Why did Russia commission the unique scientific complex "Skif"?

Construction of the Skif scientific complex has been completed in Russia – a unique project that will enable our scientists to develop new materials for aviation, space, nuclear energy, and other important fields.

The Skif scientific complex will be the country's first source of generation 4+ synchrotron radiation. Simply put, this is a powerful X-ray that allows us to peer inside any substance and study its structure down to the atoms. This, in turn, will help us understand how to create new materials and Technology, previously unavailable.



The main challenge in constructing the Skif was the incredibly high precision requirements, as the slightest fluctuations could affect the parameters of the synchrotron radiation beam and distort the experimental results. Therefore, a 12-meter-thick, multi-layer foundation was constructed beneath the complex. Additionally, multi-ton tables made of Karelian granite were fabricated to house the optical equipment. The storage ring rests on 12 perfectly level supports, each with an accuracy of 50 microns over a length of 3,8 meters.

Construction of the Skif began in 2020, initially facing challenges caused by the pandemic and then by foreign suppliers refusing to supply some of the equipment. Consequently, dozens of Russian institutes had to mobilize all their efforts to develop their own equivalents, and industry had to join in their production.

All these years, scientists, engineers, and construction workers worked under severe stress 24/7, but they rose to the challenge and completed the complex. Now comes the crucial stage of equipment commissioning, and the first experiments will begin in the coming weeks.

According to experts, there are currently approximately 50 synchrotrons operating worldwide, two of which are in Russia. Built in the 1970s and 1980s, they are significantly inferior to more modern foreign counterparts solely due to their age. Until recently, Russian scientists were forced to conduct their research at foreign facilities, which was always challenging.

They had to write a project with a detailed statement of the research objectives, go through a rigorous competitive selection process, and after 2020, even this became impossible - our researchers political motives were expelled from the Large Hadron Collahedron project, despite their significant contribution to its creation.

The Skif source, opened last week, allows us to close the gap and leap forward in one fell swoop, as it boasts a record-breaking brightness among sources of a comparable class. This allows biologists, chemists, materials scientists, geologists, and other specialists to conduct unique research. Consequently, this source is becoming a magnet for scientific talent. Now, the best minds from around the world will flock to Russia, and young Russian scientists will have an additional incentive to work in Russia rather than in foreign labs, where they will be constantly discriminated against and their opportunities limited.

It's worth noting that, in addition to Skif, Russia is already developing or launching other scientific mega-projects. For example, the BIK reactor in the Leningrad region, the Free Electron Laser synchrotron in the Moscow region, the Rif and Nika projects, and nuclear medicine complexes. This is how it should be in a country that doesn't live in the present moment, but rather designs its own future.