Yuri Tsolakovich Oganessian

Scientific Leader of the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions


Academician of the RAS, Professor


A prominent experimental physicist Yu. Ts. Oganessian is widely known for his works in the field of nuclear physics, research on nuclear reactions, experiments on synthesis and investigation of the properties of new elements of D.I.Mendeleev periodic table.

The whole life of Yu. Ts. Oganessian has been closely connected with the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, where he was sent to work after graduating from the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute in 1956. He has made his way from a young engineer, head of the accelerator start-adjusting group, to Director and Scientific Leader of the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions. Here defended his Candidate and Doctor of Science theses, has become Professor and a Full Member of the RAS. He is an author of three discoveries, a monograph, 11 inventions, more than 300 scientific papers.

Yu. Ts. Oganessian has formulated the basic principles of synthesis of transfermium elements in the reactions of cold fusion and, together with his colleagues, conducted fundamental experiments on synthesis of elements with Z = 100–108.
By the decision of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, one of these elements–Element 105–has been named Dubnium. To study superheavy nuclei a programme on synthesis of superheavy isotopes in fusion reactions of 48Ca with actinide targets has been developed, precision experimental setups have been constructed. In 1999–2006 these reactions yielded for the first time elements with Z = 113–116 and 118, whose decay properties provided direct proof of the existence of the ‘island of stability’
for very heavy elements.

The name of Yu. Ts. Oganessian is associated with the development and construction of a few generations of high-current heavy ion accelerators of record parameters (U200, U300, U400, U400M). On the basis of a cyclotron complex and modern experimental setups (kinematic separators, 4π-spectrometers of charged particles, neutrons and γ-quanta), a unique research base has been created, which has ensured leadership of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in a number of fields of research in nuclear physics.

Yu. Ts. Oganessian continues his intensive and fruitful work, retaining leadership in heavy ion physics, establishing efficient cooperation with leading laboratories of Europe, Asia and America. On his initiative and under his direct guidance, a unique accelerator complex is being created in Dubna for experiments with radioactive beams, supermodern experimental facilities are being projected and constructed, perspective research programmes of the world level are being planned and realized.

Yu. Ts. Oganessian pays much attention to introducing achievements of science into practice. Under his guidance, unique high technologies of creating new materials and producing radioisotopes for medicine and ecology have been developed on the basis of the JINR accelerators. As Chairman of the RAS Scientific Council on Applied Nuclear Physics, he co-ordinates applied research at the country´s leading nuclear physics centres.
Yu. Ts. Oganessian gives constant attention to scientific manpower training. He is head of ”Experimental Methods in Nuclear Physics” branch chair of the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute, Chairman of the Dissertation Council in Dubna. There are 6 Doctors of Science and more than 20 Candidates of Science among his disciples, specialists both from Russia and JINR Member States.

Yu. Ts. Oganessian´s scientific work has been marked with the USSR State Prize (1975), the I. V. Kurchatov Prize (USSR AS, 1989), the G. N. Flerov Prize (JINR, 1993), the A. von Humboldt Prize (Germany, 1995), the L. Meitner Prize (European Physical Society, 2000), the MAIK Nauka/Interperiodika Prize (2001), as well as with governmental awards: the Order of the Red Banner of Labour, the Order for Service to the Fatherland fourth degree(1999), the Order for Service to the Fatherland third degree (2003), the Order of Friendship of Peoples. He has been awarded orders and medals of the JINR Member States.

Over many years Yu. Ts. Oganessian has been a member of the editorial boards of the ”Journal of Physics”, ”Nuclear Physics News International”, ”Il Nuovo Cimento”, ”Physics of Elementary Particles and Atomic Nuclei”, ”Particle Accelerators”, as well as a member of the Scientific Councils of GANIL (France) and RIKEN (Japan).

Yu. Ts. Oganessian has been elected a foreign member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (1995), Honorary Doctor of the Goethe University (Frankfurt/Main, Germany, 2002) and the University of Messina (Italy, 2002).

Yu. Ts. Oganessian is a National Award winner 2010

On November 28, 2016 the IUPAC approved the name oganesson, symbol Og for the element 118.

On October 24, 2017 Yu. Ts. Oganessian was awarded the Order “For Merit to the Fatherland”, II class for the significant contributions to the advancement of science, education and qualified specialist training.

On December 28, 2017 a new postage stamp in recognition of Yu.Ts.Oganessian’s contribution to the synthesis of superheavy elements has been issued in Armenia.

On February 27, 2018 Yu. Ts. Oganessian was awarded M.V.Lomonosov Gold Medal of RAS, the Academy’s highest accolade.

June 18, 2019 – “Interviewing Yuri Oganessian” – Rebecca Mileham, an English writer, the author of “Cracking the Elements” book.