Two ancient Roman silver coins dating back to the 3rd–4th century AD are studied. A set of modern micro- and nondestructive analytical techniques, namely, a focused ion beam, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis, micro-X-ray fluorescence analysis, neutron-radiation analysis, and other methods is used. Research shows that Ag–Cu and Ag–Cu–Pb–Sn alloys were used, which were common in the prosperous years of the Roman Empire when the Romans produced alloys with a relatively high silver content for both outer layers and the inner core of coins. Surface silvering processes were used in different crisis periods during the reign of Antonine. It is established that even during the crisis, the Romans produced high quality Antoniniani, attempting to improve the silvering procedure using silver amalgam (Hg–Ag). Mercury is detected in the surface silver layer of the coins. A porous morphology of the coin surface is also revealed, which might be the result of an uncontrolled heating process and the removal of mercury through boiling.

When studying the ceramic sculpture (bearded male head) found in the Kerch Bay during underwater excavations of the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the elemental and isotopic composition of a lead excresence on the inner side of the object has been analyzed. The results of the analysis suggest that the lead most likely originates from the Laurion ore deposit in Attica (Greece). The delivery of lead from this region to antique Bosporus (Crimea) in V BC has been confirmed for the first time by analytical methods.

The medieval Russian bronze reliquary cross pendant was investigated using a complex of nondestructive methods in order to determine the degree its integrity and identify the material filling its internal cavity. The metal composition is established. It is found that the cross material was subjected to spatially inhomogeneous corrosion and that the cavity is filled with soil. It is shown that application of complementary nondestructive methods provides the most reliable information on historical heritage objects.

The article presents the main trends in the development of nuclear physics research conducted at the Kurchatov Institute after commissioning of the first pool-type water-water research reactor in 1957 in the Soviet Union.

A Structured Query Language (SQL) relational database has been developed based on the original (n, n′γ) work carried out by A. M. Demidov et al., at the Nuclear Research Institute in Baghdad, Iraq [“Atlas of Gamma-Ray Spectra from the Inelastic Scattering of Reactor Fast Neutrons”, Nuclear Research Institute, Baghdad, Iraq (Moscow, Atomizdat 1978)] for 105 independent measurements comprising 76 elemental samples of natural composition and 29 isotopically-enriched samples. The information from this ATLAS includes: γ-ray energies and intensities; nuclide and level data corresponding to where the γ-ray originated from; target (sample) experimentalmeasurement data. Taken together, this information allows for the extraction of the flux-weighted (n, n′γ) cross sections for a given transition relative to a defined value. Currently, we are using the fast-neutron flux-weighted partial γ-ray cross section from ENDF/B-VII.1 for the production of the 847-keV 21 → 0gs transition in 56Fe, σγ = 468 mb. This value also takes into account contributions to the 847-keV transition following β− decay of 56Mn formed in the 56Fe(n, p) reaction. However, this value can easily be adjusted to accommodate the user preference. The (n, n′γ) data has been compiled into a series of ASCII comma separated value tables and a suite of Python scripts and C modules are provided to build the database. Upon building, the database can then be interacted with directly via the SQLite engine or accessed via the Jupyter Notebook Python-browser interface. Several examples exploiting these utilities are also provided with the complete software package.

By employing a beam of reactor fast neutrons, the spectrum of gamma rays up to an energy of 4.6MeV and their angular distributions with respect to the neutron-beamaxis aremeasured in the reaction 89 Y( n , n 'γ). The multipolarities and multipole-mixture parameters for 34 gamma transitions and the spin–parities J π of states excited in this reaction are determined. The lifetimes of the lowest 32 levels of 89Y were measured by the Doppler shift attenuation method, and the reduced probabilities for the respective gamma transitions were calculated. Levels of the K π = +5/2 + and K π = −7/2 + bands associated with, respectively, prolate and oblate deformation shapes are found in 89 Y at low excitation energies.

By employing a beam of reactor fast neutrons, gamma-ray spectra and angular distributions of gamma rays with respect to the neutron-beam axis were measured in the reaction 164 Dy( n , n ′γ). The scheme of levels and gamma transitions in 164 Dy was composed on the basis of data published earlier and new levels, rotational bands, gamma transitions, and multipole-mixing parameters. It is concluded that the scheme of J = 0–4 levels is complete up to the excitation energy of 1.95 MeV. The commonly accepted rule in constructing K n π = 0 2 + and 1 1 + rotational bands is found to be violated. The nature of the 2 + level at the energy of 1796.68 keV is discussed.

A set of nuclear physics methods was employed to examine Medieval Russia bronze two-part reliquaries recently discovered at unfortified settlements of Suzdal Opolye. Before the reliquaries were restored and opened by methods of synchrotron X-ray and neutron tomography, visual diagnostics of the hidden hollows had been carried out and technological features of the items in question had been identified, including the decoration which is practically gone due to corrosion and a repair through front anchor pin hidden by oxides; an intact relic inside the reliquary was found as well. The neutron and radiation analysis and neutron diffraction provided an opportunity to obtain data on the composition, metal alloys and the relic held in one of the reliquaries. Such data obtained through non-destructive methods help researchers describe religious practices of Medieval Russia Christians from a new angle and identify traces left by medieval craftsmen, protecting cultural heritage artifacts to the maximum extent possible.

The properties of a convergent neutron lens in the form of an assembly of bent glass capillaries have been experimentally investigated. Each capillary is a conical tube with a length of 22.5 cm, an entrance diameter of 0.25 mm, and an exit diameter of 0.17 mm. The spectrum of thermal neutrons incident on the lens entry is formed on the beam of the IR-8 reactor by means of a diamond microcrystalline filter and investigated with a time-of-flight spectrometer. The spatial distribution of the neutron beam at the exit from the lens is measured using the position-sensitive image plate detector. The measured focal length of the lens is 75–80 mm. The possibility of focusing neutrons with an increase in the local beam density at the lens axis by a factor of 4.9 is demonstrated.

Various reasons for the absence of rotational levels for J π K = 0+02 and 2+22 nonrotational states in 164Dy and 166Er are considered. Preference is given to the effect of the excitation of an anharmonic two-phonon state in pair vibrations of the superconducting type.

The spectrum, angular distribution, and linear polarization of gamma rays from the (n, n′γ) reaction on 166Er were measured in a beam of reactor fast neutrons. The known scheme of levels and gamma transitions for this nucleus was supplemented. Previously unknown gamma transitions and levels were found along with their features. The completeness of the scheme of levels whose quantum numbers J π range from 0+ to 4+ and whose excitation energy extends up to 1.9 MeV was established. The absence of rotational levels for the nonrotational states at 1703.11 keV (2+), 1713.42 keV (0+), and 1760.51 keV (4+) was confirmed.