"First of all, unlimited nuclear energy was directed to the manufacture of weapons. I, like all Soviet scientists, are convinced that common sense will eventually prevail, and that uranium and plutonium will be used for peaceful purposes. ”
I.V. Kurchatov
I.V. Kurchatov
Igor V. Kurchatov was born on January 12 1903 of the year. His family lived in the city of Sim, near Ufa. His father worked as a surveyor, an assistant to a local forester. Igor had a brother Boris and sister Antonina. In 1909, their family moved to Simbirsk (now Ulyanovsk), and in 1912, larynx tuberculosis was found near Antonina, and the Kurchatovs moved to Simferopol in search of a place with a milder climate. However, it was not possible to save the girl, and the family remained to live in the Crimea.
Among the hobbies of the young Igor can be noted the craving for football and the French wrestling. He read a lot, was engaged in sawing out on a tree. After reading the book by the Italian professor Corbino entitled "The Successes of Modern Technology", Kurchatov began collecting technical literature. Already studying gymnasium, he is determined to become an engineer. Together with his comrades, Igor is engaged in in-depth study of mathematics and geometry. When World War I began, their family income plummeted. To help parents Kurchatov worked in the garden and sawed wood at the cannery. In the evening he managed to process the wood in the mouthpiece workshop. After graduating from the evening craft school, Kurchatov received a specialty locksmith. Despite such high employment, Igor did not cease to read technical and fiction literature of Russian and foreign writers. Books were supplied by one of the best teachers of the Crimea - L.V. Zhiritsky working in the gymnasium as a teacher of literature.
In the gymnasium, Igor studied on only five, as evidenced by the remaining cool magazines and certificates. In 1920, Igor graduated from the gymnasium with honors and a gold medal, and in September he entered the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of the Simferopol Taurian (later Crimea) University. The university was organized by a group of professors from St. Petersburg and Kiev under the leadership of Academician Vernadsky, who came here to rest and who remained because of the invasion of German troops in Crimea in the 1918 year. With the advent of Professor Usatii in the school, lectures on physics began. Students who have very vague ideas about modern science began to be introduced to molecular physics and thermodynamics.
New knowledge was always easy for Igor Kurchatov, for three years he managed to study a four-year course of study. However, the money was still sorely lacking, at various times he managed to work in a wood-finishing workshop, an orphanage tutor, a night watchman and a preparator in the university physics laboratory. Thin and wiry Kurchatov was well aware that the instrumental base of their laboratory was extremely modest, and he had little time, so for the diploma he chose and successfully defended the theoretical work - “The Theory of the Gravitational Element”. After graduation, young Kurchatov was called to teach physics at the Baku Institute, but he refused and, trying to fill the gaps in his education, went to Leningrad to enter the Polytechnic Institute. In parallel with his studies at the shipbuilding department, he got a job at the magnetic meteorological observatory of the city of Slutsk (now Pavlovsk). Here he first began to engage in serious experiences. He carried out a major scientific study of the radioactivity of snow, which he subjected to rigorous mathematical processing. However, the long way from the Polytechnic Institute to Pavlovsk did its job. Kurchatov often did not have time for classes, he fell behind in school and was expelled in the second semester. But it was at this time that Igor Vasilyevich decided to devote his life exclusively to science.
The unique ability of Kurchatov was the ability, rejecting everything superfluous, focusing on the problem as a whole, seeing it through, changing the course of events in the interests of the goal. On this occasion, you can bring his own words: “Particulars, details can subordinate a person. In any business the main thing is to determine priorities. Otherwise, the secondary, even if necessary, will take all the forces, will not allow to get to the main thing ”.
In 1924, Igor Vasilievich returned to his family in Crimea and immediately got a job at the Hydrometeorological Bureau of the Azov and Black Seas, located in Feodosia. However, old research did not impress him anymore. In the autumn of the same year, after the young scientist received a second invitation from the Azerbaijan Polytechnic Institute, he went to Baku without hesitation. Working there at the Department of Physics, he conducted two major studies on the propagation of electric current in solid dielectrics. Such experiments very closely bordered the works of Ioffe, and Kurchatov was invited to work at the Leningrad Institute of Physics and Technology.
Eyewitnesses recalled that in his youth Kurchatov resembled Mayakovsky. The same broad shoulders and tall. The eyes are lively, defiantly brilliant, the floors of the lab coat fluttering from sudden movements. Always neat and cheerful, despite the fact that it works until late at night, returning home only in the morning.
