References - Bogoliubov Laboratory of Theoretical Physics - JINR

WELCOME ADDRESS
Alexei Sissakian
Director, JINR
Dear Colleagues,
To the great sorrow of all us, the co-chair of this workshop, Jan Nassalski, suddenly
passed away this August. I would like to ask to honor his memory by a minute of silence...
Jan was will be remembered by many of his friends and colleagues in Dubna, The special
talk about him will be delivered by Andrzej Sandacz in a few minutes. Jan played a very
important role as a Chairman of the PAC in Particle Physics and last years he payed a lot
of attention to the expertize of the project NICA, the main domestic particle experiment,
which will also be discussed at this conference. I will say a few introductory words about
it.
JINR has a long lasting traditions of experimental and theoretical studies of spin
phenomena. Back in 1981, the first workshop in high energy spin physics was organized
in Dubna by Lev Iosifovich Lapidus. These meetings became regular due to the initiative
of Anatoly Vasilevich Efremov, their chairman for many years. Last meetings were cochaired
by him together with Jan Nasslaski.
The current workshop is taking place in the important period of development of particle
physics at JINR related to NICA accelerator complex based on the existing Nuclotron
facility.
The main physical goal of NICA is a study of dense QCD matter. The investigation of
its important properties, like critical point and mixed phase, do not require very large energies
and are suitable just for NICA energy range. The NICA program is complementary
to the program of FAIR@GSI.
Another important direction of experiments at NICA is represented by Spin Physics
which will be achieved by exploration of polarized deuteron and proton beams and construction
of the second detector purposed on Spin Physics. The main goals is the study
of Single Spin Asymmetries in Drell-Yan processes and investigation of new distribution
functions. At the same time, we plan also study spin asymmetries in the production of
heavy quarkonia, spin-related signals in heavy ion collisions and, in particular asymmetries
in elastic scattering (Krisch effect)
It is a pleasure for me to congratulate Alan Krisch, who is with us today, with his 70th
Birthday, and to wish him a good health and many years of successful scientific activity.
Alan is known as a brilliant experimentalist, key figure in the development of high energy
spin physics, and also as a person who always supported Russian science and scientists,
in particular, in their most difficult years. We hope that his fruitful collaboration with
our good friends and colleagues in Protvino, and now also with NICA physicists, will last
for many years.
Welcome to Dubna and JINR! The Workshop is opened!
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