Pavel K. Oshchepkov
Encyclopedia
Pavel Kondratyevich Oshchepkov (June 24, 1908 - December 1, 1992) was a Russian physicist
who had a leading role in the development of radio-location (radar
) in the USSR. During the Great Purge
he was sent to a Gulag
labor camp for 10 years. Upon release, he began a new life and gained recognition in other scientific areas.
Republic. A child of the Russian Revolution and the associated strife in life, he lost his parents and, uneducated, roamed the streets until he was 12. He was then placed in school at the Shalashinsk Commune where he first learned to read. By 1928 he was able to enter the Plekhanov Russian Academy of Economics in Moscow to study economics of electrical power. His early performance there was excellent, and he was allowed to transfer to Moscow University, where in 1931 he completed his undergraduate education in the physics
curriculum.
, but before the end of 1932, was on the Moscow engineering staff of the Voiska Protivo-vozdushnoi aborony (PVO, Air Defense Forces) of the Red Army
. Assigned to work on improving optical instruments for aircraft detection, his technical and leadership abilities were quickly recognized
Engineers at the PVO came up with the concept of radiolokatory (radio location) for extending the reconnaissance range, and Oshchepkov was assigned to prepare a paper for the Defense Commissar
, asking that a special research unit be set up for a razvedyvlatl’naya elektromagnitnaya stantsiya (reconnaissance electromagnetic station). The proposal was accepted, and in June 1933, Oshchepkov was transferred to Leningrad
to be in charge of a Special Construction Bureau (SCB), as well as being responsible for the related experino-tekknicheskii sektor (technical expertise component) of the PVO.
Most of the work at other organization concerned radio location using continuous waves, with interference of transmitted and reflected signals to indicate a target. At the SCB, Oshchepkov worked with scientists at the Leningrad Physico-Technical Institute (LPTI) on a pulsed system, the first in the USSR. His work was closely followed by Abram Ioffe
, Scientific Director of the LPTI and generally considered the leading physicist at that time in the nation.
In April 1937, initial tests of Oshchepkov’s pulsed radio-location system resulted in detecting an aircraft at a range of about 17 km (10.6 mi). The system, however, could not yet directly measure range (distance) to the target, a firm requirement for detection systems that would later be called radar.
Although Oshchepkov had a good plan for completing his system, he was not allowed to carry this out. In June 1937, the Great Purge
swept over the military high commands and the supporting scientific community. Hundreds of thousands of victims were falsely accused of various political crimes, with a large number executed. Oshchepkov was charged with “high crimes” and sentenced to 10 years at a Gulag
penal labor camp. Ioffe plead without success for Oshchepkov to be restored. Over the years of Oshchepkov’s internment, Ioffe assisted in his survival by providing food packages and letters of encouragement.
From 1964 to 1968, Oshchepkov headed the Introscopy Research Institute, under which he led in creating the new science and technology of introscopy — non-destructive testing using the full radiation spectrum.
The last years of Oshchepkov’s life were dedicated to problems of entropy
, particularly radically different ways of using energy. He established the Public Institute of Energy Inversion, based on the thesis that "energy is impossible to eliminate, but it can be dissipated; energy is impossible to create, but it can be collected." In this, his theories were considered highly “off center,” and were criticized by the academic community.
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
who had a leading role in the development of radio-location (radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
) in the USSR. During the Great Purge
Great Purge
The Great Purge was a series of campaigns of political repression and persecution in the Soviet Union orchestrated by Joseph Stalin from 1936 to 1938...
he was sent to a Gulag
Gulag
The Gulag was the government agency that administered the main Soviet forced labor camp systems. While the camps housed a wide range of convicts, from petty criminals to political prisoners, large numbers were convicted by simplified procedures, such as NKVD troikas and other instruments of...
labor camp for 10 years. Upon release, he began a new life and gained recognition in other scientific areas.
Career and accomplishments
Pavel (also known as Piotr) Oshchepkov was born in the village of Zuevy Kluchi, Karakulinski district, UdmurtiaUdmurtia
The Udmurt Republic , or Udmurtia is a federal subject of Russia . Its capital is the city of Izhevsk. Population: -History:...
