History of NCBJ
Before Institute of Nuclear Research (IBJ)
1952
Works on development of a Van de Graaff electrostatic accelerator started in Institute of Experimental Physics (Warsaw University Physics Faculty) under the leadership of Professor A. Sołtan.
1954
Elementary Particle Physics Lab of Polish Academy of Sciences called into being in Warsaw. The Lab's main objective was to design a research nuclear reactor. First in Poland particle accelerators and detectors were developed. Draft design of a research nuclear reactor of power 5 MW was worked out.
IBJ
1955
Institute for Nuclear Research (IBJ) was called into being in Świerk (June 4). Professor Andrzej Sołtan was appointed its first director.
1957
Central Radiation Protection Lab was called into being.
Professor Sołtan resigned from the post of IBJ Director (December 31)
1958
EWA, a reasearch reactor purchased in Soviet Union and installed in Świerk reached critical state. Its initial power 2 MW was later increased up to 10 MW.
30 MeV cyclotron was put into operation in IBJ Bronowice Branch near Cracow.
1960
IBJ Bronowice Branch near Cracow was transformed into an independent Institute of Nuclear Physics (IFJ). Professor Henryk Niewodniczański was appointed IFJ's Director.
1961
LECH, a Van de Graaff electrostatic accelerator was put into operation in Warsaw.
1963
ANNA, an entirely Polish zero-power critical set (100 W power) was put into operation in Świetk.
1964
MARYLA, an entirely Polish zero-power critical set was put into operation in Świerk.
1965
GIER, a large computer delivered by A/S Regnecentralen (a Danish company) was installed in Świerk
1966
A decision was made to construct another entirely Polish research reactor..The reactor was named MARIA after Maria Skłodowska Curie, a great Polish physicists, twice Nobel prize winner in physics (1903) and chemistry (1911).
1970
ANDRZEJ, a proton accelerator was put into operation in Świerk.
1971
LAE 13-9, an electron accelerator was put into operation in the Żerań branch of IBJ.
1973
AGATA, another zero-power critical set was put into operation in Świerk.
CYFRONET, a computer data centre was put into operation in Świerk.
1974
CYBER, a large computer delivered by Control Data (an US company) was installed in Świerk.
The MARIA.research reactor of 30 MW thermal power was put into operation. Production of isotope preparations for nuclear medicine, environment protection and industry is still among major applications of the reactor.
1982
During the martial law perion imposed in Poland (December 13, 1981 - July 22, 1983) IBJ was re-organized on political grounds. About 70 persons - including several scientists of recognized positions - lost their jobs.
1983
IBJ was split into three independent Institutes (on January 1):
- Institute for Nuclear Studies (IPJ) in Świerk
- Institute of Atomic Energy (IEA) in Świerk
- Institute of Nuclear Chemistrry and Technology (IChTJ) in Warsaw.
Institute for Nuclear Studies (IPJ) and Institute of Atomic Energy (IEA)
1985
MARIA reactor was shut down for extensive modernization.
1992
MARIA reactor was re-started
1995
EWA reactor was permanently shut-down.
2002
EWA reactor was decomissioned
2005
POLATOM Sp. z o. o. company was split from POLATOM Isotope Production Centre.
2006
Associate Professor Grzegorz Wrochna was appointed IPJ Director.
The US-financed programme to replace highly-enriched uranium Russian fuel in MARIA reactor with low-enriched uranium fuel started.
2007
POLATOM Radio-Isotope Production Centre merged with IEA. Name of the latter was changed to POLATOM Institute of Atomic Energy (IEA POLATOM) .
National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ)
2011
NCBJ was called into being on September 1 by means of incorporating IEA POLATOM into IPJ. Professor Grzegorz Wrochna was appointed NCBJ Director General.
