Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy

Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy

Sukurta: 16 September 2013

tfai12 A. Goštauto, LT-01108 Vilnius
Tel. 219 3251, fax. 212 5361
E-mail: 
www http://www.tfai.vu.lt

Director - Dr. Habil. Gediminas Juzeliūnas

STAFF

48 research fellows (40 holding research degree), 12 doctoral students.

 

RESEARCH AREAS

Analysis of Atoms, Subatomic Particles or their Ensembles, Complex Systems, Electromagnetic Radiation and Cosmic Objects

DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS MAINTAINED IN 2014

M. Maskoliūnas. Investigation o star forming regions in Cepheus.
P. Rynkun. Development of biorthogonal orbital method and its application in atomic theory.
Š. Masys. Investigation of electronic and crystalline structure of perovskite crystals.

MAIN CONFERENCES ORGANIZED IN 2014

Forum on Astronomy in Lithuania – Meeting of ASTRONET with representatives of the major actors in astronomy in Lithuania,September 18, 2014, Vilnius
Prof. A. Jucys Readings on Modern Atomic Physics, dedicated to the 110th Anniversary, September 11, 2014, Vilnius.

MAIN SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2014

Using data from the 8-m Very Large Telescope in Chile, one of the world’s largest telescopes, together with an international team of astronomers it was suggested that the Milky Way galaxy formed by expanding out from the centre. See more at: http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/gaia-eso-data-show-milky-way-may-have-formed-inside-out-and-provide-new-insight-into-galactic#sthash.vUzl2Kje.dpuf
A new technique has been proposed and analysed for generating a semi-synthetic two-dimensional optical lattice affected by a uniform magnetic field. The method is based on the extension of a one-dimensional optical lattice into an extra dimension involving internal atomic degrees of freedom. The setup reproduces the main features of the magnetic lattice systems, such as the Hofstadter-butterfly spectrum and the chiral edge states of the associated Chern insulating phases.
Multichannel reactions in the four-nucleon system above the breakup threshold initiated by the neutron-3He and proton-3H collisions have been calculated for the first time using realistic nuclear interaction models. The differential Drell-Yan reaction cross sections at the proton-proton collision energy of 8 TeV have been evaluated using data collected with the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) detector at CERN. This will provide useful input to restrict the parton distribution functions in proton.
The multiconfiguration Dirac-Hartree-Fock method is employed to calculate atomic electric dipole moments (EDM) in the ground states of 225Ra, 199Hg, and 171Yb. For the calculations of the matrix elements we extend GRASP2K package. The extension includes programs to evaluate matrix elements of PT-odd electron-nucleus, tensor-pseudotensor and pseudoscalar-scalar interactions, the atomic electric dipole operator, the nuclear Schiff moment, and the interaction of the EDM with nuclear magnetic moments.

ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY

12 A. Goštauto, LT-01108 Vilnius
Tel. 219 32 50, fax 261 53 61
E-mail: grazina.tautvaisiene @ tfai.vu.lt

Head –  Dr. Habil. Gražina Tautvaišienė

STAFF

Chief research fellows: Dr. Habil. G. Tautvaišienė, Dr. K. Černis, Dr. A. Kučinskas, Prof. Emeritus Dr. Habil. V. Straižys, Prof. Dr. Habil. A. Bartkevičius (affiliated), Dr. Habil. K. Zdanavičius (affiliated).
Senior research fellows: Dr. R. Janulis, Dr. A. Kazlauskas, Dr. E. Pakštienė, Dr. J. Zdanavičius.
Research fellows: Dr. Y. Chorniy, Dr. V. Dobrovolskas, Dr. V. Laugalys, Dr. M. Maskoliūnas, Dr. E. Puzeras, Dr. E. Stonkutė.
Junior research fellows: G. Barisevičius (part time), V. Čepas (part-time), A. Černiauskas (part- time), J. Klevas (part-time), Dr. Š. Mikolaitis, K. Milašius (part-time), D. Prakapavičius (part-time), R. Ženovienė.
Doctoral students:  A. Drazdauskas, J. Klevas, M. Macijauskas, K. Milašius.
Lecturer: S. Lovčikas.
Engineers: A. Drazdauskas (part-time), M. Macijauskas (part-time), G. Valiauga.
Technician: V. Bertašius (part-time).
Administrator: V. Kakarienė.
Manager: R. Mikutavičienė.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Galactic structure and chemical evolution
Stellar photometry, stellar classification, multicolour photometric systems
Interstellar reddening and extinction
Chemical analysis of stellar atmospheres, mixing in stellar atmospheres
Stellar asteroseismology
Dynamical phenomena and non-equilibrium radiative transfer in stellar atmospheres
Chemo-dynamical histories of oldest Galactic populations
Search and positional observations of comets, asteroids and near-Earth objects

RESEARCH PROJECTS CARRIED OUT IN 2014

Projects Supported by University Budget

Characteristics of Atmospheric Chemical Composition and Asteroseismic Activity of Stars and Chemical Evolution of Galaxies. Dr. Habil. G. Tautvaišienė. 2011–2015.

Detailed chemical composition of stars in the kinematic Group 2 of the Geneva-Copenhagen survey was determined. We conclude that a gas-rich satellite merger scenario is the most likely explanation of its origin. Its chemical composition is similar to the Galactic thick-disc and might suggest that their formation histories are linked.
Two new light curves of sdOB J23341+4622 were obtained with the Nordic Optical Telescope in La Palma in 2014, and variability of this star was confirmed. The main pulsation frequency is around 7425 Hz and the amplitude of around 4.7 mma.

