Georgiy Zatsepin
Encyclopedia
Georgiy Timofeyevich Zatsepin ( – 8 March 2010) was a Soviet
/Russia
n astrophysicist known for his works in cosmic rays physics and neutrino
astrophysics. He was born in Moscow
.
Zatsepin graduated from the Faculty of Physics
of the Moscow State University
in 1941 and worked for three years at an aircraft building plant in Moscow
and later in Irkutsk
. He entered aspirantura of the faculty in 1944 and six years later defended dissertation "Density spectrum of Extensive Air Showers" for Candidate of Sciences degree. Prior to this, in 1947-1949 he developed methods of studying and using experimental data discovered, that they are based on nuclear cascade process, with electron
-photon
processes being secondary. Since 1950 he works as senior research assistant at the Lebedev Physical Institute
. In 1951 he was awarded the USSR State Prize
for discovering the nuclear cascade process. He defended dissertation "Nuclear-cascade process and EAS" for Doctor of Sciences degree in 1954 and became professor in 1958.
In the 1960s Zatsepin predicted Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin limit
. In the same period he begin research of muon
s and neutrino
s laying foundations of neutrino astronomy and neutrino astrophysics. At the neutrino laboratory created by him in Lebedev Physical Institute methods of solar neutrino
detection were developed. He became Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences in 1968 and Full Member in 1981. In 1982 Zatsepin was awarded Lenin Prize
for creating Station of Cosmic Rays of the Yakut Scientific-Research Base of the USSR Academy of Sciences. For creating the Baksan Neutrino Observatory
, and conducting experiments there he was awarded Russia
n State Prize in 1998.
Zatsepin was also awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour
in 1975 and 1981, Order of the October Revolution
in 1987. Until 2006 was the chairman of the Cosmic Rays and Space Physics Chair of the MSU Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics.
He died in Moscow on 8 March 2010, aged 92.
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
/Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n astrophysicist known for his works in cosmic rays physics and neutrino
Neutrino
A neutrino is an electrically neutral, weakly interacting elementary subatomic particle with a half-integer spin, chirality and a disputed but small non-zero mass. It is able to pass through ordinary matter almost unaffected...
astrophysics. He was born in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
Zatsepin graduated from the Faculty of Physics
MSU Faculty of Physics
The Faculty of Physics of Moscow State University is the largest faculty of Moscow State University.-Nobel winners:*Igor Tamm *Ilya Frank *Lev Davidovich Landau...
of the Moscow State University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
in 1941 and worked for three years at an aircraft building plant in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and later in Irkutsk
Irkutsk
Irkutsk is a city and the administrative center of Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, one of the largest cities in Siberia. Population: .-History:In 1652, Ivan Pokhabov built a zimovye near the site of Irkutsk for gold trading and for the collection of fur taxes from the Buryats. In 1661, Yakov Pokhabov...
. He entered aspirantura of the faculty in 1944 and six years later defended dissertation "Density spectrum of Extensive Air Showers" for Candidate of Sciences degree. Prior to this, in 1947-1949 he developed methods of studying and using experimental data discovered, that they are based on nuclear cascade process, with electron
Electron
The electron is a subatomic particle with a negative elementary electric charge. It has no known components or substructure; in other words, it is generally thought to be an elementary particle. An electron has a mass that is approximately 1/1836 that of the proton...
-photon
Photon
In physics, a photon is an elementary particle, the quantum of the electromagnetic interaction and the basic unit of light and all other forms of electromagnetic radiation. It is also the force carrier for the electromagnetic force...
processes being secondary. Since 1950 he works as senior research assistant at the Lebedev Physical Institute
Lebedev Physical Institute
The Lebedev Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences , situated in Moscow, is one of the leading Russian research institutes specializing in physics. It is also one of the oldest research institutions in Russia: its history dates back to a collection of physics equipment established by...
