February 8, 2022
On January 11, 2021, at the age of 61, Director of CANDLE SRI, prof. Vasili Tsakanov passed away.
V. Tsakanov began his scientific career at Yerevan Physics Institute in 1981 after graduating from Rostov State University. Under his scientific leadership, a new CANDLE third-generation synchrotron light facility project in Armenia was developed and eventually a great philanthropist Mr. Jirair Hovnanian founded CANDLE Institute in 2002.
In 2012-2015 prof. Tsakanov led the construction of AREAL laser driven RF gun-based electron linear accelerator at CANDLE for experimental research in the fields of advanced accelerator concepts and ultrafast sciences.
Prof. Tsakanov made every effort to establish close cooperation between Armenian and foreign research centers due to his high reputation in scientific community and exceptional merits.
In memory of Vasili Tsakanov an event was organized at CANDLE Institute on 13 January 2022, with invited colleagues, friends, and CANDLE Institute staff who had come a long way with him. During the event, the history of CANDLE Institute establishment, the letters sent by the leads of international organizations, and video messages prepared by a number of young scientists were presented. The guests of the event shared their memories as well.
Golos Armenii newspaper made a reference to V. Tsakanov’s scientific journey, as well as, the current director of CANDLE Institute, Bagrat Grigoryan, shared his memories and talked about future plans of the Institute.