Main publications:

Ženovienė, R., Tautvaišienė, G., Nordström, B., Stonkutė, E. 2014. Stellar substructures in the solar neighbourhood: II. Abundances of neutron-capture elements in the kinematic Group 2 of the Geneva-Copenhagen survey. Astronomy & Astrophysics, vol. 563, A53, 14 p.

Bergemann, M., Ruchti, G. R., Serenelli, A., Feltzing, S., Alves-Brito, A., Asplund, M., Bensby, T., Gruyters, P., Heiter, U., Hourihane, A., Tautvaišienė, G., and 36 coauthors. 2014. The Gaia-ESO Survey: radial metallicity gradients and age-metallicity relation of stars in the Milky Way disk. Astronomy & Astrophysics, vol. 565, 89, 11 p.

Magrini, L., Randich, S., Romano, D., Friel, E., Bragaglia, A., Smiljanic, R., Jacobson, H., Vallenari, A., Tosi, M., Spina, L., Tautvaišienė, G., and 41 coauthors. 2014. The Gaia-ESO survey: abundance ratios in the inner-disk open clusters Trumpler 20, NGC 4815, NGC 6705. Astronomy & Astrophysics, vol. 563, 44, 14 p.

Star Formation and Dust Clouds in the Orion and Perseus Arms of the Galaxy. Prof. V. Straižys. 2011–2015.

Interstellar extinction in the direction of dark clouds TGU H466 (Cygnus OB1 association), TGU H645 (the young open cluster NGC 7129 in Cepheus), and TGU H 1036 (the dust ring at the Camelopardalis and Perseus border) was investigated using 2190 stars observed in the seven-colour Vilnius system and the 2MASS and Spitzer infrared photometric systems. Spectral and luminosity classes, interstellar reddenings and distances were determined. A new method for the identification of red clump giants in the Spitzer system was proposed.

Main publications:

Straižys, V., Maskoliūnas, M., Boyle, R. P., Zdanavičius, K., Zdanavičius, J., Laugalys, V., Kazlauskas, A. 2014. The open cluster NGC 7142: interstellar extinction, distance and age. MNRAS 437, 1628.

Straižys, V., Maskoliūnas, M., Boyle, R.P., Prada, Moroni P.G., Tognelli, E., Zdanavičius, K., Zdanavičius, J., Laugalys, V., Kazlauskas, A. 2014. The distance to the young cluster NGC 7129 and its age. MNRAS 438, 1848.

Straižys, V., Milašius, K., Boyle, R.P., Vrba, F.J., Munari U., Walborn, N.R., Černis, K., Kazlauskas, A., Zdanavičius, K., Janusz, R., Zdanavičius, J., Laugalys, V. 2014. The enigma of the open cluster M29 (NGC 6913) solved. Astronomical Journal, vol. 148, 89.

Positional Astrometry of Unusual Asteroids and Comets. Dr. K. Černis. 2011–2015.

Seven new asteroids have been discovered. The asteroid 2014 CB14 is the so-called Near Earth Object, its diameter is 250 m, rotational period around the Sun P=2.46 years, it can approach the Earth to the distance of 0.15 AU. New orbits were determined for our earlier discovered objects such as Kuiper belt object 2012 BX85, NEO Amor type 2012 XH16, and Centaur 2012 VU85. A diameter of Centaur 2012 BX85 is about 330 km and P=286 years. Five asteroids were named: Gediminas, Baranauskas, Solheim, Ivanovska, and Jonava.

Main publications:

Wlodarczyk, I., Černis, K., Boyle, R., Laugalys, V. 2014.  Discovery and dynamical  characterization of the Amor-class asteroid 2012 XH16. MNRAS 438, 2621–2633.

Černis, K. 2014. Astrometric observations of 40 asteroids (205 positions) in Moletai Astronomical Observatory (Code 152). M.P.C. 87201–87202 (2014 Mar. 16).

Černis, K., Zdanavičius, J., Zdanavičius, K. 2014. Astrometric observations of 60 asteroids (185 positions) in Moletai Astronomical Observatory (Code 152). M.P.C. 90447 (2014 Nov. 6).

National Research Projects

Research Council of Lithuania. Connections between the Chemical and Dynamical Evolution of Galactic Star Clusters (MIP-065/2013). Dr. A. Kučinskas. 2013–2015.

The aim of this project is to investigate a possible link between stellar dynamical properties and abundances of light chemical elements in the atmospheres of stars belonging to different Galactic globular clusters. Our results show that there are large spreads in the abundances of light chemical elements (O, Na, Mg, Al) in the atmospheres of main sequence and red giant branch stars belonging to Galactic globular cluster 47 Tuc. We also discovered that stars characterized by different chemical composition differ also in their kinematical properties and their spatial distribution.

Main publications:

Kučinskas, A., Dobrovolskas, V., Bonifacio, P. 2014. Galactic globular cluster 47 Tucanae: new ties between the chemical and dynamical evolution of globular clusters?Astronomy &
Astrophysics Letters, 568, L4.

Dobrovolskas, V., Kučinskas, A., Bonifacio, P., Korotin, S. A., Steffen, M., Sbordone, L., Caffau, E., Ludwig, H.-G., Royer, F., Prakapavičius, D. 2014. Abundances of lithium, oxygen, and sodium in the turn-off stars of Galactic globular cluster 47 Tucanae. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 565, A121.

Research Council of Lithuania. Interstellar Extinction in the Selected Dust Clouds and Star-Forming Regions (MIP-061/2013). Dr. V. Laugalys (Dr. A. Kazlauskas since October 2014). 2013–2015.

