Few institutions in Romania have had such a profound contribution to the development of modern science as the Institute of Atomic Physics (IFA) in Măgurele. Its story begins shortly after the Second World War, at a time when Romanian science was searching for a new direction and researchers dreamed of a center dedicated exclusively to the study of physics. From a small team of enthusiasts to an internationally recognized scientific platform, IFA has become a symbol of progress, intellectual courage, and passion for knowledge.

From a professor’s vision to the birth of an institution

The history of the Institute of Atomic Physics has its roots in 1949, when a group of physicists from the University of Bucharest, under the guidance of Professor Horia Hulubei, had the initiative to establish an institute dedicated to scientific research. 

The idea was revolutionary for that period: instead of having research remain a subsidiary of university activity, they aimed to create an autonomous space where scientists could devote themselves exclusively to experimentation and innovation.

The chosen location for this new institution was the Oteteleșanu Mansion in the commune of Măgurele, an elegant building with a spacious park, situated a few kilometers from Bucharest. It was here, in September 1949, that the activity of the Institute of Physics of the Romanian Academy began, with a small team of about 20 researchers.

From the very beginning, the institute faced serious difficulties. In its first years, its development was delayed by an internal conflict caused by an impostor who, with political support, attempted to take over its leadership. 

Once this obstacle was overcome, the true founders — Horia Hulubei, Șerban Țițeica, and Florin Ciorăscu — laid the foundation for a solid development strategy, building a team of young and dedicated scientists. They understood that, for Romanian science to advance, it needed an elite community capable of rising to the level of the great international research centers.

1956: a turning point and the birth of the Institute of Atomic Physics

After several years of activity under the Romanian Academy, the year 1956 marked a decisive moment in the evolution of Romanian research: the Institute of Physics split into two separate entities.

Thus, the Institute of Atomic Physics (IFA) was established, focusing on nuclear physics research, and the Institute of Physics Bucharest (IFB), specialized in solid-state physics and plasma physics. 

IFA was subordinated to the State Committee for Nuclear Energy, with Horia Hulubei as director, while IFB remained under the Romanian Academy, led by Eugen Bădărău.

IFA continued its scientific activity in Măgurele and soon became one of the most advanced research centers in Eastern Europe. 

In 1957, only one year after its founding, the VVR-S nuclear reactor and the U120 cyclotron, both of Soviet construction, were put into operation. These facilities opened a new era for Romanian physics, enabling complex experimental research.

At Măgurele, the team led by Victor Toma also built the first Romanian electronic computer, a remarkable technological achievement for that time. 

In 1962, the researcher Ion I. Agârbiceanu and his team successfully built the first Romanian laser, strengthening the institute’s position as a center of excellence in nuclear and optical research.

The spectacular development of the institute in the 1960s and 1970s

The 1960s and 1970s represented a period of expansion and consolidation for the Institute of Atomic Physics. Under the leadership of Horia Hulubei and his collaborators, Măgurele became a true hub of Romanian research. Numerous talents in physics and engineering were attracted here, forming an impressive scientific community.

In 1973, IFA was incorporated into a new large-scale national structure — the Central Institute of Physics (ICEFIZ) — a consortium under the State Committee for Nuclear Energy. The purpose of this reorganization was to coordinate all physics-related research activities more efficiently and to unify scientific and technological resources.

At the Măgurele platform, modern laboratories, advanced equipment, and a network of specialized institutes were established. In parallel, new branches and research centers were created in other cities, such as Cluj-Napoca (for isotopic and molecular technologies), Iași (for technical physics), and Râmnicu Vâlcea (for heavy water production research).

Following the ICEFIZ reorganization in 1977, IFA and IFB merged to form the Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering (IFIN), directed by Florin Ciorăscu. This became the main center for nuclear physics and atomic energy research in Romania.

The 1980s crisis and the decline of research

After decades of spectacular development, the 1980s brought a difficult period for Romanian science. The lack of investments, the restrictions imposed by the communist regime, and international isolation led to a severe stagnation of research. Many projects were halted, equipment became outdated, and publishing scientific results became nearly impossible.

The researcher Mircea Oncescu, in a text published in 1990, described this period as one of “scientific misery,” in which scientists were desperate, unable to practice real physics without equipment, without resources, and without freedom of opinion.

This stagnation left deep scars on the scientific community, but the spirit of Măgurele did not fade. Despite the hardships, researchers continued to work, publish, and keep alive the ideal of a free and modern science.

The rebirth after 1990 and the institute’s reorganization

The political changes of 1989 opened a new stage for Romanian research. In January 1990, the Institute of Atomic Physics reemerged as an independent institution with legal personality, by taking over the research units from the former ICEFIZ, following the dissolution of the State Committee for Nuclear Energy.

This was a symbolic rebirth for IFA, which regained its identity and autonomy lost during the years of centralization. In 1996, some of its component institutes became National Institutes for Research and Development, independent entities. 

Among them was IFIN, later renamed the National Institute for Research and Development for Physics and Nuclear Engineering “Horia Hulubei” (IFIN-HH), in honor of its founder.

As Romania gradually integrated into European scientific networks, the Măgurele Platform began to regain its prestige. IFA became a coordinator of national and international research programs, taking part in major projects such as CERN, EURATOM, ITER, and ELI (Extreme Light Infrastructure).

The 2008 reorganization and the new mission of IFA

In December 2008, the Institute of Atomic Physics was reorganized by government decree, receiving an essential role in coordinating and developing physics research in Romania. 

Its new mission was clearly defined: to contribute to the creation and implementation of a coherent and stimulating policy for scientific research and technological development in atomic and subatomic physics.

IFA thus became a strategic institution, responsible not only for conducting its own research but also for supporting other institutes in the field. 

Its main objectives include assessing the national scientific potential and creating a long-term development strategy, promoting international scientific partnerships and representing Romania in major global research organizations such as EURATOM, CERN, ITER, and ELI, initiating and coordinating national and international research and development programs, as well as facilitating knowledge transfer between academia and industry to maximize the use of scientific results in the economy.

Through these efforts, IFA has consolidated its status as a cornerstone of Romanian science, a catalyst for innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The legacy and importance of the Institute of Atomic Physics

Today, the Măgurele Platform is recognized as one of the most important scientific centers in Central and Eastern Europe. 

From here, entire generations of physicists, engineers, mathematicians, and computer scientists have emerged, and the names of its founders — Horia Hulubei, Șerban Țițeica, Florin Ciorăscu, Ion I. Agârbiceanu — remain landmarks of academic excellence.

The Institute of Atomic Physics is not just a scientific institution but an essential part of Romania’s cultural and intellectual identity. 

From the first experiments with the VVR-S nuclear reactor to high-power laser projects, from the pioneers’ computers to modern quantum technologies, IFA has always been a place where knowledge triumphed over limitations and where the passion for science became the driving force of progress.

A story about vision and perseverance

The story of the Institute of Atomic Physics in Măgurele is a lesson on how vision, courage, and perseverance can change a nation’s destiny. Despite political, economic, and technological obstacles, Romanian scientists succeeded in creating a prestigious research center respected internationally.

IFA represents not only laboratories and experiments but a living tradition of excellence — a symbol of the ambition to reach the highest standards of knowledge. In every new generation of researchers who continue their work on the Măgurele Platform lives the spirit of the 1949 pioneers — a spirit that transformed a simple idea into a true school of Romanian science.

Thus, the Institute of Atomic Physics remains not only a monument to the past but also a promise for the future of science in Romania — a future in which knowledge, innovation, and international cooperation continue to stand as the foundations of progress.

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