Administration
Scientific Counsil
How to reach us
History in short
Elevter Andronikashvili
News
Photo Gallery
Research Topics
Ongoing Grant
     Projects

Publications
Real Crystal Physics
   - Equipment and Parameters
   - Researche
Low-Temperature Physics
   - Equipment and Parameters
   - Researche
Magnetic Systems Physics
   - Equipment and Parameters
   - Researche
Chemical Technology
   - Researche
   - Researche

          

DEPARTMENT OF CONDENSED MATTER
PHYSICS

Real Crystal Physics


     The Head of Group
Dr.Vakhtang Kvachadze, DrSc
     Tel: +(995 32) 239 79 24
     E-mail: vkvachadze@aiphysics.ge
                    vkvachadze@yahoo.com

Mail:
Andronikashvili Institute of Physics
Plasma Physics Department
6, Tamarashvili St., 0177 Tbilisi
Georgia
Researche Focus

A group of real crystal physics is the successor of solid-state physics department established from the very first days of foundation of the Institute of Physics. The nuclear reactor of Georgia (built in1959) significantly promoted the intensive development of the department. By 1962, apart from the solid state department there was also the department of low-temperature radiation materials science. Just thanks to these departments, later (in 1973) a board was established at the Academy of Sciences of the USSR studying the problems of solid-state radiation physics (the chairman of the board was E. Andronikashvili, the director of the Institute of Physics), and the function of basic institute was entrusted to the Institute of Physics, Georgian Academy of Sciences.

The department of solid-state physics studied mainly those physical properties of solid-state model systems – ionic crystals – that are especially sensitive to the changes of micro-structure. The goal: determination of the type and the nature of radiation defects, and of their role in formation of modified (new) properties of crystal. Of course, such fundamental research was also of practical interest.

For revealing and investigation of radiation defects, the optical absorption and emission spectra, kinetic phenomena (electric conductivity, low-temperature phonon heat conductivity), dynamic phenomena (IR-spectrophotometry, low-temperature heat capacity), mechanical properties, magnetic resonance (EPR), and the results of electron microscopy were studied.

The original methods have been developed. Among them, the important method is the combined action of different external fields on crystals. A number of new phenomena was observed as a result of combined action of radiation and mechanical fields (within the yield limits) on these crystals. For example, the result unexpected for that time was obtained: under the condition of simultaneous action of ionizing radiation and mechanical stress, with the anisotropic increase of crystal strength its plastic properties are retained and improved, i.e. the effect of plasticization is obtained. Later, just on the basis of this method, the original method of stabilization of unstable anisotropic laser centers at room temperature was developed.

At the department of low-temperature radiation materials science the unique cryo- channels of nuclear reactor were designed and created, in which the irradiation and intra-channel measurements of the studied objects (metals, different alloys) were carried out directly in the core of nuclear reactor in the wide temperature range (10-400 K).

On the initiative of these departments the International Schools were held in solid-state radiation physics (Telavi, October, 1965 and Tbilisi, October, 1973) and the XV All-Union Symposium in crystal luminescence (Tbilisi, November, 1966).