In Ioffe’s laboratory, Kurchatov’s great talent as an experimental physicist finally flourished. With his knowledge, enthusiasm, efficiency, ability to achieve the goal and interest others, twenty-two Igor Vasilievich quickly gained credibility and joined the team, becoming one of the most valuable employees. This is evidenced by the career growth of the young physicist. Accepted by an assistant, he soon received the position of a research scientist of the first category, and soon a senior engineer-physicist. The institute was then only seven years old since its foundation, and the average age of the staff was about thirty years. Abram Fedorovich Ioffe jokingly called the Physical and Technical Institute "kindergarten", but he cherished his people very much, never restricting their freedoms.
Of course, along with research work, Kurchatov was engaged in teaching activities - he read a course in physics on dielectrics. Here new abilities of Igor opened. He turned out to be a brilliant speaker, mastering the art of capturing the attention of listeners, it is easy to convey the true meaning of the described physical phenomena. And his stories about the results of his latest research allowed everyone in the audience to feel involved in the great discoveries that happened right before their eyes. Needless to say how popular his lectures were with the youth.
Igor V. spent a lot of time in the laboratory of dielectrics, his first job was to study the passage of slow electrons through thin films made of metal. Noticing the slightest inconsistencies and anomalies, Kurchatov moved further and further into officially recognized theories in his research, confirming his discoveries by direct experiments. Later, investigating some deviations in the dielectric parameters of segnevite salt, described in detail before him, Kurchatov subconsciously suspected the presence of some unfamiliar properties in the behavior of the substance in question. He found out that these properties resemble magnetic ones like those of ferromagnets, and identified such dielectrics as ferroelectrics. This name stuck in our country, but the term “ferroelectricity” does not exist abroad. By analogy with ferromagnetism, a similar phenomenon was called ferroelectricity. Kurchatov conducted his experiments very clearly. The results of the experiments were presented by a system of curves showing the dependence of the observed effect on temperature and field strength. The persuasiveness and visibility of the data presented almost did not require an explanation. Thus, Kurchatov created a whole new trend in physics. From ferro salt he and his assistants turned to the study of various solutions and compounds with ferroelectric properties. In these experiments, among others, Kurchatov’s brother, Boris Vasilyevich, also became a talented scientist.
In 1927, Igor Vasilyevich got married. Marina Dmitrievna Sinelnikova, sister of Cyril Sinelnikova, with whom Kurchatov was friends with the gymnasium, became his chosen one. All her life she became his faithful companion and assistant. Unfortunately, this wonderful couple did not have children. Giving the scientist all her attention and care, Marina Dmitrievna completely relieved Kurchatov from household trifles, protected her with the guardianship that everyone felt when they crossed the threshold of their home. It should be noted that Kurchatov devoted all his free home time to the continuation of his institute research. He did not tolerate an empty pastime, so he ate very quickly, communicated with guests always briefly, preferring to leave them alone with his wife.
In 1930, Igor Vasilyevich received another well-deserved promotion, becoming the head of the physics department. At the same time, the scientific interests of the great scientist begin to move from the sphere of dielectrics to the field of nuclear physics. A.Ioffe himself played an important role in this, supporting research in this very unpopular area. His efforts gave the green light to the organization of the department of nuclear physics at the institute. For decency, he personally headed it for half a year, and when the work was adjusted, he transferred all the powers to Kurchatov in 1932. With enthusiasm characteristic of him, Igor Vasilyevich got down to business, and already in 1933, an acceleration tube started to work, accelerating protons to energy in 350 keV. And in 1934, Kurchatov approached the research of neutron physics. The results were not long in coming. The study of the Fermi effect — artificial radioactivity that appears when neutrons bombard nuclei — led to the discovery of the isomerism of artificial atomic nuclei in 1935. Brother Boris Vasilyevich also helped Kurchatov in this work. Further experiments have shown that many nuclei are capable of taking different isomeric states. At the institute's laboratory, Kurchatov staged a series of experiments that showed how the phenomenon of isomerism is associated with metastable excited states inherent in atomic nuclei. The published results greatly influenced the development of views on the model of the atomic nucleus and laid the foundation for new research in many laboratories around the world. However, Kurchatov did not achieve enough success, studying the isomerism he discovered, and he carried out many other experiments in parallel. Thus, investigating the absorption of slow neutrons with Artsimovich, he obtained an unexpected result. In their eyes, the reaction of neutron capture by a proton led to the formation of a deuteron - the nucleus of heavy hydrogen.
In 1937, under Kurchatov's control, the first cyclotron in Europe was launched on the basis of the radium institute, and starting from 1939, Igor Vasilievich focused all his attention on the problem of fission of heavy nuclei. Having understood together with his young collaborators Flerov and Petrzhak in the multiplication of neutrons in different compositions of uranium, he proved the possibility of a nuclear chain reaction in uranium with heavy water. In the 1940 year, a letter from Flerov and Petrzhak about the open phenomenon of spontaneous fission of uranium was published in the American journal Physical Review, which also covered the issues of similar research. However, no response from the United States did not follow, while all work on the atomic nucleus was considered classified. And soon the Soviet Union was embroiled in World War II.
