Completed projects

COST Action CA17126 "Towards Understanding and Modelling Intense Electronic Excitation" (TUMIEE) Electronic excitation reaching high energy density is central in many different applications, from materials processing to medical treatments. It emerges when intense radiation arising from sources such as lasers, swift ions, or high-flux X-ray or electron pulses interacts with matter. In general, only partial aspects related to the excitation produced by this type of sources are treated. The lack of a systematic methodology to face the simulation of the underlying phenomena makes it essential to involve scientists from different fields, theoreticians, simulators, and experimentalists. A successful methodology will require smart strategies to make existing solutions, which are appropriate within restricted scopes, work together within a multiscale formalism. Further information about the COST Action TUMIEE can be found here.
 

H2020-MSCA-IF Project "Computational characterization of radiosensitising nanoparticles and their properties" (Radio-NP) Coated metal nanoparticles (NPs) in molecular environments are widely studied for applications in nanobiotechnology and nanomedicine. Understanding of the nanoscale phenomena (formation and transport of secondary electrons, free radicals and their chemical interactions) induced by NP irradiation is crucial for enhancing the potential of novel radiotherapy techniques. The Radio-NP project aims at the atomistic computational analysis of (i) structural properties of coated metal NPs in biological environments and (ii) the impact of these properties on the formation and transport of secondary electrons and radicals in the vicinity of NPs irradiated with ions. The realised approach will combine (i) the ab initio framework to evaluate parameters of quantum transformations of system constituent molecules, (ii) classical molecular dynamics (MD) employed in the advanced scientific software MBN Explorer to characterise NPs and study their interaction with molecular media, and (iii) irradiation-driven MD - the novel and unique implementation in MBN Explorer, to model irradiation-induced chemistry in the vicinity of complex NPs.

Further information on the project can be found here.

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 794733

H2020-MSCA-RISE Project "Periodically Bent Crystals for Crystalline Undulators" (PEARL), 2016-2019  
This collaborative project is supported by the European Commission in the frame of the Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) funding scheme in the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions under Horizon 2020. The PEARL project aims at advancing the technologies for manufacturing of high quality periodically bent crystals. Such crystals developed in the course of this project will be utilised for the construction of novel light sources of high-energy (from 100 keV up to GeV range) monochromatic electromagnetic radiation by means of a crystalline undulator. Further information about the PEARL project can be found here.

Advanced Radiotherapy, Generated by Exploiting Nanoprocesses and Technologies (FP7 ITN ARGENT), 2014-2018  
This collaborative project is supported in the frame of the FP7 European Programme. The main objective of this intersectoral and multidisciplinary Initial Training Network (ITN) is to create a new generation of researchers and experts able to create the platform on which next-generation cancer therapy will be built. The consortium aims to train a cohort of 13 PhDs (Early Stage Researchers – ESRs) to subsequently act as leaders and ambassadors in the field. Further information about the ARGENT project can be found here.

FP7 PIRSES-CUTE "Crystalline Undulator: Theory and Experiment"  
The CUTE project aimed to facilitate the collaborative research towards theory, design, manufacture and experimental tests of high-quality periodically bent crystalline structures as well as theoretical and experimental studies of the radiation formed in crystalline undulators. The idea of the crystalline undulator is based on the channeling phenomenon. Its advantage is in extremely strong electrostatic fields inside a crystal which are able to steer the particles much more effectively than even the most advanced superconductive magnets. A crystal with periodically bent crystallographic planes or axes can force particles to move along nearly sinusoidal trajectories and radiate electromagnetic waves in hard X ray and gamma ray frequency range. This opens the prospect of creation of novel light sources that will find their application in technology, medicine and basic sciences: nuclear, solid state and plasma physics, molecular biology, etc.  
Further information about the project can be found here.
 

COST Action "Nanoscale Insights into Ion-Beam Cancer Therapy" (COST Action Nano-IBCT), 2010-2014  
Ion beam therapy offers the possibility of excellent dose localization for treatment of malignant tumours, minimizing radiation damage in normal tissue, while maximizing cell-killing within the tumour. However, the full potential of such therapy can only be realised by better understanding the physical, chemical and biological mechanisms, on a range of time and space scales, that lead to cell death under ion irradiation. The proposed Action therefore aimed to combine, using a multiscale approach, the unique experimental and theoretical expertise available within Europe to acquire greater insight at the nanoscopic and molecular level into radiation damage induced by ion impact.  
Further information about the COST Nano-IBCT action can be found here.
 

Theoretical analysis, design and virtual testing of biocompatibility and mechanical properties of titanium-based nanomaterials (FP7 VINAT), 2011-2014  
This collaborative project was supported in the frame of the FP7 European Programme. The goal of this project was to develop multiscale theoretical models of biocompatible metallic nanomaterials and apply them for the analysis, design and optimization of the materials. The MBN Research team at GU led by Prof.Dr. A.V. Solov'yov was responsible within this project for the modeling of nanoindentation and mechanisms of localized deformation of nanostructured biomaterials.  
Further information about the VINAT project can be found here.
 

FP6 Network of Excellence (FP6 EXCELL), 2005-2010   
The Network of Excellence: to overcome the fragmentation of European research in multifunctional thin films (NoE EXCELL) funded within the Sixth Framework Programme of the European Commision, Brussels aimed at the integration of research efforts in the area of multifunctional films. Duration of this project was 5 years (2005-2010). Partners of the team in this project were

In the course of this project the Virtual Institute of Nano Films (VINF) was created, see http://www.vinf.eu/

FP6 Photon emission in crystalline undulators (FP6 PECU), 2005-2009   
The MBN Research team at GU led by Prof.Dr. A.V.Solov'yov took part and coordinated the collaborative research project entitled 'Photon emission in crystalline undulators' funded within the Sixth Framework Programme of the European Commision, Brussels. The project was devoted to a theoretical and experimental study of a possibility to create a new, powerful source of high-frequency monochromatic electromagnetic radiation of a free-electron laser (FEL) type formed by a bunch of ultra-relativistic particles channelling through a periodically bent crystal. Two fundamental phenomena were investigated: (1) the undulator radiation by ultra-relativistic positrons during channeling in periodically bent crystals, (2) the lasing effect in such systems. The final goal of our efforts was to construct new sources of monochromatic electromagnetic radiation, a crystalline undulator and a gamma-laser operating in the energy range from X- up to gamma-rays. These energies by far exceed those which are achievable at present or are planned to be achieved by means of conventional undulators and FELs based on the action of a magnetic field. The partners of the group in this project were