This research project is accomplished by scientific cooperation of astronomers from ITPA, the SOFIA Science Centre (NASA), and the Vatican Observatory Research Group The main purpose of the investigation is to determine distances and interstellar extinctions of several selected star-forming regions in the Milky Way. The open clusters NGC 7129 and M29 were investigated in 2014. The distances, ages and interstellar extinction of the open clusters NGC 7129 and M29 were determined. The dust ring at the Camelopardalis and Perseus border was studied.

Main publications:

Straižys, V., Maskoliūnas, M., Boyle, R. P., Zdanavičius, K., Zdanavičius, J., Laugalys, V., Kazlauskas, A. 2014. The open cluster NGC 7142: interstellar extinction, distance and age. MNRAS, vol. 437, 1628–1635. 
Straižys, V., Maskoliūnas, M., Boyle, R. P., Prada Moroni, P. G., Tognelli, E., Zdanavičius, K., Zdanavičius, J., Laugalys, V., Kazlauskas, A. 2014. The distance to the young cluster NGC 7129 and its age. MNRAS, vol. 438, 1848–1855.

Straižys, V., Milašius, K., Boyle, R. P., Vrba, F. J., Munari, U., Walborn, N. R., Černis, K., Kazlauskas, A., Zdanavičius, K., Janusz, R., Zdanavičius, J., Laugalys, V. 2014. The enigma of the open cluster M29 (NGC 6913) Solved. AJ, vol. 148, id. 89, 9 p.

International Research Projects

International project co-funded by the Research Council of Lithuania. Convection and Radiation Transfer in the Stellar Atmospheres: Connections between the 3D Hydrodynamical and Non-Local Thermodynamical Equilibrium Effects (TAP LZ 06). Dr. A. Kučinskas. 2013–2014.

The aim of this project is to study the role of convection and non-local thermodynamic equilibrium radiation transfer in the spectral line formation taking place in stellar atmospheres. Our results show that convection plays important role in the formation of OH lines in the atmospheres of extremely metal-poor (EMP) red giant stars. When properly accounting for convection effects, we were able for the first time to bring into the agreement oxygen abundances obtained using forbidden [O I] 630.0 nm line and infrared OH lines obtained in a sample of Galactic EMP red giants.

International programme Gaia-ESO Spectroscopic Survey (ESO project 188.B-3002). Dr. Habil. G. Tautvaišienė. 2012–2016.

Gaia-ESO is a spectroscopic survey, targeting ≥ 105 stars, systematically covering all major components of the Milky Way, from halo to star forming regions, providing the first homogeneous overview of the distributions of kinematics and elemental abundances. The main atmospheric parameters and chemical element abundances for more than two thousands of stars were determined by the Vilnius group during 2014.  

Main publications:

Mikolaitis, Š., Hill, V., Recio-Blanco, A., de Laverny, P., Allende Prieto, C., Kordopatis, G., Tautvaišiene, G., Romano, D., Gilmore, G., Randich, S., and 24 coauthors. 2014. The Gaia-ESO Survey: the chemical structure of the Galactic discs from the first internal data release. Astronomy & Astrophysics, vol. 572, 33–55.

Donati, P., Cantat Gaudin, T., Bragaglia, A., Friel, E., Magrini, L., Smiljanic, R., Vallenari, A., Tosi, M., Sordo, R., Tautvaišienė, G., and 27 coauthors. 2014. The Gaia-ESO Survey: Reevaluation of the parameters of the open cluster Trumpler 20 using photometry and spectroscopy. Astronomy & Astrophysics, vol. 561, 94–108.

Cantat-Gaudin, T., Vallenari, A., Zaggia, S., Bragaglia, A., Sordo, R., Drew, J. E., Eisloeffel, J., Farnhill, H. J., Gonzalez-Solares, E., Greimel, R., and 45 coauthors. 2014. The Gaia-ESO Survey: Stellar content and elemental abundances in the massive cluster NGC 6705. Astronomy & Astrophysics, vol. 569, 17–35.

Long-term international project The Whole Earth Telescope. Dr. R. Janulis, Dr. E. Pakštienė.

In May of 2014 the WET DAMP6 campaign was going on at the Molėtai Observatory. The main target was the pulsating white dwarf GD358. More than 20 observatories around the world participated in these observations.
Observations of cool ZZ Ceti star PG 2303+243 were analysed, pulsations modes were identified and physical parameters such as stellar mass, effective temperature, and hydrogen layer thickness were determined. The star seems to be cooler and has thicker hydrogen layer than it was thought before.

Main publications:

Pakštienė, E., Laugalys, V. Qvam, J., Boyle, R.P. 2014. New analysis of ZZ Ceti star PG2303+243. Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union Symposium Precision Asteroseismology, eds. J.A. Guzik, W.J. Chaplin, G. Handler & A. Pigulski, vol. 301.

International project Kepler Asteroseismic Science Consortium for extended Kepler space mission K2. Dr. E. Pakštienė. 2014–2016.

A space-based photometric light-curve of more than 11.5 days was used for analysis of a cool pulsating white dwarf GD 1212. The light-curve was obtained during engineering test of the two-reaction-wheel-controlled Kepler spacecraft. At least 19 independent pulsation modes, ranging from 828.2–1220.8 s, and at least 17 nonlinear combination frequencies of those independent pulsations were detected.

Main publications:

Hermes, J.J., Charpinet, S., Barclay, T., Pakstiene, E., Mullally, F., Kawaler, S. D., Bloemen, S., Castanheira, B. G., Winget, D.E., Montgomery, M.H., Van Grootel, V., Huber, Daniel, Still, Martin, Howell, Steve B., Caldwell, Douglas A., Haas, M. R., Bryson, S.T. 2014. Precision asteroseismology of the pulsating white dwarf GD 1212 using a two-wheel-controlled Kepler Spacecraft. The Astrophysical Journal, vol. 789 (1), article id. 85.