The research program planned by Kurchatov for years to come was interrupted in the most unexpected way, and he himself was forced to leave nuclear physics and focus all his attention on the development of demagnetization systems for warships. This was not a difficult task, but by that time many laboratories were empty, all the staff volunteered for the front, and valuable equipment, books, instruments, and scientific observations were moved to the rear. However, the installation was created as soon as possible and soon protected the domestic ships fleet from fascist magnetic mines. Kurchatov with a group of scientists traveled to the largest seaports of our country, setting up and at the same time training seamen to operate their device. And at the end of 1941, having miraculously avoided contracting typhus, Igor Vasilievich earned a severe pneumonia. Barely recovering from the disease, Kurchatov was appointed head of the laboratory. tank armor. However, in 1942, after a convincing letter from the future academician Flerov personally to Joseph Vissarionovich, research in the field of atomic energy was continued. The main goal of the work of the party leadership was to overcome the atomic superiority of the United States. And Igor Kurchatov was entrusted with leading the research. The armor and mines were over.
In 1946, Stalin signed the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, which clearly described the study of the possibilities of using atomic energy for peaceful purposes. And even responsible scientists are appointed for the development of entire industries. However, L.P. Beria later said that the country does not have the strength to do everything, and therefore it is necessary to concentrate only on weapons.
The work began in the strictest secrecy on the basis of the laboratory of the future Atomic Energy Institute (LIPAN), and in 1946, the whole scientific center KB-11, now known as Arzamas-16 or All-Russian Research Institute of Experimental Physics, was built near Arzamas. Such outstanding scientists as Yu.B. Khariton, L.B. Zeldovich, A.D. Sakharov, D.A. Frank-Kamenetsky, I.V. Tamm and many others.
Research volumes expanded rapidly, the number of people and materials involved in the project grew. To carry out experiments on the creation of a uranium-graphite boiler and the separation of isotopes, new buildings were designed and almost immediately built, and a new cyclotron built in just one year was put into operation. Kurchatov, who was in charge of all this, did not lose his head; he was perfectly included in the role of the organizer of a huge, unprecedented project before the war.
His energy seemed inexhaustible, he never showed signs of fatigue, although the people around him often left without sustaining the “Kurchatov” pace of work. Possessing exceptional charm, Igor Vasilyevich rapidly found friends among industry leaders and in the army. At each new direction Kurchatov put an outstanding physicist. For example, Alikhanov was engaged in “heavy water” in him, and Leipunsky was involved in “fast reactors”.
According to the recollections of one employee, the “Kurchatov style” of work could be described as follows: “The most striking features seem to me the following:
• the magnitude of the scientific problems for which he undertook;
• clear, extremely clear work plan;
• extremely high personal responsibility at each stage;
• great demands on subordinates, their strict control, constant awareness of the real state of affairs;
• optimism in all undertakings;
• accessibility to people;
• respect and benevolent attitude towards employees, the ability to praise in time and severely exact for negligence ”.
• the magnitude of the scientific problems for which he undertook;
• clear, extremely clear work plan;
• extremely high personal responsibility at each stage;
• great demands on subordinates, their strict control, constant awareness of the real state of affairs;
• optimism in all undertakings;
• accessibility to people;
• respect and benevolent attitude towards employees, the ability to praise in time and severely exact for negligence ”.
Various issues were considered at institutes throughout the country, but Kurchatov always took responsibility for making decisions on the most important of them. It is also worth noting that, once in the management environment, Kurchatov never ceased to be a simple experimental physicist. Together with his brother, he took direct part in building a uranium-graphite reactor and received the first portions of plutonium, independently developed methods for the electromagnetic and diffusive separation of uranium isotopes. Kurchatov formed the nuclear industry, not theoretically, not speculative, but with his own hands. He kept in them both graphite, and uranium, and blocks with plutonium, independently carried out a chain reaction. At the same time, he only knew that Fermi did a similar experiment and did not die.
“You can't split an atom in one language!”, Is one of the favorite sayings of I.V. Kurchatov.
When the first Soviet reactor was launched in 1946 in LIPAN, the ultimate goal - the production of weapons of a completely new type - was only a matter of time. Soon, more powerful nuclear reactors began to work and, finally, tests of the Russian atomic bomb took place in 1949. The experiment was scheduled for the morning of August 29. When the creators saw the bright glare and mushroom cloud on the horizon, they realized that they had done their job.
