Georgia

Andronikashvilli Institute of Physics

The Institute was founded in 1951. A research nuclear reactor was put into operation in 1959 (it was shut down in the 90s). The institute specialized in developing an impulse nuclear reactor.

In the Soviet era it employed over 1,000 people on civil and military work. The staff currently consists of about 300 specialists, including over 100 scientists.

Main activity areas:

• Fundamental research in low-temperature processes, study of cosmic rays and elementary particles, radiation material science, plasma physics, and bio-physics;
• Applied physical research, radioecology and pollution monitoring.

The Institute is operating a near-critical assembly with an external neutron source and is planning to develop a new nuclear assembly to replace the shut-down reactor. The new assembly will have enrichment capacity of up to 20% and will be used to manufacture radionuclides, neutron therapy, and ecological research using neutron activation analysis.

The Institute has good relations with international centres, such as CERN in Switzerland, The Joint Institute of Nuclear Research in Russia, Cadarache in France, and other European and American organisations, some of which have signed Agreements on Scientifi c Cooperation and Academic Exchange with the Institute.