Long-term international project The European Space Agency Satellite Gaia. Prof. V. Straižys, Dr. Habil. G. Tautvaišienė.

Gaia is a space mission to chart a three-dimensional map of our Galaxy, in the process revealing the composition, formation and evolution of the Galaxy. Gaia will provide positional and radial velocity measurements with the accuracies needed to produce a stereoscopic and kinematic census of about one billion stars in our Galaxy and throughout the Local Group. The Gaia was launched on December 20, 2013. A preparation of computing codes for the automated data analysis was going on at the institute throughout 2014. 

Long-term international project Researchers’ Night 2014: Researchers on and off work. Dr. A. Kazlauskas.

This project was carried out in Lithuania together with sixteen state universities and colleges, two museums and more than 20 private institutions. The main purpose of this project was a meeting of scientists with general public. Such meetings took place on the 26th of September at the Molėtai Astronomical Observatory. The programme included lectures, tours to professional telescopes, stargazing, and science videos. Almost all the staff of the Observatory and several scientists from other departments met with 600 people visiting the Observatory.

MAIN R&D&I (RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION) PARTNERS

Astrophysical Institute Potsdam (Germany)
Copenhagen University (Denmark)
Kiepenheuer Institut fur Sonnenphysik (Germany)
Landessternwarte – Zentrum für Astronomie der Universität Heidelberg (Germany)
Vatican Observatory (USA)

OTHER SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES

Dr. K. Černis –

  • member of the Lithuanian Astronomical Olympiad Council;
  • member of the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

Dr. A. Kučinskas –

  • member of the Board of Directors of the international journal Astronomy and Astrophysics;
  • member of the International Astronomical Union.

Prof. V. Straižys –

  • editor-in-Chief of the international journal Baltic Astronomy;
  • member emeritus of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences;
  • member of the working group on stellar classification of the ESA Gaia project;
  • member of the International Astronomical Union;
  • member of the European Astronomical Society.

Dr. Habil. G. Tautvaišienė –

  • vicepresident of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics;
  • vicepresident of the Lithuanian Physics Society;
  • chair of Astrophysics Commission at the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics;
  • member of the International Astronomical Union (IAU);
  • executive board member of the international ASTRONET project;
  • founding member of the European Astronomical Society;
  • editorial board member of the journal Baltic Astronomy;
  • editor-in-chief of the annual astronomical almanac Lietuvos dangus (Sky of Lithuania);
  • member of the organizing committee of the international conference XXVIII Texas Symposium on Relativistic Astrophysics, December 13–18, 2014, Geneva, Switzerland;
  • member of the organizing committee of the international conference Tools, best practices and methodologies for Technology Transfer — An ASTRONET Workshop, November 24, 2014, Garching, Germany;  
  • member of the organizing committee of the international conference Stellar Atmospheres, June 23–27, 2014, Sankt Petersburg, Russia;
  • member of the organizing committee of the international conference 3rd Baltic Applied Astroinformatics and Space Data Processing, September 22–24, 3014, Tartu, Estonia.

DEPARTMENT OF THE THEORY OF ATOM

12 A. Goštauto, LT-01108 Vilnius
Tel. 219 3270, fax 261 5361
E-mail:

Head – Dr. Valdas Jonauskas

STAFF

Chief research fellows:  Prof. Dr. Habil. P. Bogdanovičius, Prof. Dr. Habil. G. Gaigalas, Prof. Dr.  Habil. R. Karazija (affiliated), Doc. Dr. V. Jonauskas, Dr. A. Kupliauskienė.
Senior research fellows: Dr. R. Karpuškienė, Dr. R. Kisielius,  Dr. S. Kučas, Dr. G. Merkelis, Dr. J. Tamulienė.
Research fellows: Dr. R. Juršėnas, Doc. Dr. A. Kynienė, Dr. A. Momkauskaitė.
Junior research fellows: Dr. Š. Masys, Dr. P. Rynkun, L. Radžiūtė (part-time), A. Alkauskas (part-time till 2014-09-08).
Technicians:  G. Kerevičius (part-time), D. Stonys (part-time).
Doctoral students:  G. Kerevičius, L. Radžiūtė.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Theoretical atomic spectroscopy
Methods of the theory of complex atomic and ionic spectra
Development of quantum many-body theory
Development and application of algorithms and computer programs for plasma physics, astrophysics and other fields
Development of quantum mechanics and quantum electrodynamics for the transitions in atoms, molecules and molecular complexes
Investigation of the processes of interaction of atoms with electrons and radiation
Modelling of contemporary atomic theory problems based on usual and symbolic programming
Investigation of the spectroscopic characteristics of the molecular compounds

RESEARCH PROJECTS CARRIED OUT IN 2014

Projects Supported by University Budget

Investigation of Spectroscopic Characteristics of Heavy and Super-Heavy Chemical Elements. Prof. G. Gaigalas. 2009–2014.

The multiconfiguration Dirac-Hartree-Fock method is employed to calculate atomic electric dipole moments (EDM) in the ground states of 225Ra, 199Hg, and 171Yb. For the calculations, GRASP2K package was extended. The extension includes programs to evaluate matrix elements of PT-odd electron-nucleus tensor-pseudotensor and pseudoscalar-scalar interactions, the atomic electric dipole operator, the nuclear Schiff moment, and the interaction of the EDM with nuclear magnetic moments.

Main publications:

Radžiūtė, L. Gaigalas, G. Jönsson P., Bieroń, J. 2014. Multiconfiguration Dirac-Hartree-Fock calculations of atomic electric dipole moments of 225Ra, 119Hg, and 171Yb. Phys. Rev., A, 90, 012528.

