low temperatures close to absolute zero to high levels, which are necessary for the synthesis of atomic nuclei - that is the range of long-term activity of Academician Kapitsa.Twice he became a Hero of Socialist Labor and was awarded the Stalin Prize and the Nobel.
Childhood
Pyotr Leonidovich Kapitsa, whose biography will be presented in this article, was born in Kronstadt in 1894.His father, Leonid was a military engineer and was engaged in the construction of Kronstadt fortifications.My mother - Olga Ieronimovna - is a specialist in folklore and children's literature.
In 1905, Pete was learning in school, but because of poor progress (bad given Latin) boy leaves her in a year.Studies continued in the future academician Kronstadt school.He ends with honors in 1912.
Studies at the University of
Initially Pyotr Kapitsa (see photo. Below) planned to study the physics and mathematics department of St. Petersburg University, but did not take it back.The young man decided to try his luck in "Polytechnic Institute", and luck smiled at him.Peter enlisted in the electromechanical department.Already in the first year to a talented young man drew the attention of Professor Ioffe and youth attracted to research in its own laboratories.
Army and wedding
In 1914, Pyotr Leonidovich Kapitsa went to Scotland for a summer vacation.There he planned to practice their English.But the First World, and the young man was not able to return home in August.In Petrograd he was only in November.
In early 1915, Peter volunteered to the Western Front.He was assigned to the position of the driver's ambulances.Also, he was carrying in his truck wounded.
In 1916 he was demobilized, and Peter returned to the institute.Joffe once downloaded young man experimental work in physical laboratory and attracted to participate in their own physical seminar (first in Russia).In the same year Kapitsa published his first article.Also, he married Nadezhda Chernosvitova, is the daughter to a member of the Central Committee of the Cadet Party.
work in the new Institute of Physics
In 1918, AF Ioffe organized the first Russian Scientific Research Institute of Physics.Pyotr Kapitsa, quotes which you can read below, he graduated from the Polytechnic in this year and immediately got to the teacher.
Sophisticated post-revolutionary situation does not promise anything good science.Joffe workshops helped save his own disciples, among whom was Peter.He urged Kapitsa leave Russia, but the government did not give permission.Helped by Maxim Gorky, was then considered the most influential writer.Peter was allowed to go to England.Shortly before departure the Kapitza in St. Petersburg, an epidemic of influenza.For a month the young scholar had lost his wife, newborn daughter, a son and a father.
work in England
In May 1921, Peter came to England in the Russian Academy of Sciences committee.The main aim of the scientists was to restore scientific relations, torn by war and revolution.Two months later, the physicist Pyotr Kapitsa settled in Cavendish Laboratory headed by Rutherford.He took the young man on a short-term internship.Over time, the engineering acumen and skill of Russian research scientist made a strong impression on Rutherford.
In 1922 Kapitza defended at Cambridge University doctoral dissertation.His scientific prestige was growing exponentially.In 1923 he was awarded a scholarship Maxwell.A year later, a scientist became deputy director of the laboratory.
Remarriage
In 1925, Pyotr Leonidovich Kapitsa was staying in Paris Krylov, who introduced him to his daughter Anna.Two years later, she became the wife of the scientist.After the wedding, Peter bought Huntington Road plot of land and built a house.Soon here will appear in the light of his sons - Andrei and Sergei.
Magnetic champion
Pyotr Leonidovich Kapitsa, whose biography is known to all physicists, is actively pursuing the study of processes of transformation of the nuclei and radioactive decay.He comes up with a new installation to generate a strong magnetic field and gets record results in 6-7 times higher than the previous thousand.Then Landau dubbed him "the magnetic world champion."
Back to the USSR
Exploring the properties of metals in magnetic fields, Pyotr Leonidovich Kapitsa realized the need to change the conditions of the experiments.Require lower (gel) temperature.It is in the field of low temperature physics scientist has achieved the greatest success.But research on this subject has been held for Petr Leonidovich at home.
Soviet government officials are regularly offered him permanent residence in the USSR.Scientists have been interested in such proposals, but he always exhibited a number of conditions, the most important of them - a trip to the West as desired.The government is not going to meet.
summer of 1934, Kapitsa and his wife visited the Soviet Union, but when they came to go to England, it was found that their visas canceled.Later, Anna was allowed to return to the children and take them to Moscow.Rutherford and friends of Peter I asked the Soviet government to allow Kapitsa to return to England to continue.It was all in vain.
In 1935, Pyotr Kapitsa, a brief biography is known to all scientists, headed the Institute for Physical Problems of the Academy of Sciences.But before you agree to this position, he demanded to purchase the equipment, which worked abroad.By the time Rutherford had come to terms with the loss of a valued employee and sold the equipment from the laboratory.
