Applied Physics and Mathematics Annotation << Back
110th anniversary of I.V. Kurchatov’s birthday,the scientific head of the soviet atomic project |
Gorobets B.S.
Professor Igor Vassilievich Kurchatov (1903–1960), an outstanding
physicist, academician, three times Hero of Socialist
Labour (1949, 1951, 1954), four times Stalin prize winner
(1942, 1949, 1951, 1954), was born on January, 12 in a workers’
town Simskii Zavod (factory) in Ufa province (now Cheliabinsk
region). The highest state awards deserved as scientific
head of the Soviet «Uranium project» (called, later on, Atomic
project). Graduated the Crimea University (1923). Worked as
a researcher in Leningrad Physico-technical Institute (LPhTI,
1925–1942). In 1920th, had been carrying out fundamental
studies of ferroelectric and semiconductor crystals. In 1932,
switched over to nuclear and neutron physics. In 1935, he
discovered nuclear isomers, the nuclei having close energetic
levels, but strongly different lifetimes. Kurchatov built a small
cyclotrone in his laboratory, in LPhTI. After that he headed
the work of construction larger cyclotrone in RIAN (started in
1936). I.Kurchatov and L.Artsymovich discovered that neutron
can be captured by proton, they measured the section of the
said reaction which resulted in the development of the theory
of deuton. In 1940, the most important discovery was made
by the scientific school of Kurchatov: his post-graduated students
G. Flerov and K. Pietrzak observed spontaneous acts of
fission of uranium nuclei. In future, this background effect is
to be made into account in construction and storage of nuclear
charges in order to preserve chain nuclear reaction to start
spontaneously. Kurchatov had got financial support from the
government for construction of a big and powerful cyclothrone
in LPhTI. But its erection and the start was stopped by
the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. In 1941, Kurchatov
took part, in the group of A.Alexandrov, in researches how to
preserve ships from magnetic mines. This very hard task had
been solved, and its authors were awarded by Stalin Prize
(1942). In September, 28, 1942, the State Committee of Defense
of the USSR adopted the first state «Uranium program»,
and according A.Ioffe’s recommendation, I.Kurchatov was
nominated its scientific head. In March, 10, 1943, he becomes
the director of the secret Laboratory № 2. In September, 1943,
Stalin strongly recommends Kurchatov to be elected academician,
passing by intermediate grade of Member by correspondence.
In 1946 Kurchatov started up the first physical nuclear
reactor in the USSR (generally speaking, in Euroasia). In 1948,
the first industrial nuclear graphite-uranium reactor, started
to produce plutonium. In August, 29, 1949, the first Soviet
atomic bomb was successfully tested. In August, 12, 1953, the first H-aviabomb in the world was tested near Semipalatinsk
too. In 1954, the first atomic electric station in Obninsk started
its peaceful work. The founder and the first director of the Institute
of Atomic Energy (now the National Scientific Center
«Kurchatov Institute») succumbed on February, the 6th, 1960.
His urn was buried in the Kremlin wall. There is biographical
edition «Reminiscences about Igor Vassilievich Kurchatov»
(ed. By Academia of Sciences of the USSR, 1988)
Keywords: atomic bomb, hydrogen bomb, neutron, cyclotron,
I. Kurhatov, A. Leypunskii, S. Kaftanov, Laboratorium № 2,
LPhTI, RIAN.
Contacts: Email: bgorobets@rambler.ru
Pp. 129-137. |
|
|