International Research Centre «Coherent X-ray Optics for "Mega-science" Facilities»

• The Laboratory has developed and optimized systems of beam formation optics: axicons and multi-lens in-line interferometers, beam expanders and collimators, beam filters and diffusers.
• We have developed and optimized systems of optics of beam transportation: diamond optics, 1D and 2D lenses made of aluminum and beryllium, ultra-compact transfocators.
• The Laboratory has developed and optimized X-ray nanooptics systems for high-resolution microscopy. New technologies have been created for production of optics: additive technologies, ion beam lithography and others.
• We have developed and optimized systems of beam and source diagnostics, a complex approach to maximum efficiency transmission of X-ray radiation from a source to research stations while preserving its coherence properties and adaptation of parameters of X-ray radiation to scientific problems.
• Our researchers have developed devices, technologies and enhanced methodologies for research to uncover the potential of high-energy and high-coherence diffraction-limited synchrotron sources of the 4th generation including free electron lasers.

Implemented results of research:

• The Laboratory has tested over 100 components and 11 X-ray optics devices at the SynchrotronLikelaboratory complex of the Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University ass well as synchrotron radiation sources at ESRF (France) and at DESY (Germany).
• In 2015 we delivered the Speckle Suppressor X-ray optics device to ESRF (France). The device suppresses parasitic speckle in the X-ray microscopy scheme. We also delivered an ultra-compact X-ray converter.
• We supplied a mini-transfocator to DESY (Germany)in 2017.
• The Laboratory has completed delivery of an In-line interferometers (variations of chips including experimental prototypes of 100 and, 30-lens, bi-lens, 6-lens and multi-lens in-line interferometers as well as a mirror interferometer).
• We have delivered complex deflecting lenses based on beryllium (Be), aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni).
• We have delivered axicon deflecting optical elements.

Education and career development:

• 3 candidate dissertations have been defended.
• 25 internships at leading research centers of Russia and Europe have been organized. 
• We have conducted the international joint school: «Smart Nanomaterials and X-ray optics 2014. «Modeling, Synthesis and Diagnostics» (2014, 2015, 2016), «Nanocarbon for optics and electronics» (2016), the international workshop «20 years of X-Ray Optics: Conditions and Prospects» (2016), the «30th International School-Symposium on Holography, Coherent Optics and Photonics» (2017), the «International School on XFEL: Science and Instrumentation» (2018), the school-seminar «4th generation sources: optics and applications» (2018)
• The Laboratory developed three teaching methodology complexes for master degree students: «Metrology of X-ray optics» (2014), «Basics of X-ray optics» (2014), «Case study in X-ray optics» (2014).
• The following working programs have been developed: «Experimental methods of micro- and nanostructures» for second-year postgraduate degree students (2016), «Applications of X-ray optics in modern research on mega-science facilities» for master degree students (2017), «X-ray optics: materials and technologies» for master degree students (2017), «Crystallography and diffraction methods in research of structure and properties of materials» for master degree students (2017), «X-ray optics, materials ad technologies» for master degree students (2018), «Basics of coherent X-ray optics for mega-science facilities» for postgraduate degree students (2018).
• The Laboratory has developed the first and the second modules of the online-course «X-ray optics» in collaboration with I. A. Schelokov, candidate of physical and mathematical sciences, research fellow of the Laboratory of X-ray Crystal Optics of the Institute of Microelectronics Technology and High-Purity Materials of the Russian Academy of Sciences located in Chernogolovka.

Organizational and structural changes:

• We have created the research and education center for preparing and conducting synchrotron research called «SynchrotronLIKE». It is used for complex tooling support of education programs, R&D, prototyping and technological works, as well as for metrological provisioning of a wide variety of measurements by means of non-destructive control.
• The Laboratory has obtained 10 Russia patents for useful models, 2 European patents for inventions, registered 4 «know-hows», as well as filed three applications for useful models, in respect of one of which a decision to grant the patent has been made. 
• We have organized 41 expeditions to conduct experiments at leading research centers (ESRF, DESY), include 10 supported applications for conducting experimental sessions.
• A world-class compact innovative research cluster has bee created for further coopeartion with leading international research centers.

Other results:

• Publications by academic staff members are available in Scopus (57), WoS (47) and the core of the Russian Science Citation Index (56).
• 13521 citations of articles by the head of the laboratory between 2014 and 2019 including in Scopus (2695), WoS (2435) and the core of the Russian Science Citation Index (8391)
• 1401 citations of articles by academic staff members including in Scopus (706), WoS (412) the core of the Russian Science Citation Index (283)
• 221 written works (theses, poster presentations, oral presentations) at Russian and international conferences, including 29 invited keynotes by the leading scientist.

Collaborations:

• European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (France), Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (Germany), Berlin Electron Storage Ring Society for Synchrotron Radiation) BESSY (Germany), European X-Ray Free-Electron Laser Facility (Germany); SPring-8 Acceleration Complex (Japan), Advanced Photon Source synchrotron radiation source (USA), Accelerator-synchrotron NSLS-II (USA), Diamond Light Source Acceleration Complex (United Kingdom): joint research, internships and conducting experiment sessions
• A. N. Savchenko Institute of Applied Physical Problems of the Belarus State University (Belarus), Utrecht University (the Netherlands), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norway), Gdańsk University of Technology (Poland), Eindhoven University of Technology (the Netherlands), Kurchatov Institute (Russia), G. I. Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk State University (Russia), Southern Federal University (Russia), Moscow State University (Russia), National University of Science and Technology «MISiS» (Russia): joint research, student exchanges, participation in conferences
• Technological Institute for Superhard and Novel Carbon Materials (Russia), P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia), A. A. Bochvar Russian Scientific Research Institute of Inorganic Materials (Russia), Institute of Microelectronics Technology and High-Purity Materials of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia), A. M. Proknorov Institute of General Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia): joint research, scientific events
• Federal Research Center «Crystallography and photonics» of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia), Komi Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia), A. N. Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia), Joint Institute of Nuclear Research (Russia): collaborative research