History
The Department of Nuclear Physics at Taras Shevchenko Kyiv State University was established on the initiative of Academician of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, Oleksandr Illiych Leipunsky.
Education in nuclear physics began as early as 1946. In 1947, nine specialists graduated, followed by five in 1948 and three in 1949. Lectures were delivered by staff members of the Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine: M.V. Pasichnyk, T.A. Holoborodko, M.Ye. Hurtovyi, and H.S. Kryshtab. However, in 1949, by order of the Ministry of Higher Education, this work in Kyiv was terminated, and the students were transferred to Kharkiv University “for the purpose of concentrating the training of nuclear physics specialists.” Thus, from 1950, nuclear physics ceased to exist at Kyiv University.
In 1955, the university resumed training students in nuclear physics. Until 1957, the instructors were listed under the Department of Experimental Physics. Some of the training was conducted at the Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (in the third — nuclear — department), and several rooms were allocated for a laboratory in the basement of the university’s main building. Among other equipment, the laboratory housed a 15 MeV betatron and a cloud chamber
By Rector’s Order No. 547 dated May 28, 1957, the Department of Nuclear Physics was officially established. M.V. Pasichnyk was invited to serve as the Head of the Department, with M.Ye. Hurtovyi, A.Ye. Levashov, V.I. Stryzhak, and O.F. Nyemets appointed as lecturers. The design and subsequent construction of the department’s laboratory facilities were also initiated.
At the end of 1960, V.I. Stryzhak was elected Head of the Department and held this position until 1988. In 1962, the department relocated to the newly constructed first section of the laboratory building.
By 1965, construction of the department (second stage) was fully completed (the third stage — a building for the cyclotron — was removed from the plan), and its working area increased to 2,000 square meters. This provided the department with the opportunity to establish a modern scientific and educational infrastructure. After the construction of the Faculty of Physics building was completed in 1973, the department received several more rooms for educational laboratories.
In addition to teaching laboratories, a powerful research base was developed over several years — including a 2.5 MeV electrostatic generator, a 50 MeV betatron (the largest in Ukraine), several custom-built neutron generators, a magnetic beta-spectrometer (also developed at the department), and a large amount of electronic equipment.
A radiochemical laboratory was organized. A separate facility housed a nitrogen liquefaction plant (AJK). A library was established, and a mechanical workshop began operating. By the late 1960s, the department and laboratory staff numbered about 70 people, and with the further expansion of contract-based research, creation of new laboratories, and broadening of specializations, it reached about 90 people by the mid-1980s.
The annual intake for the “Nuclear Physics” specialization was 25 students. In addition to the full-time program, the department also graduated 7–10 students per year from the evening division.
Since 1981, the department has also begun training specialists in nuclear energy.
Since 2000 and to the present day, the Department has been headed by Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Professor I.M. Kadenko.
In April 2002, the Sixth International Forum on Nuclear Safety of VVER and RBMK Reactors was held on the basis of the Department. The Department also organized and conducted nuclear and radiation safety training for specialists from nuclear power plants, the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology (KIPT), and other institutions.
Throughout the years, the Department’s teaching staff has included: O.I. Leipunskyi, M.V. Pasichnyk, V.I. Stryzhak, O.F. Nyemets, M.Ye. Hurtovyi, S.P. Sytko, H.I. Prymenko, H.O. Prokopets, L.S. Sokolov, V.V. Bobyr, B.Yu. Leshchenko, V.S. Olkhovskyi, S.V. Shyrokov, V.Ya. Filimonov, V.M. Kolomiiets, A.V. Nikonov, V.A. Shevchenko, S.M. Yezhov, O.F. Linyov, I.M. Vyshnevskyi, and others.
Currently, the Department is staffed by: I.M. Kadenko (Head of the Department), H.I. Prymenko, B.Yu. Leshchenko, V.A. Shevchenko, Yu.M. Onyshchuk, V.A. Pliuko, O.A. Bezshyiko, R.V. Yermolenko, V.M. Petryshyn, V.V. Tokarevskyi, V.M. Pavlovych, O.K. Terenetskyi, V.M. Puhach, and O.O. Hrytsai.
Address:
Kyiv, Ukraine, 98a Vasylkivska Street
Email:
nphed.knu.ua@gmail.com
Phone:
+38 (044) 259 7533