The primary activity of the Institute is devoted to both experimental and theoretical research in nuclear physics and related fields. This line of research was initiated by Alexander Szalay (1909-1987) after his return from Cambridge in 1936 , where he was working at Cavendish Laboratory with the Nobel-laureate Ernest Rutherford. Later, in 1954, he became the founding director of ATOMKI.

Today, our activity focuses on both fundamental and applied research, covering a broad range of modern physics: atomic and subatomic physics, materials science, and several other areas employing the techniques of physics research, such as the environmental and biomedical sciences. This multidisciplinarity has been gradually built on the basis of particle accelerators and the associated analytical facilities.

The activity of the research groups of the Institute is well embedded in that of leading international collaboration networks. This is characteristic of all fi elds of fundamental research. Our researchers work at the very frontiers of science. The research infrastructure of Atomki provides a fi rm basis for fundamental and applied experimental work. Some of our attractive research facilities are also popular among external users and collaborators. The Institute typically takes part in multilateral international programmes, intergovernmental and inter-academic bilateral programmes, as well as in informal and ad hoc cooperation agreements with research institutions worldwide.

THE MAIN RESEARCH FIELDS OF ATOMKI ARE AS FOLLOWS:

> Fundamental research in nuclear physics

> Fundamental research in atomic physics

> Particle physics

> Quantum physics

> Applications of nuclear physics and of accelerators

> Applications of atomic and solid state physics, surface science and analysis

> Environmental physics