Background
VAVILOV, Sergey was born on March 24, 1891 in Moscow.
VAVILOV, Sergey was born on March 24, 1891 in Moscow.
1914 graduate Physics and Mathematics Faculty, Moscow University.
Worked at P.N. Lebedev’s Laboratory, where he carried out his first research work “Teplovoye vytsvetaniyc krasok” (The Thermal Bleaching of Dyes). 1915 received for this work Gold Prize of Social of Natural Scientists, Anthropologists and Ethnographers, Moscow University. 1914-1918 with eng and radio communication units, Russian Army.
Conducted important radio research. Devised a new method of radio direction finding. 1919 published his study “Chastata kolebaniy nagruzhennoy antenny” (The Oscillating Frequency of a Loaded Antenna).
1918-1929 associate professor, 1929-1932 professor of physics, Moscow University. 1920-1930 professor, Moscow Higher Zootech Institute. 1918-1930 also head. Department of Physical Optics, Institute of Physics and Biophysics, People’s Commissariat of Health.
From 1932 director. Physics Institute, USSR Academy of Sciences. 1932-1945 sci director, State Optical Institute. 1945 elected president, USSR Academy of Sciences.
Chairman. Council to Coordinate the Work of the Union-Republic Academies of Sciences. From 1945 chairman, Ed and Publ Council, USSR Academy of Sciences. Edited journals: “Uspekhi fizicheskikh nauk".
“Zhurnal eksperimental’noy i teoreticheskoy fiziki”. “Priroda”, etc; edited physics sections in “Tekhnicheskaya entsiklopediya” and 1st and 2nd ed, “BSE” (Large Soviet Encyclopedia). From 1949 chief ed, 2nd ed, “BSE”.
From 1933 head, Commission for the Publ of People’s Sciences Lit and the series Itogi i problemy sovremennoy nauki (The Results and Problems of Modern Science), USSR Academy fo Sciences. Co-founder, All-Union Social for the Dissemination of Polit and Sciences Knowledge. First chairman, above soc.
Specialized in physical optics. For some 30 years studied nature of photoluminescence, particularly luminescence of solutions. Directed research on luminescence of crystallic phosphorus and practical applications of luminescence.
Invented a new, ccon lighting source based on converting invisible ultraviolet radiation of a light source into visible light by covering lamps with luminofors. Directed work on technol for producing luminescent lamps pf the “daylight” or “cold light” type. Pioneered development of luminescent analysis techniques.
Did research on visual method of observing quantum fluctuations of light. 1934 supervised P.A. Cherenkov in his research leading to the discovery that pure liquids luminesce under the action of gamma- and beta-radiation. Immcdiatedly pointed out that this luminescence was not normal luminescence but was connected with the motion of free electrons (so-called Vavilov-Cherenkov effect).
In his book Mikro- struktura sveta (The Microstructure of Light) (1950) he summarized the results of his research on physical optics. This laid the basis for a new research field which he called microoptics. Also studied philosophy of natural sei and history of sei.
Collated, published and popiilarized sei legacy of M.V. Lomonosov and V.V. Petrov. Wrote a study of the works of L. Euler. Headed Commission for the History of the USSR Academy of Sei.
Wrote studies assessing the sei work of Lucretius, Galileo and Newton. Studied history of atomism. Deputy, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Supreme Soviet of 1938 and USSR Supreme Soviet of 1946 and 1950 convocations.
During World War 2 worked for USSR State Defense Committee. Developed new instruments for Soviet Armed Forces. Institute of Physical Problems, USSR Academy of Sei in Moscow and State Optical Institute in Leningrad are named for him.
USSR Academy of Sei instituted the Vavilov Gold Medal, awarded annually for outstanding works in physics.
Religion is bad because it gets people to believe something untrue.
Marxism–Leninism as the only truth could not, by its very nature, become outdated.
Member, USSR Academy of Sciences from 1932.