Verdebout, S. Nazé, C. Jönsson, P. Rynkun, P. Godefroid, M. Gaigalas, G. 2014. Hyperfine structure and Lande g(J)-factors for n=2 states in Beryllium-, Carbon-, and Nitrogen-like ions from relativistic configuration interaction calculations. Atomic Data and Nuclear Data Tables, 100, 1111–1155.

Nazé, C., Verdebout, S. Rynkun, P. Gaigalas, G. Godefroid, M. Jönsson, P. 2014. Isotope shifts in Beryllium-, Boron-, Carbon-, and Nitrogen-like ions from relativistic configuration interaction calculations. Atomic Data and Nuclear Data Tables, 100, 1197–1249.

Investigation of the Spectroscopic Characteristics of Complex Atoms and their Derivatives. Dr. A. Kupliauskienė. 2012–2017.

The calculations of electron impact excitations cross sections are performed for the first excited configurations of the W2+, W3+,  W4+,  W5+ and W45+. The energy spectra and radiative transition characteristics of the Rh-like ions were investigated.  Tryptofan fragmentation and N impurities in the nanodiamonds studies were performed. The spectrum of a two-particle spin-orbit coupled Hamiltonian with contact interaction is shown to exist only for zero-valued centre-of-mass momentum.

Main publications:

Juršėnas, R. 2014. A note on the spectrum of a two-particle Rashba Hamiltonian. Acta Physica Polonica, B 45, no. 4, 877.

Bogdanovich, P., Kisielius, R., Stonys, D. 2014. Methods, algorithms and computer codes for calculation of electron-impact excitation parameters. Lithuan. J. Phys., vol. 54, 67.

Tamuliene, J. 2014. Electronic and vibronic spectra of C60 and its ions. Fullerenes, Nanotubes and Carbon Nanostructures, vol. 23, 187–195.

Investigation of Ordered and Unordered Atomic Systems. Dr. V. Jonauskas. 2014–2018.

Photoionization of nitrogen ion which lead to process of Auger cascades was studied. Energy levels of W13+ ion were analysed in Dirac-Fock approach using large basis of interacting configurations. Electron-impact ionization cross sections were calculated for W5+ ion in the Dirac-Fock-Slater approach. The electronic structure of perovskite crystal SrRuO3 has been modelled for its ferromagnetic phase by applying various density functional theory approaches.

Main publications:

Alkauskas, A., Rynkun,  P., Gaigalas, G., Kyniene, A., Kisielius, R., Kučas, S., Masys, Š., Merkelis, G., Jonauskas, V. 2014. Theoretical study of W25+ spectra. J. Phys Conf. Series, 488, 062005.

National Research Projects

Research Council of Lithuania. European Social Fund under the Global Grant measure. Establishing and Development of Atomic Data Base for Astrophysical, Technological and Laboratory Plasma Modelling (VP1-3.1-ŠMM-07-K-02-013). Dr. Habil. P. Bogdanovičius. 2012–2015.

Open-access to the database ADAMANT was established. Spectral parameters of tungsten ions with open 4dN shell and Rh-like ions (Z=61–92) were determined; level energies, radiative transition probabilities, autoionization probabilities, electron-impact excitation and ionization cross-sections and rates for the Cs 5p5nln'l' and Li 1snln'l' configurations were calculated; spectroscopic parameters for the inner n=2 shell excitation of the ions Z=12–30 were prepared for their use in the database.

Main publications:

Kupliauskienė, A., Kerevičius, G. 2014. Theoretical study of the 4p5nln'l' autoionizing states of Rb excited by electron impact. Physics Scripta, vol. 89,  065305.

Kisielius, R., Kulkarni, V. P., Ferland, G. J., Bogdanovich, P. Lykins, M. L. 2014. Atomic data for S II - toward better diagnostic of chemical evolution in high-redshift galaxies. Astroph. J., vol. 780, 76.

Bogdanovich, P., Kisielius, R. 2014. Energy level properties of 4p64d3, 4p64d24f, and 4p54d4 configurations of theW35+ ion. ADNDT 100, 1593–1602.

Research Council of Lithuania. European Social Fund under the Global Grant measure. Investigation of Plasma Spectra of Tungsten Ions (VP1-3.1-ŠMM-07-K-02-015). Dr. V. Jonauskas. 2012–2015.

Electron-impact direct double ionization has been studied as a sequence of two- and three-step processes. Contribution from ionization-ionization, ionization-excitation-ionization, and excitation-ionization-ionization processes has been analysed.  Collisional-radiative modelling for W26+ ion revealed large increase of intensities for forbidden 4f5s-4f2 transitions in 10–30 nm regions. Cascade emission calculations show boost only a few lines in the spectrum.

Main publications:

Alkauskas, A., Rynkun, P.,  Gaigalas, G., Kyniene, A., Kisielius, R., Kučas, S., Masys, Š., Merkelis, G., Jonauskas, V. 2014. Theoretical investigation of spectroscopic properties of W25+. J. Quant. Spectr. Rad. Transf., vol. 136, 108.

Jonauskas, V., Prancikevičius, A., Masys, Š., Kynienė, A. 2014. Electron-impact direct double ionization as a sequence of processes. Phys. Rev., A 89, 052714.

International Research Projects

NSF (USA) project: Collaborative Research: Spectral Diagnostics of Heavy Elements at High Redshift (USA, Lithuania). Dr. R. Kisielius. 2012–2014.

The radiative transition E1, E2, E3, M1, and M2 parameters and effective collision strengths were determined for the Zn II ions. Format for the dataset Stout utilized in the spectra modelling code Cloudy was established and implemented. Spectroscopic data of the ions from Z=3 to Z=15 with the K-shell vacancy were determined and applied in Cloudy code.

