Physics welcomes Prof Selyshchev

Since the money for this position comes from the NRF within the so called SARChI programme, his main focus will be on research and supervision of postgraduate students.

Prof Selyshchev completed his PhD in theoretical physics at the Kiev Institute for Nuclear Research (Taras Shevchenko Kyiv University). The title of his thesis was, “The nonlinear couplings and external fluctuations in self-organization of radiation defect structures”. He joined the Physics Department of the University as an engineer in 1981 and became Professor in 2002.

Prof Selyshchev developed and taught many courses, including Self-organization of non-equilibrium systems, Materials for nuclear reactors, Theory of solids under irradiation, Synergism of phenomena in materials under irradiation, Simulation of radiation damage and New problems in physics. He published more than 200 scientific papers and several monographs. Prof Selyshchev was also involved as a theoretician in the development of post-Chernobyl strategies.

P.A. Selyshchev’s specialisation is in theoretical physics, specifically complex non-linear systems and their evolution. He focuses on kinetic non-linear processes in materials under irradiation and has developed a theoretical approach to the self-organization phenomena in irradiated materials.

 His research foci are: temporal and spatial self-organization of defect density under irradiation, dimensional changes in irradiated materials as dissipative structures and different kinds of interactions as the mechanisms of dissipative structure formation (e.g. force interaction between defects, thermo-concentration and thermo-elastic interdependence). The main focus of these research activities is using nonlinear feedbacks between elements of microstructure and selecting suitable irradiation conditions for renovation of structural characteristics by means of irradiation (for example, radiation induced annealing). The goal is to explore and to select optimal conditions for minimization of radiation damage and negative influence of irradiation (e.g. minimization of creep and swelling).