Letters government
Leonidovich Kapitsa Peter (photo attached to the article) returned home with the beginning of Stalin's purges.Even in this difficult time, he vehemently defended his views.Knowing that all of the country's top leadership decides, he regularly wrote letters in an attempt to engage in a frank and direct conversation.From 1934 to 1983, a scientist at the Kremlin sent more than 300 letters.Through the intervention of Kapitza from prisons and camps were rescued a lot of scientists.
Further work and opening
Whatever happens around physicist always found time for scientific work.On installation delivered from England, he continued his research in the area of strong magnetic fields.The experiments involved employees from Cambridge.These experiments continued for several years and have been extremely important.
scientists have managed to improve the turbine unit, and it has become more effective to liquefy air.The installation does not require pre-cooled helium.It automatically cooled during expansion in a special datendere.Such gel installation is now used in almost all countries.
In 1937, after much research in this area Petr Leonidovich Kapitsa (Nobel Prize will be awarded to a scientist 30 years later) made a fundamental discovery.He discovered the phenomenon of superfluidity of helium.The main conclusion of the study: at temperatures below 2,19 ° K no viscosity.In subsequent years, Petr Leonidovich discovered other anomalous phenomena in helium.For example, the distribution of heat in it.Thanks to this research in science a new direction - physics of quantum liquids.
Failure to build an atomic bomb
In 1945, the Soviet Union launched a program to develop nuclear weapons.Pyotr Kapitsa, whose books have been popular in the scientific community, refused to take part in it.For this he was banned from scientific work and put under house arrest for eight years.Also, a scientist deprived of the opportunity to communicate with colleagues.But Pyotr Leonidovich did not lose heart and to continue research decided to organize a lab at his dacha.
It was there, in the primitive conditions, originated high-power electronics, which became the first step towards the subordination of fusion energy.But a full-fledged experiments scientist was able to return only after his release in 1955.He began with a study of high-temperature plasma.Made in the opening period formed the basis of the scheme continuous fusion reactor.
Some of his experiments gave a new impetus to the works of science fiction writers.His thoughts about trying to make every writer.Peter Kapitza also studied at the time the fireball and hydrodynamics of thin layers of liquid.But the intense interest he cried properties of plasma and microwave generators.
Travel abroad and the Nobel Prize
In 1965, Pyotr Leonidovich Kapitsa received government permission to travel to Denmark.There he was awarded the gold medal of Niels Bohr.The physicist looked at local laboratories and gave a lecture on the high energies.In 1969, the scientist and his wife first visited the United States.
In mid-October 1978 the scientist received a telegram from the Swedish Academy of Sciences.The title was the inscription: "Pyotr Leonidovich Kapitsa.Nobel Prize".The physicist received it for his fundamental research in the field of low temperatures.This is good news, "caught up" the scientist while relaxing in "Barvikha" near Moscow.
journalists who got an interview with him, asked: "Which of the personal scientific achievements you consider most important?" Pyotr Leonidovich said that the most important scientist is his current work."Personally, I'm doing now thermonuclear fusion ', - he added.
Kapitsa's lecture in Stockholm on the awarding of the prize was unusual.Contrary to regulations, it is not a lecture on the topic of low-temperature physics, and about plasmas and controlled fusion reaction.Petr Leonidovich explained the reason for this freedom.The scientist said: "It was difficult to choose a topic for his Nobel lecture.I got an award for research in the field of low temperature, but not to deal with them more than 30 years.In my institute, of course, continue to explore this topic, but I have switched to the study of the processes necessary for the thermonuclear reaction.I think that at the moment this sphere is more interesting and relevant, as will help in solving the problem of an impending energy crisis. "
scientist died in 1984, a little before they reach the 90-year anniversary.In conclusion, we present his most famous sayings.
Quotes
«you can restrict the freedom of man in two ways: violence or upbringing had conditioned reflexes."
«a young man as long as doing silly things."
«pseudoscience can not be considered an error.But their lack of recognition - it really is a pseudoscience. "
«Talented someone who knows what he wants."
«Geniuses do not give rise to an era, but the era born."
«To be happy, one needs to imagine yourself free."
«The one who has an exposure.Only shutter speed for a couple of hours, and for many years. "
«Do not gloss over, but underlines the contradiction.They contribute to the development of science. "
«Science must be simple, fascinating and fun.The same applies to the scientists ".
«Cheating is an essential element of a democratic system, as the beginning of a progressive holds a small number of people.The desires of the majority simply stop progress. "
«Life - as a card game in which you participate, not knowing the rules."