Gender Equality Implementation in Research Institutions: Collaborative Approach (GEIRICA) (2013–2015).  Dr. D. Šatkovskienė. Participants Vilnius University, “BASNET Forumas”, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim Norway, University of Liechtenstein, Vaduz, Liechtenstein.
Participation in organizing of the international conference Sustaining gender equality and excellence in research and innovations: a call for structural changes, which will be held on January 15, 2015.

MAIN R&D&I (RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION) PARTNERS

University of Kentucky, Lexington (USA)
University of South Carolina, Columbia (USA)
National Institute of Standards and Technology, (USA)
Materials Science and Applied Mathematics, Malmö University, Malmö (Sweden)

OTHER SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES

Prof. P. Bogdanovičius –

  • head of Lithuanian Physics’ Olympiad Team;
  • Research Award of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences 2013 in the field of physics, http://lma.lt/media/k2/attachments/2013_m_LMP_skirtos_1.pdf;
  • representative of Lithuania in the Management committee of the COST Action  MP1208 “Developing the Physics and the Scientific community for Inertial Confinement Fusion at the time of NIF ignition”.

Prof. G. Gaigalas –

Prof. R. Karazija –

  • editorial board member of the Lithuanian Journal of Physics;
  • member of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences.

Dr. V. Jonauskas –

  • secretary of the Board of the Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy, Vilnius University.

Dr. A. Kynienė –

  • president of the Vilnius City Board of the Physics Teachers’ Association;
  • member of Vilnius City Physics Methodical Board.

Dr. A. Kupliauskienė –

Dr. J. Tamulienė –

  • management committee member of the Lithuanian Physics Society.

DEPARTMENT OF THE THEORY OF NUCLEUS

12 A. Goštauto, LT-01108 Vilnius
Tel. 219 3253, fax 212 5361
E-mail:

Heads – Prof. Dr. Egidijus Norvaišas (till 31.08.2014),
Dr. Arnoldas Deltuva  (from 01.09.2014)

STAFF

Chief research fellows: Dr. A. Deltuva (from 01.09.2014), Habil. Dr. S. Ališauskas (affiliated).
Senior research fellows: Assoc. Prof. Dr. A. Acus, Dr. A. Juodagalvis, Prof.  Dr. E. Norvaišas.
Research fellows: Dr. D. Jurčiukonis, Dr.  K. Tamošiūnas, Dr. V. Šimonis.
Doctoral students: T. Sabonis.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Development of algebraic techniques for nuclear and particle physics
Investigation of symmetries in nuclear and particle physics
Development of topological soliton model
Investigation of electroweak vector bosons in pp collisions
Investigation of scattering processes in few-body nuclear systems
Investigation of quark-gluon plasma dynamics in relativistic heavy ion collisions

RESEARCH PROJECTS CARRIED OUT IN 2014 

Project Supported by University Budget

Research of Subatomic Systems and their Dynamics Applying Algebraic and Topology Methods. Prof. E. Norvaišas. 2011–2015.

The interaction of two axially symmetric hopfions was investigated.  Magnetic moments and partial decay rates of M1 radiative transitions have been calculated for all ground state vector mesons using the modified quark bag model. The neutrino mass spectra in the seesaw extension of the Standard Model neutrino sector were studied.  Neutron-3He scattering above four-nucleon breakup threshold was calculated  using realistic nuclear interaction models.

Main publications:

Acus, A., Norvaišas, E., Shnir, Ya. 2014. Hopfions interaction from the viewpoint of the product ansatz. Phys. Lett. B 733, 15–20.

Deltuva, A., Fonseca, A. C. 2014. Calculation of multichannel reactions in the four-nucleon system above breakup threshold. Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 113, 102502.

Deltuva, A., Fonseca, A. C. 2014. Calculation of  neutron-3He scattering up to 30 MeV. Phys. Rev. C 90, 044002.

International Research Projects

Lithuanian Academy of Sciences. Lithuanian Cooperation with CERN. Dr. A. Juodagalvis, since 2008.

Analysis of the proton-proton collision data recorded with the CERN Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) detector was performed. It was focused on the Drell‑Yan differential cross section in the electron channel at the proton-proton collision energy of 8TeV. The measurement at 8 TeV as well as the ratios of the measurements at 8TeV to 7TeV were summarized in an article submitted to the European Journal of Physics C. The studies of the CMS Hadron Calorimeter calibration using photon and jet event started.

Main publications:

The CMS Collaboration. 2014. Evidence of the direct decay of the 125 GeV Higgs boson to fermions. Nature Phys., vol. 10, 557–560, doi: 10.1038/nphys3005.

The CMS Collaboration. 2014. Constraints on the Higgs boson width from off-shell production and decay to Z-boson pairs. Phys. Lett.,B 736, 64, doi: 10.1016/j.physletb.2014.06.077.

The CMS Collaboration. 2014. Measurement of higher-order harmonic azimuthal anisotropy in PbPb collisions at sqrt(sNN)=2.76 TeV. Phys. Rev., C 89, 044906, doi: 10.1103/PhysRevC.89.044906.

MAIN R&D&I (RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION) PARTNERS

Department of Mathematics, University of York (UK)
Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (Dubna, Russia) 
Nuclear Physics Centre at Lisbon University (Portugal)
Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana (USA)
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska (USA)
Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas (USA)
European Organization for Nuclear Research CERN (Switzerland)

OTHER SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES

Prof. E. Norvaišas –

  • Coordinator for Lithuania of  COST Action: MP 1006 Fundamental Problems in Quantum Physics. 2011 - 2015.

