Laboratory for Astroparticle Physics and Gamma Astronomy

Scientific results:

• The Laboratory has developed several dozen of new methods for the research of cosmic rays and gamma radiation with ultra-high energy by registering Cherenkov radiation and radio signals from air showers as well as the charged component of air showers. These methods have been implemented for conducting measurements, the processing and analysis of data obtained at the Tunka Center for the Collective Use of Astrophysical Equipment.
• We have accumulated an extensive array of experimental data on cosmic rays, gamma radiation of the Crab nebula and the Tycho Brahe supernova in the ultra-high-energy region, on many transient sources with catastrophic emission of energy etc.
• We have reconstructed the energy spectrum and the mass composition of cosmic rays  with high precision in the  0,1–1000 PeV energy range, studied the process of the formation of gamma bursts and the genesis of kilonovae during neuron star metgers, obtained estimates of the mass and energy of the expelled shell and determined a scenario of of the formation of flashes of a bright red nova etc. These results have been published in 133 academic journals indexed by Web of Science and Scopus, including in such highly-ranked journals as «Nature», «The Astrophysical Journal», «Physics Letters B» and others.
• The Laboratory has completed the first stage of the construction of the TAIGA gamma observatory, which will have the highest sensitivity among similar facilities for the research of natural flows and sources of ultra-high-energy gamma quants and the study of cosmic rays in the energy range from from 0,1 to 1000 PeV. 

Implemented results of research:

• We have developed and launched into operation the first Russian modern atmospheric  Cherenkov telescope pf the TAIGA–IACT facility with a mirror diameter of 4,3 m and a camera consisting of 547 tube photomultipliers that registers images of air showers.
• We have developed low-threshold Cherenkov optical stations of the TAIGA–HiSCORE facility.
• We have developed specialized muon counters of the TAIGA–Muon facility  and tested  in natural conditions.
• The Laboratory has built the Tunka-Grande device based on 380 scintillation counters and launched it in the data accumulation mode. 
• We have created a new scientific device called Tunka-Rex to study cosmic rays by registering radio emissions from air showers. 

Education and career development:

• 8 Candidate of Sciences dissertations have been prepared and defended.
• For 28 postgraduate and undergraduate students of the Laboratory we have organized internships at leading research centers of Russia and the world.
• For 26 young researchers from other organizations we have provided additional training or occupational retraining at the Laboratory.
• Three monographs have been published: «The phenomenon of activity complexes on the Sun», «Satellite decameter-precision radio-probing of ionospheric inhomogeneities», «Mathematical modeling of the characteristics of signal in a disturbed data channel».
• We have developed 26 courses and launched them into the education process, including: «High-energy astrophysics», «Neutrino astrophysics», «Methods of radio-probing of inhomogeneous media», «Solar system physics», «Experimental methods in heliophysics», «External influences on the functioning of electronic systems», «Special problems of space radiophysics».
• 8 textbooks have been developed, including: «Optical methods of observation in astrophysics», «Computer modeling of physical processes», «Molecular physics and thermodynamics».
• We conducted  «The Lake Baikal Three Messenger Conference» (2016).
• We have conducted 6 scientific schools: «International Scientific Baikal Summer School on Physics of Elementary Particles and Astrophysics (2014–2017), «Baltic school of Basic Physics» (2015, 2017). 

Organizational and structural changes: 

On the basis of the Laboratory we have created the Tunka Center for the Collective Use of Astrophysical Equipment with the unique facility «MSU–ISU astrophysical complex for the research of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays and transient phenomena in the near and far space». 

Other results:

The Laboratory significantly contributes to the creation of the deep-sea neutrino telescope «Baikal–GVD» and the Baikal Neutrino Project, we conduct a wide range of interdisciplinary research of processes in the water environment of Lake Baikal, underlying lithosphere, atmosphere and ionosphere.

Collaborations:

• University of Turin (Italy), University of Hamburg, Max Planck Institute (Germany), Institute of Space Science (Romania), Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, N, V. Pushkov  Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere and Radiowave Propagation of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Altay State University (Russia): joint research.
• DESY — Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Institute of Technologies (Germany), Moscow State University, D. V Skobeltsev Research Institute of Nuclear Physics (Russia): joint research, student exchanges.