Setting up of an Italian-Slovenian research network for the study of nanostructured materials and the exploitation of synchrotron radiation.
The project’s objective is the setting up of a research network involving ths Slovenian partners in the use of the research facilities at the TASC-INFM laboratory in Basovizza; for example, the working out of new materials, nanostructures, and the use of beamlines at Elettra Synchrotron. These infrastructures, highly advanced at an international level, are already used by researchers of all countries, but are still underutilized by the Slovenian scientific community. Elettra is a last-generation synchrotron radiation source: thanks to its features, it is a crucial tool for the advanced experimental study of innovative materials - even materials structured at the nanometric level. The TASC-INFM laboratory is also equipped for the development of innovative materials by means of the molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) technique and for the manifacturing of electronic and photonic products. Other advanced techniques are available for the analysis of the electronic, structural and morphological properties of the materials. The initiative aims both at informing senior Slovenian researchers about the opportunities available in the field of materials analysis, and at training a new generation of young Slovenian researchers in the use of these experimental techniques, which have a very high technological impact. The group formed by these researchers will later be able to widen the number of cross-border users. In the end, a computer network will be developed, in order to exchange scientific programmes and data and to disseminate scientific and technical knowledge among the partners involved and other regional bodies. To this end, meetings/symposiums and workshops are organized for scientific updating.