The European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN) is a very important partner of Riga Technical University, which helps RTU to achieve its strategic goals in science, studies, and innovations, concluded the RTU management team upon its return from Switzerland and this globally influential science center. RTU management had the opportunity to meet with the management of CERN to discuss past and future cooperation, as well as to see firsthand the environment where RTU students and scientists work, participating in the creation of CERN's future accelerators and other internationally important science projects. Meetings with eight RTU doctoral students who study particle physics and accelerator technologies was particularly significant and inspiring.
«The heart of the world's «biggest microscope» - the CERN detector - is being constructed by Latvians!», RTU rector Tālis Juhna expresses his excitement and appreciation after getting acquainted with the work done by RTU scientists and students - safety control systems in the process of development for CERN's new sub-detector. It is already developed by experienced scientists of RTU, as well as doctoral students who study in the joint study program of RTU and the University of Latvia (LU) «Particle Physics and Accelerator Technologies» and develop their dissertations at CERN.
The pool of future scientists from RTU includes both physicists and engineers, who are employees of the Institute of Particle Physics and Accelerator Technologies of the RTU Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry (MLĶF). T.Juhna is pleased with what has been achieved in the three years of the doctoral program - the group of eight RTU doctoral students working in the field of particle physics is the largest group of young fundamental science representatives at CERN compared to other Baltic countries.
In the field of accelerator technology, five more RTU doctoral students are currently studying in the same program. Latvia's status as an associate member of CERN allows doctoral students to work in a world-class laboratory, while not losing ties with Latvia and RTU, thus preventing the drain of «smart brains» from Latvia. Not only Latvian - RTU and LU - but foreign students are also doctoral candidates, thus confirming the high quality and international competitiveness of the study program.
During the visit to CERN, the management team of RTU got acquainted with the work of physicists and engineers, as both are working on the CMS (The Compact Muon Solenoid) experiment, which aims to observe and record new physics phenomena using the Large Hadron Collider.
Engineers are also involved in several very high-level European Union projects, such as I.FAST (Innovation Fostering in Accelerator Science and Technology), which strives to develop innovative accelerator technologies. For the first time in history, scientists from the RTU CERN engineering group, together with international partners, are using additive manufacturing technology, and have printed a prototype of a particle accelerator component in one piece of pure copper with 3D technology, which is intended for use in medicine and industry.
Scientists are also working on the HITRIplus (Heavy Ion Therapy Research Integration plus) project, which aims to develop biophysical and medical research in the treatment of cancer with heavy ion therapy. RTU management was also presented with the progress on the Baltic initiative - the creation of an innovative particle therapy center in the Baltics to treat curable oncological diseases with new methods.
«We are not newcomers to CERN, but rather very serious partners who have been cooperating with this science center for ten years,» said Toms Torims, professor in the Institute of Particle Physics and Accelerator Technology of RTU MLĶF and Latvia's CERN representative. RTU signed a unique contract with CERN back in 2012, before Latvia had started its journey to CERN, thus becoming Latvia's driving force in cooperation with CERN. As a result, since 2021, Latvia has been an associate member of CERN and is currently working to become a full member in the next few years, and RTU's contribution plays a big role in this process.
In addition, T. Juhna appreciates CERN's contribution to the promotion of RTU science, studies, and innovation excellence, which he expressed during a meeting with CERN management representatives. The rector also believes that Latvia's position in science and innovation will be strengthened by Latvia's becoming a full CERN member state, and that RTU is ready to contribute to the field of particle physics and accelerator technology in the future.
«RTU and Latvia have proven themselves as a reliable cooperation partner that does what it promises, and it has built a good reputation,» emphasized T. Torims. Latvia's cooperation with CERN has contributed to the development of the field of particle physics and accelerator technology not only in Latvia, but also on the Baltic scale, and RTU plays one of the leading roles in this cooperation.
The RTU management group's visit to CERN took place on December 7 and 8 and was attended by RTU Rector Tālis Juhna, RTU Council Chairman Andris Vanags, RTU Vice-Rector of Studies Elīna Gaile-Sarkane, RTU Innovation Vice-Rector Liene Briede, along with a representative of the RTU Council and the Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications, researcher Jānis Braunfelds.