The story of Academician Aleksandrov is well known, according to which Kurchatov made a commitment not to shave off his famous beard, which he owed to his nickname until the atomic bomb was made. During the ceremonial meeting on the occasion of successful trials, Aleksandrov presented Igor Vasilyevich a huge seventy centimeter razor, an equally huge wash basin and soap paste, demanding that Kurchatov immediately shave. However, Kurchatov was already so used to his image that he flatly refused. The razor is still kept in the museum of the legendary scientist.
Four years later, 12 August 1953-th at the site was the explosion of the world's first hydrogen bomb. The atomic monopoly of the United States, as well as the myth of the superiority of American science over domestic science, was destroyed. Soviet scientists fulfilled their obligations to the country's leadership, but, according to Igor Vasilyevich’s deep conviction, this was only a small fraction of the use of atomic energy. Back in 1949, he independently began work on a project for a future nuclear power plant - a herald of the peaceful use of destructive energy. Not having time to deal with this issue for the required amount of time, Kurchatov transferred the project to the Obninsk Institute D.I. Blokhintsevu. All the time Igor Vasilyevich closely followed the execution of his cherished dream and the construction of a power station, checking and helping if necessary. 27 June 1954 of the year the task was successfully completed, Kurchatov exulted.
In the postwar years, actively addressing the problems of atomic energy, Kurchatov always sought to help the development of other branches of science, especially promising in his opinion. In particular, his participation in the struggle of domestic geneticists with ETC is well known. Lysenko. On this occasion, wrote a son-in-law Khrushchev A.I. Ajubey: “Once, Kurchatov came to Khrushchev to the country, whom Nikita greatly appreciated. Their lengthy conversation ended in a quarrel. After leaving the upset Kurchatov, Khrushchev sullenly said: “The beard does not fit into his own business. A physicist, but he came to work for geneticists. After all, they are engaged in nonsense, we need bread, but they breed flies. ” It is worth noting that Khrushchev implicitly believed that the proposed activities of Lysenko would, in the shortest possible time, raise from their knees the domestic agriculture. And not only Igor Vasilyevich, in general, he did not take a single person with reasonable arguments on this issue seriously. However, it was not easy to stop Kurchatov in implementing his plans, he secretly built a room for geneticists in secret from Khrushchev at the Institute of Atomic Energy. An entire generation of scientists who later founded the Institute of Molecular Genetics grew within its walls.
The last years of his life, Igor Vasilyevich devoted a lot of energy to the development of the Soviet program on the use of nuclear potential for peaceful purposes. He often went abroad at international conferences. His performances were characterized there as sensational ones. In 1957, the first nuclear-powered icebreaker Lenin was built. And Kurchatov put all his melting forces into the construction of a power plant on the basis of a controlled thermonuclear reaction. By this time, he had already suffered two heart attacks and, as if anticipating something, called among his friends a new project “dood three” (until the third stroke). According to the Kurchatov schemes, the Ogra thermonuclear installation was created, which became a distant prototype of modern energy machines. However, Kurchatov did not have time to fully implement his last idea.
7 February 1960, after meeting with Kapitsa and Topchiev, Igor Vasilyevich went to the Barvikha sanatorium near Moscow, to visit academician Khariton. They walked around the snow-covered garden for a long time and finally sat down on a bench to rest. During the conversation, an outstanding scientist had a third blow. When Khariton, alarmed by a long silence, turned to him, he found that Kurchatov had already died without making a sound. So ended the life of the greatest scientist of our country.
Igor Kurchatov’s reasoning about the younger generation is interesting: “Why do we no longer have writers equal to Leo Tolstoy, artists like Serov, scientists like Pavlov? Where did the new generation of brilliant people disappear? It seems to me that young scientists in our country lack a culture, a real culture, the very culture that allows a person to argue openly and boldly. After all, the scientist is the first thinker. Not without reason, probably, Heisenberg and Bohr are the same brilliant philosophers as the physicists, and Einstein and Planck were excellent musicians. I was told about Oppenheimer. He is known as an expert on Indian poetry and lectures on physics and literature with equal success.
However, formed scientists should closely contact with each other. Only in such cooperation and possible birth of advanced ideas. These ideas are never born from one person. They are in the air and at the last moment someone most talented or courageous overcomes the last step, formulating a new law. Here, for example, with the theory of relativity. Poincaré, in fact, came close to her, and Einstein took the very last step by introducing the principle of the immutability of the speed of light. And it all changed at once ... ".
However, formed scientists should closely contact with each other. Only in such cooperation and possible birth of advanced ideas. These ideas are never born from one person. They are in the air and at the last moment someone most talented or courageous overcomes the last step, formulating a new law. Here, for example, with the theory of relativity. Poincaré, in fact, came close to her, and Einstein took the very last step by introducing the principle of the immutability of the speed of light. And it all changed at once ... ".