Dr. A. Juodagalvis –

  • contact person for the calibration using photon+jet events at the CERN CMS Hadron Calorimeter DPG (since 2014).

DEPARTMENT OF THE THEORY OF PROCESSES AND STRUCTURES

12 A. Goštauto, LT-01108 Vilnius
Tel. 219 3254, fax 212 5361
E-mail:

Head - Prof. Dr. Habil. Bronislovas Kaulakys

STAFF

Chief researchers: Prof. Dr. Habil. B. Kaulakys, Dr. Habil. G. Juzeliūnas, Dr. V. Gontis, Prof. Dr. E. Anisimovas (part-time),  Prof. Dr. Habil. A. Matulis (part-time).
Senior researchers: Dr. Habil. V. Gineitytė (part time), Dr. J. Ruseckas, Doc. Dr. D. Šatkovskienė (affiliated), Dr. A. Vektarienė, Dr. G. Vektaris.  
Researchers: Dr. M. Alaburda (part-time), Dr. A. Mekys (part-time), Dr. V. Kudriašovas (part-time), Dr. Novičenko (part-time).  
Postdoctoral researchers: Dr. R. Juršėnas.
Junior researchers: A. Kononovičius (part-time).
Engineers: T. Andrijauskas (part-time).
Specialist: M. Račiūnas.
Doctoral students: T. Andrijauskas, H. R. Hamedi, V. Juknevičius, R. Kazakevičius, A. Kononovičius.
Technicians: R. Kazakevičius (part-time), G. Žlabys.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Quantum optics and ultra-cold atoms
Bose-Einstein condensates
Condensed matter systems
Quantum chemistry
Spectroscopy, phase transitions
Condensed molecular structures
Econophysics and physics of finance
Fluctuations and noise, theory of 1/f noise

RESEARCH PROJECTS CARRIED OUT IN 2014

Projects Supported by University Budget

Optical and Kinetic Properties of Cold Atoms and Condensed Molecular Structures. Habil. Dr. G. Juzeliūnas, 2011–2015.

A new technique has been proposed and analysed for generating a semi-synthetic two-dimensional optical lattice affected by a uniform magnetic field. The method is based on the extension of a one-dimensional optical lattice into an extra dimension involving internal atomic degrees of freedom. The setup reproduces the main features of the magnetic lattice systems, such as the Hofstadter-butterfly spectrum and the chiral edge states of the associated Chern insulating phases. The reductive cyclization process of benzodiazepinones was confirmed by means of quantum-chemical calculations.

Main publications:

Celi, A., Massignan, P., Ruseckas, J., Goldman, N., Spielman, I. B., Juzeliūnas, G., Lewenstein, M. 2014. Synthetic gauge fields in synthetic dimensions. Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 112, 043001.

Janciene, R., Mikulskiene, G., Javorskis, T., Vektariene, A., Vektaris, G., Kosychova, L. 2014. Dihydroquinazolino[3,2-a][1,5]benzodiazepines: synthesis and computational study of reductive N-Heterocyclization of N-(2-Nitrobenzoyl)-1,5-benzodiazepin-2-ones. Journal of Heterocyclic Chemistry, doi: 10.1002/jhet.2038.

Theory and Applications of Processes in Complex Systems. Prof. B. Kaulakys. 2011–2015.

It is shown that a possible reason for appears 1/f noise is the scaling properties of signals generated by stochastic differential equations (SDEs) or consisting from pulses. SDEs driven by the Levy stable noise instead of the Gaussian noise yielding 1/f noise, a simple model reproducing continuous transition from extensive to non-extensive statistics and agent-based treatment of the financial markets, building bridges between microscopic and macroscopic phenomenological modelling are presented and analysed. It is shown that even the small number of the controlled agents might be enough to control the behaviour of a very large system.

Main publications:

Ruseckas J., Kaulakys B. 2014. Scaling properties of signals as origin of 1/f noise. J. Stat. Mech., P06005.
Kononovicius A., Ruseckas J. 2014. Continuous transition from the extensive to the non-extensive statistics in an agent-based herding model. Eur. Phys. J., B 87, 169.

Gontis V., Kononovičius A. 2014. Consentaneous agent-based and stochastic model of the financial markers. PLoS ONE, vol. 9(7), e102201.

National Research Projects

Research Council of Lithuania. Topological Phenomena in Cold Atom and Condensed Matter Systems (Project VP1-3.1-ŠMM-07-K-02-046, Global grant). Prof. E. Anisimovas. 2012–2015.

A scheme has been explored to realize the Chern insulating phases for ultracold atoms trapped in a state-dependent combined hexagonal-triangular optical lattice subjected to the laser-assisted tunnelling. Topological bands were found to emerge when adding an auxiliary triangular lattice. This perturbs the lattice structure, effectively turning it at low energies into a Haldane model: a two-dimensional honeycomb lattice breaking the time-reversal symmetry.

Main publications:

Anisimovas, E., Gerbier, F., Andrijauskas, T., Goldman, N. 2014. Design of laser-coupled honeycomb optical lattices supporting Chern insulators. Phys. Rev., A 89, 013632.

Research Council of Lithuania. Engineering and Control of Artificial Magnetic Field and Spin-Orbit Coupling for Ultracold Atoms (No. MIP-82/2012). Dr. Habil. G. Juzeliūnas. 2012–2014.

The ground-state structure has been explored for an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) subjected to the position-dependent spin-orbit coupling. Such a spin-orbit coupled BEC separates into domains, each of which exhibiting density modulations - stripes - aligned along the x or y direction. When the stripes are mismatched at domain boundaries, non-trivial stable topological structures are formed at the interface, including topological defects and arrays of vortices and anti-vortices.

