The construction of the DC-140 Accelerator Complex finished at the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions. During the facility’s commissioning on 4 August, the first accelerated beam of heavy krypton ions was produced. This became an important milestone in the implementation of JINR’s applied technology development programme.
FLNR started working on DC-140 in 2020. The new facility replaced the U-200 Cyclotron and IC-100 Complex. The accelerator is designed to solve a wide range of fundamental and applied tasks using heavy ion beams. In particular, it will be used for research into solid-state physics, radiation materials science, surface modification of materials, and track membrane production. Another important area of work will be the radiation resistance testing of electronic components and single radiation effect study.
Project implementation required large-scale infrastructure upgrades. New experimental cabins replaced old dismantled equipment in the Building 101 on the FLNR site. Alongside the installation and primary adjustment of the accelerator components, all of the building’s engineering systems were completely modernised.
The construction and installation finished by August 2026, after which specialists began thecomprehensive commissioning process. On 4 August, the first 2.124 MeV accelerated beam of heavy krypton ions (84Kr11+) was successfully extracted at the DC-140.
JINR Director, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Grigory Trubnikov congratulated the team of the Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions on the result achieved. He noted that while developing the DC-140 Accelerator Facility was a complicated, time-consuming process, the outcome fully justified the efforts: “The Institute now owns a unique facility and advanced infrastructure for applied studies, including pavilions, channels, and engineering systems. For many decades to come, this will provide scientists in Dubna and the JINR Member States with broad opportunities for material irradiation and work with ion beams in the interests of various industries”.
The laboratory’s team dedicated the launch of the new accelerator complex to the memory of JINR Vice-Director Sergey Nikolaevich Dmitriev. His significant personal contribution to applied research development laid a solid foundation for the creation of the DC-140.
FLNR JINR expresses its profound gratitude to the management and departments of the Institute for their comprehensive support and well-coordinated joint work in the implementation of this project.
