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Prokhorov's Legacy

An in-depth exploration of the life and groundbreaking contributions of Alexander Prokhorov, a pivotal figure in quantum electronics and the co-inventor of the laser and maser.

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Introduction

A Luminary in Physics

Alexander Mikhailovich Prokhorov, born Alexander Michael Prochoroff, was an Australian-born Soviet-Russian physicist whose seminal work in quantum electronics fundamentally advanced our understanding of light and matter interaction. His most celebrated achievements lie in the fields of optics and electromagnetic research, culminating in the development of the laser and maser.[1]

Nobel Laureate

In recognition of his profound contributions, Prokhorov was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1964. He shared this prestigious honor with Charles Hard Townes and Nikolay Basov, acknowledging their fundamental work that paved the way for the creation of both the laser and the maser, technologies that have since revolutionized numerous scientific and industrial domains.[1]

Early Life

Australian Roots

Alexander Michael Prochoroff was born on July 11, 1916, in Peeramon, Queensland, Australia, specifically on Russell Road (now 322 Gadaloff Road, Butchers Creek, near Atherton). His parents, Mikhail Ivanovich Prokhorov and Maria Ivanovna (nรฉe Mikhailova), were Russian revolutionaries who had sought refuge in Australia to escape the Tsarist regime's repression. He attended Butchers Creek State School during his early childhood.[2][3]

Return to Russia & Education

In 1923, following the conclusion of the October Revolution and the Russian Civil War, his family returned to Russia. In 1934, Prokhorov commenced his studies in physics at Saint Petersburg State University, graduating with honors in 1939. He then relocated to Moscow to join the oscillations laboratory at the Lebedev Physical Institute, under the guidance of academician N. D. Papaleksi. His initial research focused on the propagation of radio waves within the ionosphere.[1][5]

Wartime Service

With the outbreak of World War II in June 1941, Prokhorov enlisted in the Red Army. He served in the infantry, enduring two battle wounds, and was decorated with three medals, including the Medal For Courage in 1946. He was demobilized in 1944, a year prior to the Allied victory. Upon his return to the Lebedev Institute in 1946, he successfully defended his Ph.D. thesis, titled "Theory of Stabilization of Frequency of a Tube Oscillator in the Theory of a Small Parameter."[1][4][5][6]

Groundbreaking Research

Coherent Radiation & Masers

In 1947, Prokhorov initiated research into coherent radiation produced by electrons orbiting in a cyclic particle accelerator, specifically a synchrotron. He demonstrated that this emission was predominantly concentrated in the microwave spectral range, forming the basis of his habilitation thesis in 1951. By 1950, as assistant chief of the oscillation laboratory, he established a research group dedicated to radiospectroscopy of molecular rotations and vibrations, which later evolved into quantum electronics.[1][6]

In collaboration with Nikolay Basov, Prokhorov developed the theoretical framework for a molecular oscillator. They successfully constructed such a device utilizing ammonia, and crucially, proposed a novel method for achieving population inversion using inhomogeneous electric and magnetic fields. These pivotal findings were first presented in 1952, with publications following in 1954โ€“1955.[1][6]

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance & Lasers

Prokhorov's research expanded into electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) in 1955, where he investigated relaxation times of iron group element ions within an aluminum oxide lattice, among other topics. A pivotal moment occurred in 1957, during his study of ruby (chromium-doped aluminum oxide), when he conceived the idea of employing this material as the active medium for a laser. In 1958, he further innovated by proposing an "open type" cavity design for lasers, a configuration widely adopted today.[1][6][7]

In 1963, in collaboration with A. S. Selivanenko, Prokhorov put forth the concept of a laser operating via two-quantum transitions. This continuous pursuit of understanding and manipulating coherent radiation ultimately led to his shared Nobel Prize in Physics in 1964, recognizing his foundational work on both lasers and masers.[1][6]

Career & Leadership

Academic Ascendancy

Prokhorov's academic career flourished. In 1959, he was appointed professor at Moscow State University, a testament to his growing influence. The same year, he received the prestigious Lenin Prize. His contributions to science were further recognized in 1960 when he became a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and subsequently an Academician in 1966.[5]

Institutional Leadership

His leadership roles expanded significantly. In 1968, he assumed the position of vice-director at the Lebedev Institute. By 1971, he became the Head of Laboratory at another esteemed Soviet institution, the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. His international recognition grew, leading to his election as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1971, and the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina in 1983.[5][8]

