubenheimer informed each other on the institutions projects connected with applications of the accelerator technologies in medical diagnostics and treatment. A mutual interest was expressed in high current and compact linear proton accelerators (LINACs) in the energy range of 30-40 MeV. The proton therapy is not convenient because the present very large facilities are very inconvenient for the patients are treatment. New compact LINACs are under design now in SLAC to overcome these difficulties. Robert Avakyan informed about the project of generating the  Te for PET diagnostics, now under test at YerPhI and about new possibilities of Te isolation now under investigation in his group. Karen Buniatov expressed interest of ISTC in the YerPhI sustainability plan that’s major part is development of the accelerator applied technologies. Both sides stated interest in collaboration and decided to prepare a memorandum of understanding (MOU). The same day Armenian delegation visited new SLAC facility


Figure 2.  Karen Bunyatov and Robert Avagyan are preparing to visit the LCLS



Figure 3. The 12 GeV electron accelerator of the LCLS

The Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) provides the world's brightest, shortest pulses of laser X-rays for various fundamental and applied studies. It will give scientists an unprecedented tool for studying and understanding the arrangement of atoms in semiconductors, ceramics, polymers, catalysts, plastics, and biological molecules, with wide-ranging impact on advanced research in other fields.

The LCLS X-ray beam is brighter than any other human-made source of short-pulse, hard X-rays. Initial tests produced laser light with a wavelength of 1.5 Angstroms, or 0.15 nanometers—the shortest-wavelength, highest-energy X-rays ever created by any laser. To generate that light, the team had to align the electron beam with extreme precision of  5 micrometers per 5 meters.

Unlike conventional lasers, which use mirrored cavities to amplify light, the LCLS is a free-electron laser, creating light using free-flying electrons in a vacuum. The LCLS uses the final third of SLAC's two-mile linear accelerator to drive electrons to high energy and through an array of "undulator" magnets (33 Wiglers, only 12 used)  that steer the electrons rapidly back and forth, generating a brilliant beam of coherent X-rays.

5. On November 10 I held a seminar for the Stanford/KAvli particle astrophysics group on the recent discovery of powerful electron accelerator operated in lower atmosphere, named “Thunderstorm Correlated Fluxes of electrons, Gammas and Neutrons Observed at Mountain Altitude”. The same seminar was given also for the solar physics group of the Lockheed Martin's Advanced Technology Center in Palo Alto.