Academician A. Logunov: biography and discoveries

Academician Logunov AA (1926-2015) - an outstanding theoretical physicist of our time. One of the few Soviet scientists who openly criticized Einstein's principles, proving "in figures" the discrepancy between a number of conclusions of a genius from Germany. The works of the academician, Hero of the USSR, entered the golden fund of world physics. In parallel with scientific work, Anatoly Alekseevich spent over 15 years managing the Moscow State University. Lomonosov Moscow State University.

The beginning of the way

The future academician Logunov was born in 1926 in the village of Obsharovka (Vezenchuk rayon, Samara region). After graduating from high school in Kuznetsk (Penza region), he enters the Kuibyshev Aviation Institute, and is later transferred to the Moscow Aviation Institute. At the same time Anatoly Alekseevich "fell ill" with the problems of fundamental physics, apparently, under the influence of Einstein's discoveries.

The desire for science proved to be stronger than interest in the prestigious work of the aircraft designer at that time. After leaving the MAI, the future academician is transferred to the Physics Department of Moscow State University, which finishes in 1951 brilliantly. After graduate school Anatoly Alexeevich defends in 1953 the Candidate's thesis on the physics of cosmic rays.

Scientific activity

Today Logunov is an academician with a capital letter. And at the beginning of his scientific career (1953-1956) he was an ordinary worker of the Department of Theoretical Physics at Moscow State University. Anatoly Alexeevich was lucky to meet NN Bogolyubov - no less outstanding academician and teacher.

Close scientific communication with Bogolyubov had a decisive influence on the development of A. Logunov as a researcher. The style of his scientific work was formed, which is characterized by an appeal to the most common, key problems of physics, and the creation of adequate mathematical methods for their solution.

Nuclear research

In 1956, the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research was organized in Dubna. Bogolyubov, who headed the Laboratory of Theoretical Physics (BLTP), invited Anatoly Alekseevich to the post of his deputy. Together they have worked hard to create the BLTP of JINR, and today preserves the leading positions in world physics.

Working in Dubna, the future academician Logunov proved the dispersion relations for the meson photoproduction processes and on their basis obtained a system of equations describing these processes at small and medium energies. These studies became the basis of a doctoral dissertation, protected in 1959. In 1961, Anatoly Alekseevich was awarded the title of professor.

Academician Logunov on the Nature of Gravitation

In 1963, together with his students and co-authors, the professor created a new quasipotential approach, obtaining within the framework of quantum field theory a relativistic generalization of the Schrödinger equation, now known as the Logunov-Tavkhelidze equation.

At the same time, Anatoly Alekseevich was instructed to build an accelerator of elementary charged particles that was unprecedentedly powerful at that time. The successful launch (7/11/1967) of the world's largest proton synchrotron, capable of dispersing protons to a record energy of 70 billion electron volts, stirred the community of physicists. With his help, Academician Logunov was able to understand and test much of what he was thinking so hard, looking at his formulas. Together with CERN workers, amazing fundamental discoveries were made in the framework of high-energy physics.

Scientific recognition

As a director of IHEP, A. Logunov helped to develop and build an accelerator complex and develop the experimental base of the institute around which the city of Protvino scientists grew up. The merits were evaluated: Anatoly Alexeevich was elected a corresponding member with a subsequent promotion to a full member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. Subsequently, he will become its vice-president. At the same time, Academician Logunov is the rector of Moscow State University.

His biography does not end there. There were all kinds and the most prestigious prizes, state awards, honorary degrees. Interviews in newspapers and magazines. It would seem, what greater recognition of merits can you dream? However, as a scientist-researcher, Academician Logunov did not intend to rest on his laurels, even if deserved three times, and did not think that the huge organizational and administrative work frees him from his own creative search. Otherwise, it could not be - in this search his whole life, its main meaning.

Academician Logunov v. Einstein

The stumbling block for modern physics is the problem of force fields, which, through the efforts of M. Faraday, who gave birth to this idea in the 19th century, becomes a "constant headache" for physicists of the 20th century. The theory of relativity, denoted by Einstein, emphasizes the importance of defining fields. But it is not yet possible to formulate the concepts of pure field physics. Scientists divided into two unequal camps:

• "Classics" - develop the ideas of Einstein.
• "Alternativshchiki" - are critical of the classical theory, while putting forward their own, grounded field theory.

Logunov belongs to the latter. In 1976, he surprised colleagues and the entire physical community, unexpectedly with radically new ideas in the field of the theory of gravity. For decades it was believed that the theory of gravity in principle has already been created by the famous Einstein called "General Theory of Relativity." The storm of indignation of the "experts" was caused by open criticism of Einstein's theory already in the very first article by A. A. Logunov on gravitation. But with all due respect to the achievements of the authorities, Anatoly Alekseevich piously observes Descartes' covenant: "Have doubts in everything!", Exposing to critical analysis seemingly unshakable truths.

At the physics faculty of Moscow State University, a vivid public discussion took place between two academicians - Logunov and the well-known physicist Zeldovich. The apologists of the general theory of relativity tried to find a refutation of Logunov's arguments, to catch him on an error in the existence of which they had no doubt. But they retreated after his detailed answers.

It turned out that Logunov - an academician brave, able to oppose the generally accepted views. It is these personalities that are sorely lacking in modern science in general and in physics in particular. Deciding on this conclusion, Academician Logunov paid a very high price, provoking the wrath of supporters of the orthodox interpretation of the theory of relativity. It is of fundamental importance that the eminent academician has returned in the general relativity, gravitation, the physical gravitational field.

Educational activity

Academician Logunov - Rector of Moscow State University from 1972 to 1992. In this field Anatoly Alekseevich proved himself to be an excellent organizer and teacher. He consistently and persistently defended the idea of a certain autonomy of the university, in order to depend less on the decrees, directives, instructions of higher bodies that have nothing to do with science and pedagogy. Surprisingly, in the stormy waves of such an active scientific life, this man did not let his offspring out of sight for a minute - IHEP.

Unfortunately, Logunov Anatoly Alekseevich left this world on March 1, 2015, at the age of 89.