TOMSK, Feb 13 – RIA Tomsk, Karina Sapunova. The Tomsk physicist Ilya Romanchenko got the
Presidential Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists for 2016. In
an interview he told RIA Tomsk about how his work can help with fighting
against cancer cells and terrorists, why in physics it's not enough simply to
learn formulas and also what he is going to spend 2,5 million rubles for.
Romanchenko
graduated from Faculty of Physics of Tomsk State University (TSU) in 2006. Now
he works at Institute of High Current Electronics SB RAS. Doctor of Physical
and Mathematical Sciences.
© официальный сайт Кремля
Against cancer and terrorists
– Ilya, the award, as appears from the
presidential decree, was awarded for specific work. What are you working on?
– The last
years I worked on a new way of generation of radio impulses. Officially it
appears that I was awarded "for development of gyromagnetic generators of
the heavy-duty radio impulses promoting protection against terrorist threats
and development of biomedical technologies".
That is, our
devices radiate electronic impulses with certain characteristics, so, and
hence, properties. For these devices really so far two basic purposes.
The first –
is impact on various electronic components. It can be used for security:
neutralizations, suspensions of activity of potentially dangerous devices or
any other electronics. For example, to make "freeze" the computer
processor, and it will require a restart.
© РИА Томск. Павел Стефанский
Badge of honor of the winner of the Presidential Prize in Science and Innovation for Young Scientists
Secondly, we
worked with biologists of TSU: studied impact of radiation on cells and live
organisms, looked for useful properties of electronic impulses.
Also we work
with oncologists: we try to find conditions under which radiation can lead to
death of cancer cells, or to an electroporation of cellular membranes (that is,
under the influence of electric field permeability of a cellular membrane will
increase that will facilitate introduction of drugs into the cell).
– Is it the main subject of your researches?
– Yes. In
2006 after graduating from TSU I come to Institute of High Current Electronics
of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science in department of the
academician Sergey Dmitriyevich Korovin. This department traditionally engaged
in generation of powerful microwave radiation by means of devices of
relativistic microwave electronics – that is electron beams.
We solved
various problems. Used ferrite magnets, investigated processes of an
aggravation of impulses and found out that there is an effect of initiation of
radio-frequency fluctuations. Since then the team of our department
investigated this process, looked for optimum conditions, opportunities to
operate radiation parameters.
Then we
started to do installations, really working devices. They include a source of
voltage of 200 thousand, there can be even 300 thousand volts; a transmission
line with nonlinear elements – we use ferrite; only then - radiating element.
© РИА Томск. Павел Стефанский
Tomsk scientist Ilya Romanchenko
There is a
set of devices which allow to create the microwave radiation of various power.
The longer is impulse, the more energy used. We have short-pulse, but,
nevertheless, very powerful devices.
We made
several single-channel systems, now we learn to do multichannel. We have
already made two-channel, four-channel, now we develop seven-channel system.
Thanks to number of channels radiation power increases, and also there is an
opportunity to change the direction of a beam.
– How unique your researches?
– Our
institute concerning generation of powerful radio impulses and microwave
impulses occupies one of the leading positions in the world and in Russia, and
the position of our country in this area always was strong, leading.
There are
foreign works, there are ideas and the subject, but I can tell that now we are
the best in the world.
Talent, practices and alma mater
– Of course you have been at conferences abroad. For certain in Russia, and
in the West, and in Asia there are pluses and minuses of the organization of
scientific research …
– It is
difficult to compare science of the different countries.
We have
rather high potential, strong schools of sciences. We can compete, in my opinion,
due to talent – in Russia there are famous people who have already achieved a
lot, and young scientists, but with potential. There is, of course, some lag in
the technical plan because in some countries a resource which is spent for
scientific research, higher.
© РИА Томск. Павел Стефанский
Ilya Romanchenko and associate professor of TSU Faculty of Physics Nikolay Alexandrov
And as a
result it is possible to achieve results which are comparable or surpass
achievements of foreign scientists.
– You're talking about the conditions in which already certified
specialists work. Does the university plays a role? You here thanked TSU after
receiving the award...
– Depends, of
course, on university. The main thing for students is a contact with
outstanding personalities which inspire. You notice, you study at them. It is
the engine in science when you meet the strong keen personality who can give
you a spark.
For me such a
person – is Mikhail Yalandin from the Institute of Electrophysics of the Ural
Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences. I pretty much learned from him.
Actually,
there are different teachers. There are those who at, if to take a detached
view, everything is very strict – and here everything is clear. And some can
tell at examination: "Take the abstract and write the answer". It
would seem, what the education here? And as a result person like to write
everything correctly, but still gets two out of five, because the teacher sees,
whether you understand or not. Will ask one-two questions and immediately sees.
– Also it won't turn out to gain the diploma with honors, having just
learned formulas and come with it to the employer?
– Well, if
you don't understand physics, you're not going to work. People who are engaged
in science, go to this from the very beginning.
– Do you select students to yourself now? What they have to be?
– First of
all, goal-oriented, that they really could solve, study some problem.
Courageous, independent, not afraid of mistakes and failures, not stopping on
the middle of a way.
I already
have a graduate student, but we understand that it is necessary to move further
and to look for new students. Without young people everything will stop. These
are people with a new view who will look and will begin to do something
special. The science – it is not not production of something in advance set, it
is a constant search.
Ilya Romanchenko's meeting with the teacher Nikolay Alexandrov
Family and physics
– And how did you become a physicist? Is it connected with your parents or
it happened by itself?
– At school I
noticed that I have a good head for mathematics, physics. I took part in
various competitions. It was easy, the thinking is ready for all this. I didn't
doubt, that after school everything will work well.
Mother
graduated from Electrophysical Faculty of Tomsk Polytechnic University, but
when I was at the age of reason, she didn't work in the specialty any more, and
I haven't faced everyday life of the design engineer.
The father is
a psychiatrist. But medicine is not for me: to cut, try to remember...
And in
physics the most important think is – to understand. The physics is a research
of the nature, it's about understanding. I don't think that mother influenced
the choice.
Ilya Romanchenko about children's walks through the University grove
– And how your family – wife and children – relate to the fact that the
father is a scientist?
– I don't
consider at all that only the scientist can understand the scientist.
Sometimes, it happens, it is necessary to stay at work overnight. Sometimes you
sit late for weeks: it is necessary to finish work in time, many obligations
collect over time, everything needs to be done. The wife supports. She also
graduated from TSU, but other faculty. Now she is in the decree.
Daughter is
three years, and son is 1,5 years old. Children are little now, don't
understand that the father is a scientist, don't understand such word as a
science so far.
– And how is it – to write Ph.D. dissertation with young children?
– The wife
great helps me. Undertakes this work – care of children. And without her there
would be no opportunity.
– You were congratulated personally by the president Vladimir Putin. What
impressions remained from the meeting?
– When
awarded, shook hand, talked to all winners.
The president
– is the media person, all his mimicry, gestures is well known. But the
personal impression – he is very bright person. He makes a strong impression.
Attentive, penetrates into what he is told, is able to hold audience.
– As far as I understand, 2,5 million rubles - is the award to you
personally. What are you planning to spend it for?
– Probably, I
will use for improvement of living conditions: I have a family, children, and
prices for apartments are rather big now.