Introduction

The Bogoliubov Laboratory of Theoretical Physics (BLTP) forms part of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR), an international center of fundamental physics. The Laboratory functions as an independent institute carrying research into various fields of theoretical physics in close contact with the JINR experimental laboratories. This allows much room for interdisciplinary investigations and direct interaction between theorists and experimenters. The main lines of research at BLTP are quantum field theory and elementary particle physics, nuclear physics, condensed matter theory, and modern mathematical physics. The Laboratory has created a unique scientific potential and accumulated invaluable experience in these fields of theoretical physics.

Around ten specialized seminars work on regular basis at which new results of scientists from both BLTP and other research centers of theoretical physics are discussed. The Laboratory maintains and develops the traditions of the famous scientific schools founded by prominent Russian scientists D.I. Blokhintsev, N.N. Bogoliubov, and M.A. Markov, thus creating a fruitful atmosphere for everyday research work.

Much attention is paid to strengthening of international contacts. There is a number of permanent scientific programmes supporting a direct collaboration of Dubna theorists with scientists from Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Poland, Rumania, Slovakia, France, Czechia, the South African Republic, as well as International research centers - CERN (European Union), APCTP (South Korea, and countries of Asia and Pacific region), and KEK (Japan). Traditionally, the Laboratory has lasting scientific contacts with the leading Russian research centres (Institute for High Energy Physics, Alikhanov Institute for Theoretical and Experimental Physics, Landau Institute for Theoretical Physics, Lebedev Physical Institute, Steklov Mathematical Institute, Institute for Nuclear Research, Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics, etc.) and research organizations of the FSU countries.

The Laboratory organizes more than 10 International conferences, workshops, and schools annually. Such a high activity is specified by the necessities of investigations carried out at the Laboratory and reflects in full measure the level of their integration into the world science. The organization of these meetings is made possible by a well-developed infrastructure and stable work of all the services of BLTP and JINR.

An important part of the Laboratory's activities is the education and training of young scientists and students. The Laboratory has established several grants named after famous physicists to support post-graduates and young researchers. A systematic profound training of young scientists from the JINR Member States is carried out within the DIAS-TH project (Dubna International Advanced School on Theoretical Physics) . The BLTP theorists lecture at the JINR University Center International University "Dubna", Moscow State University, Tver' University, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow State Institute of Radioengineering, Electronics, and Automation and other institutes.

Main directions of research in 2005-2008

Representitative collections of mini-articles and lists of publications for the years 2005-2006 and  2007-2008 are given separately. Detailed description of the scientific program of BLTP is given in the section "Theoretical Physics" of the Topical Plan for JINR Research and International Cooperation available at the JINR's Internet site. In 2005-2006 and 2007-2008 studies were carried out on the following five themes: Fields and Particles, Modern Mathematical Physics, Nuclear Theory, Theory of Condensed Matter, and Dubna International Advanced School on Theoretical Physics (DIAS-TH). Important components of BLTP’s activities are theoretical support of experimental research to be carried out with JINR’s participation and recruiting of young researchers, students, and post-graduate students to the Laboratory.

Fields and Particles. Theoretical investigations were continued in the framework of the following projects:
• Standard Model and Its Extensions;
• QCD Parton Distributions for Modern and Future Colliders;
• Physics of Heavy and Exotic Hadrons;
• Mixed Phase in Heavy-Ion Collisions.

Nuclear Theory. Investigations within the area “Nuclear Theory” were carried out in accordance with the four projects:
• Nuclear Structure Far from the Valley of Stability;
• Nucleus-Nucleus Interactions and Nuclear Properties at Low Excitation Energies;
• Exotic Few-Body Systems;
• Nuclear Structure and Dynamics at Relativistic Energies.

Theory of Condensed Matter. Theoretical investigations in the Theory of Condensed Matter were continued in the framework of the following projects:
• Physical properties of complex materials and nanostructures;
• Mathematical problems of many-particle systems.

Modern Mathematical Physics. The topics of main focus in the theme were:
• Supersymmetry and Superstrings;
• Quantum Groups and Integrable Systems;
• Quantum Gravity and Cosmology.

The scale and level of the research is well-illustrated by the  number of publications during the years 2005-2008: total number of publications - 1740 papers, monographs - 9,  journal articles - 1035. It should be noted that every year 5-6 articles were published in the Physical Review Letters which illustrates the high level  of research. Most of the results were obtained in cooperation with  scientists   from  JINR  Member States, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, China, Republic of Korea, South African Repaublic and  many other countries. 


Dubna International Advanced School of Theoretical Physics (DIAS-TH).
The research and education project DIAS-TH was successfully continued.
The  activities in the framework of DIAS-TH were:
• The regular seminars for students and postgraduates were organized;
• Computer processing of video records of lectures was continued;
Web-site of DIAS-TH was supported.

The following schools for young scientists were organized:

• 3th Winter School on Theoretical Physics (January 29 – February 6, 2005);
• Helmholtz International Summer School "Heavy Quark Physics" (June 6-16 , 2005);
• IXth Research Workshop ”Nucleation Theory and Applications” (June 20 – July 20, 2005);
• International Advanced School on Modern Mathematical Physics (July 14 - 26, 2005);
• International School "Nuclear Theory and Astrophysical Applications" (July 26 - August 4, 2005).

• 4th Winter School on Theoretical Physics (January 29 – February 7, 2006);
• XIth Research Workshop ”Nucleation Theory and Applications” (April 1 – 30, 2006);
• Helmholtz International School "Calculations for Modern and Future Colliders" (July 15-25 , 2006)
• International School "Few-body Problems in Physics" (August 7 - 17, 2006);
• Helmholtz International Summer School “Dense Matter in Heavy Ion Collisions and Astrophysics” (July 21-30, 2006);
• International Advanced School on Modern Mathematical Physics (September 3-12, 2006)

• 5th Winter School on Theoretical Physics (January 28 – February 6, 2007);
• XIth Research Workshop ”Nucleation Theory and Applications” (April 1 – 30, 2007);
• Helmholtz International School on Modern Mathematical Physics (July 22 - 30, 2007);
• Helmholtz International School Nuclear Theory and Astrophysical Applications (August 7 - 17, 2007);

• 6thWinter School on Theoretical Physics (January 26 - February 5, 2008);
• XIIth Research Workshop ”Nucleation Theory and Applications” (April 1 - 30, 2008);
• Helmholtz International Summer School “Dense Matter in Heavy Ion Collisions and Astrophysics” (July 14-26, 2008);
• II Helmholtz International Summer School ”Heavy quark physics” (August 11 - 21, 2008);
• Advanced Summer School on Modern Mathematical Physics (September 7 - 17, 2008).