Main publications:

Goldman, N., Juzeliūnas, G., Öhberg P., Spielman, I. B. 2014. Light-induced gauge fields for ultracold atoms. Rep. Prog. Phys., vol. 77, 126401.

Research Council of Lithuania. Coherent Manipulation of Matter by Light and Light by Matter (TAP-LLT-01/2012). Dr. Habil.  G. Juzeliūnas. 2012–2014.

Two-component slow light has been experimentally demonstrated for the first time using a double-tripod atom–light coupling scheme. Oscillations due to interaction between the two components of the light was observed and theoretically explained. It was demonstrated a possible application of the double-tripod scheme as quantum memory/rotator for a two-colour qubit. Additionally, formation of a two-component light with superluminal group velocity was theoretically investigated in a medium controlled by four Raman pump fields.

Main publications:

Lee, M.-J., Ruseckas, J., Lee, Ch.-Y., Kudriašov, V., Chang, K.-F., Cho, H.-W., Juzeliūnas, G.,Yu, I. A. 2014. Experimental demonstration of spinor slow light. Nat. Commun., vol. 5, 5542.

Kudriašov, V., Ruseckas, J., Mekys, A., Ekers, A., Bezuglov, N., Juzeliūnas, G. 2014. Superluminal two-colour light in a multiple Raman gain medium. Phys. Rev., vol. A 90, 033827.

Postdoctoral Fellowship Implementation in Lithuania under the Program of Human Resources Development Action Plan Spin-Orbit Coupling in Ultracold Atomic Gases (No. VP1-3.1-SMM-392 01-V-02-004). G. Juzeliūnas. 2012–2014.

Spectral properties of a class of spin-orbit Hamiltonians have been considered from the theoretical point of view. Both the single- and the two-particle quantum mechanical systems have been treated for different types of spin-orbit coupling, including the effect due to Zeeman field. A new analytic approach for deriving bound states for the three-body system with long-range potentials has been proposed as well, with the perspective to extend the results when the spin-orbit coupling is included.

Main publications:

Juršėnas, R. 2014. A note on the spectrum of a two-particle Rashba Hamiltonian. Acta Physica Polonica, B 45, no. 4, 877.

Juršėnas, R. 2014. On the definite integral of two confluent hypergeometric functions related to the Kampé de Fériet double series. Lithuanian Mathematical Journal, vol 54, no. 1, 61.

International Research Projects

EU FP7 IRSES project: COLIMA - Coherent Manipulation of Light and Matter via Interferences of Laser-dressed States. Dr. Habil. G. Juzeliūnas. 2011–2015.

Jaynes-Cummings dynamics was shown to be observed in a mesoscopic atomic ensemble interacting with a classical electromagnetic field in the regime of the Rydberg blockade. For randomly loaded optical dipole traps, it is predicted collapses and revivals of Rabi oscillations between the ground and excited atomic states. This can be used as a signature of the Rydberg blockade without measuring the exact number of Rydberg atoms.

Main publications:

Beterov, I. I., Andrijauskas, T., Tretyakov, D. B., Entin, V. M., Yakshina, E. A., Ryabtsev, I. I., Bergamini, S. 2014. Jaynes-Cummings dynamics in mesoscopic ensembles of Rydberg-blockaded atoms. Phys. Rev., A 90, 043413.

MAIN R&D&I (RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION) PARTNERS

National Institute of Standards and Technology (USA)
National Tsing Hua University (Taiwan)
Heriot-Watt University (UK)
ICREA and ICFO (Spain)
Leibniz Universität, Hannover (Germany)
University of Latvia, Riga (Latvia)

OTHER SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES

Prof. B. Kaulakys –

  • member of the Institute of Physics (UK);
  • member of the European Physical Society;
  • editorial board member of the Lithuanian Journal of Physics;
  • editorial board member of the journal Nonlinear Analysis. Modelling and Control;
  • vice-president of the Lithuanian Association of Nonlinear Analysts;
  • council member of the Lithuanian Scientific Society;
  • member of the Senate of Vilnius University.

Dr. Habil. G. Juzeliūnas  –

  • member of the Institute of Physics (UK).

Dr. V. Gontis –

  • president of the Lithuanian Scientific Society;
  • director of the Institute of Lithuanian Scientific Society;
  • member of the association Euroscience, http://www.euroscience.org/.

PLANETARIUM

12a Konstitucijos pr., LT-09308 Vilnius
Tel. 272 4177, fax 272 4177
E-mail:

Director – Danutė Sperauskienė

STAFF

Lecturers: E. Dačinskaitė, V. Girdzijauskaitė, D. Sperauskienė.
Engineer: D. Mešalkin.
Booking-clerk:  A. Kvaraciejienė.
Photographer: G. Janavičius (part-time).

International and National Projects

Researchers’ Night 2014: Researchers on and off work (Night2014). D. Sperauskienė, 2014.

This project was carried out in Lithuania together with seven other universities and three scientific institutions. The main action took place on the 26th of September and attracted to Planetarium about 200 visitors. Secrets of the Milky Way, wonders of the Hubble space mission were overviewed and discussed with visitors for about 2 hours.
Another big cycle of lectures Earth and the Universe comprised 56 meetings with the public.
Five events of science festival Spaceship - Earth took place at the Planetarium, which attracted 500 visitors. More than 2000 listeners visited a cycle of science and art concerts Bards in between the Stars comprised of 11 educational concerts.
Altogether about 580 lectures were offered and more than 22 000 people attended Planetarium during 2014.

MAIN R&D&I (RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION) PARTNERS

International Planetarium Society, Greenville (USA)
The Planetary Society, Pasadena (USA)
Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen (Germany)
Lithuanian Centre of Non-formal Youth Education (Lithuania)