Enduring Influence

From 1982 to 1998, Prokhorov served as the acting director of the General Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, transitioning to honorary director after 1998. In a lasting tribute to his monumental impact, the institute was renamed the A. M. Prokhorov General Physics Institute following his passing in 2002. He also played a significant role in international scientific collaboration, supporting the foundation and development of the Russian Section of the International Academy of Science, Moscow, in 1993.[5][6][9][10]

Distinguished Awards

A Decorated Career

Alexander Prokhorov's exceptional contributions to physics and his service to the Soviet Union and Russia were recognized with numerous prestigious awards and honors throughout his lifetime and posthumously. These accolades span scientific, state, and military distinctions, highlighting the breadth of his impact.

A comprehensive list of his honors and awards includes:

  • Mandelstam Prize (1948)
  • Lenin Prize (1959)
  • Five Orders of Lenin (1967, 1969, 1975, 1981, 1986)
  • Order of the Patriotic War, 1st class (1985)
  • Nobel Prize in Physics (1964)
  • Hero of Socialist Labour, twice (1969, 1986)
  • Medal For Courage
  • USSR State Prize (1980)
  • Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 2nd class (1996)
  • State Prize of the Russian Federation (1998)
  • Frederic Ives Medal (2000)
  • Demidov Prize (2001)
  • Lomonosov Gold Medal (Moscow State University, 1987)
  • Award of the Council of Ministers
  • State Prize of the Russian Federation in science and technology (2003, posthumously)
  • Foreign Member of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences (1982)
  • Jubilee Medal "In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary since the Birth of Vladimir Il'ich Lenin"
  • Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941โ€“1945"
  • Jubilee Medal "Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
  • Jubilee Medal "Thirty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
  • Jubilee Medal "Forty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
  • Medal "For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
  • Medal "Veteran of Labour"
  • Elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
  • Jubilee Medal "50 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"
  • Medal "In Commemoration of the 800th Anniversary of Moscow"
  • Medal "In Commemoration of the 850th Anniversary of Moscow"
  • Honorary membership of the Optical Society of America

Political Affiliations

Party Membership

Alexander Prokhorov was actively involved in the political landscape of the Soviet Union. He was a member of the Komsomol, the youth wing of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU), from 1930 to 1944. Subsequently, he became a full member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1950.[14]

The Open Letter

In 1983, Prokhorov, alongside three other academiciansโ€”Andrey Tychonoff, Anatoly Dorodnitsyn, and Georgy Skryabinโ€”signed a notable open letter. This letter, titled "When they lose honor and conscience" (ะšะพะณะดะฐ ั‚ะตั€ััŽั‚ ั‡ะตัั‚ัŒ ะธ ัะพะฒะตัั‚ัŒ), publicly denounced an article by Andrey Sakharov published in the journal Foreign Affairs.[15][16][17]

Personal Life

Family Life

Prokhorov's personal life was marked by both joy and loss. Both of his parents tragically passed away during World War II. In 1941, he married Galina Shelepina, a geographer. Their son, Kiril, was born in 1945. Following in his father's footsteps, Kiril Prokhorov pursued a career in physics, specializing in optics, and currently leads a laser-related laboratory at the A. M. Prokhorov General Physics Institute, continuing the family's scientific legacy.[4][18]

Published Works

Editorial Contributions

Beyond his extensive research, Alexander Prokhorov also made significant contributions as an editor of scientific literature. He served as the chief editor of the Great Soviet Encyclopedia starting in 1969. His editorial work extended to specialized physics publications, reflecting his commitment to disseminating scientific knowledge.

Notable books he edited include:

  • A. M. Prokhorov (Editor in Chief), J. M. Buzzi, P. Sprangle, K. Wille. Coherent Radiation Generation and Particle Acceleration, 1992.
  • V. Stefan and A. M. Prokhorov (Editors) Diamond Science and Technology Vol 1: Laser Diamond Interaction. Plasma Diamond Reactors (Stefan University Press Series on Frontiers in Science and Technology) 1999.
  • V. Stefan and A. M. Prokhorov (Editors). Diamond Science and Technology Vol 2 (Stefan University Press Series on Frontiers in Science and Technology) 1999.

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References

References

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