History Chapters of Nuclear Research in Soviet Georgia

The history of development of nuclear physics as a scientific discipline started at the end of the World War II, in Soviet Georgia, in 1945. The course of events involved the emergence of several large scientific centres. The given paper aims to present an indepth description of how these research centers were established and provide an insight into their operational peculiarities. The paper attempts to evaluate the role and importance of nuclear research conducted in Soviet Georgia through research and analyses of the following issues: specifics of nuclear sector management and decision-making practice; achievements and development prospects at nuclear scientific facilities; cooperation between nuclear scientific centres in the USSR and international cooperation. Ultimately, the paper helps better understand – on the basis of the Georgian case analysis – how science in general, and nuclear physics in particular, was organised, planned and administered in the USSR. The analysis of the nuclear physics development in Soviet Georgia brought forward some of the interesting findings that are open to follow-up discussions and research. First of all, the paper shows that scientists and engineers of nuclear research programs, had very limited, if any, access to the information regarding the general nuclear programs they were involved in. The paper provides overall picture of the level of secrecy in nuclear research facilities and its influence over specifics of the nuclear sector management and decision-making. Secondly, paper makes clear that scientists did not participate in a long-term research plans development. The paper suggests that such practice aimed at limiting independence of scientists and establishing strict control over the scientific career service in SU. In addition, material and technical resources of nuclear research facilities were under tight control and supervision of the CPCC, while the access to wide scale financial sources of nuclear research were closely linked to the Soviet military-industrial complex. The paper shows how Georgian scientists attempted to enlarge their research agenda and draw the central government’s attention to their work by carrying out rather risky experiments.