. In 1951 he was awarded the USSR State Prize
USSR State Prize
The USSR State Prize was the Soviet Union's state honour. It was established on September 9, 1966. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, the prize was followed up by the State Prize of the Russian Federation....
for discovering the nuclear cascade process. He defended dissertation "Nuclear-cascade process and EAS" for Doctor of Sciences degree in 1954 and became professor in 1958.
In the 1960s Zatsepin predicted Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin limit
Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin limit
The Greisen–Zatsepin–Kuzmin limit is a theoretical upper limit on the energy of cosmic rays coming from "distant" sources. The limit is 5×1019 eV, or about 8 joules. The limit is set by slowing-interactions of cosmic ray protons with the microwave background radiation over long distances...
. In the same period he begin research of muon
Muon
The muon |mu]] used to represent it) is an elementary particle similar to the electron, with a unitary negative electric charge and a spin of ½. Together with the electron, the tau, and the three neutrinos, it is classified as a lepton...
s and neutrino
Neutrino
A neutrino is an electrically neutral, weakly interacting elementary subatomic particle with a half-integer spin, chirality and a disputed but small non-zero mass. It is able to pass through ordinary matter almost unaffected...
s laying foundations of neutrino astronomy and neutrino astrophysics. At the neutrino laboratory created by him in Lebedev Physical Institute methods of solar neutrino
Solar neutrino
Electron neutrinos are produced in the Sun as a product of nuclear fusion. By far the largest fraction of neutrinos passing through the Earth are Solar neutrinos....
detection were developed. He became Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences in 1968 and Full Member in 1981. In 1982 Zatsepin was awarded Lenin Prize
Lenin Prize
The Lenin Prize was one of the most prestigious awards of the USSR, presented to individuals for accomplishments relating to science, literature, arts, architecture, and technology. It was created on June 23, 1925 and was awarded until 1934. During the period from 1935 to 1956, the Lenin Prize was...
for creating Station of Cosmic Rays of the Yakut Scientific-Research Base of the USSR Academy of Sciences. For creating the Baksan Neutrino Observatory
Baksan Neutrino Observatory
The Baksan Neutrino Observatory is a scientific laboratory of INR RAS located in the Baksan gorge in the Caucasus mountains in Russia. It started operations in 1977, becoming the first such observatory in the USSR...
, and conducting experiments there he was awarded Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n State Prize in 1998.
Zatsepin was also awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour
Order of the Red Banner of Labour
The Order of the Red Banner of Labour was an order of the Soviet Union for accomplishments in labour and civil service. It is the labour counterpart of the military Order of the Red Banner. A few institutions and factories, being the pride of Soviet Union, also received the order.-History:The Red...
in 1975 and 1981, Order of the October Revolution
Order of the October Revolution
The Order of the October Revolution was instituted on October 31, 1967, in time for the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution. It was awarded to individuals or groups for services furthering communism or the state, or in enhancing the defenses of the Soviet Union, military and civil...
in 1987. Until 2006 was the chairman of the Cosmic Rays and Space Physics Chair of the MSU Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics.
He died in Moscow on 8 March 2010, aged 92.
Sources
- Georgy Zatsepin at the Institute for Nuclear ResearchInstitute for Nuclear ResearchInstitute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences is a soviet/russian scientific research centre "for further development of the experimental base and fundamental research activities in the field of atomic nucleus, elementary particle and cosmic ray physics and neutrino...
of the Russian Academy of SciencesRussian Academy of SciencesThe Russian Academy of Sciences consists of the national academy of Russia and a network of scientific research institutes from across the Russian Federation as well as auxiliary scientific and social units like libraries, publishers and hospitals.... - Great Soviet EncyclopediaGreat Soviet EncyclopediaThe Great Soviet Encyclopedia is one of the largest and most comprehensive encyclopedias in Russian and in the world, issued by the Soviet state from 1926 to 1990, and again since 2002 .-Editions:There were three editions...
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