Republic. A child of the Russian Revolution and the associated strife in life, he lost his parents and, uneducated, roamed the streets until he was 12. He was then placed in school at the Shalashinsk Commune where he first learned to read. By 1928 he was able to enter the Plekhanov Russian Academy of Economics in Moscow to study economics of electrical power. His early performance there was excellent, and he was allowed to transfer to Moscow University, where in 1931 he completed his undergraduate education in the physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
curriculum.
Pre-internment
Upon graduation, Oshchepkov was employed as an electrical engineer in a power stationPower station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
, but before the end of 1932, was on the Moscow engineering staff of the Voiska Protivo-vozdushnoi aborony (PVO, Air Defense Forces) of the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
. Assigned to work on improving optical instruments for aircraft detection, his technical and leadership abilities were quickly recognized
Engineers at the PVO came up with the concept of radiolokatory (radio location) for extending the reconnaissance range, and Oshchepkov was assigned to prepare a paper for the Defense Commissar
Commissar
Commissar is the English transliteration of an official title used in Russia from the time of Peter the Great.The title was used during the Provisional Government for regional heads of administration, but it is mostly associated with a number of Cheka and military functions in Bolshevik and Soviet...
, asking that a special research unit be set up for a razvedyvlatl’naya elektromagnitnaya stantsiya (reconnaissance electromagnetic station). The proposal was accepted, and in June 1933, Oshchepkov was transferred to Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
to be in charge of a Special Construction Bureau (SCB), as well as being responsible for the related experino-tekknicheskii sektor (technical expertise component) of the PVO.
Most of the work at other organization concerned radio location using continuous waves, with interference of transmitted and reflected signals to indicate a target. At the SCB, Oshchepkov worked with scientists at the Leningrad Physico-Technical Institute (LPTI) on a pulsed system, the first in the USSR. His work was closely followed by Abram Ioffe
Abram Ioffe
Abram Fedorovich Ioffe was a prominent Russian/Soviet physicist. He received the Stalin Prize , the Lenin Prize , and the Hero of Socialist Labor . Ioffe was an expert in electromagnetism, radiology, crystals, high-impact physics, thermoelectricity and photoelectricity...
, Scientific Director of the LPTI and generally considered the leading physicist at that time in the nation.
In April 1937, initial tests of Oshchepkov’s pulsed radio-location system resulted in detecting an aircraft at a range of about 17 km (10.6 mi). The system, however, could not yet directly measure range (distance) to the target, a firm requirement for detection systems that would later be called radar.
Although Oshchepkov had a good plan for completing his system, he was not allowed to carry this out. In June 1937, the Great Purge
Great Purge
The Great Purge was a series of campaigns of political repression and persecution in the Soviet Union orchestrated by Joseph Stalin from 1936 to 1938...
swept over the military high commands and the supporting scientific community. Hundreds of thousands of victims were falsely accused of various political crimes, with a large number executed. Oshchepkov was charged with “high crimes” and sentenced to 10 years at a Gulag
Gulag
The Gulag was the government agency that administered the main Soviet forced labor camp systems. While the camps housed a wide range of convicts, from petty criminals to political prisoners, large numbers were convicted by simplified procedures, such as NKVD troikas and other instruments of...
penal labor camp. Ioffe plead without success for Oshchepkov to be restored. Over the years of Oshchepkov’s internment, Ioffe assisted in his survival by providing food packages and letters of encouragement.
Post-internment
Oshchepkov was released from the Gulag camp in 1946. Returning to academic studies, he eventually earned both the Kandidat Nauk (Candidate of Science, C.Sc. — approximately the same as the Ph.D.) degree and the Doctor Nauk (Doctor of Science, Sc.D.) degree. He never returned to radar research, but found entirely new avenues for his creativity: material science and thermal physics.From 1964 to 1968, Oshchepkov headed the Introscopy Research Institute, under which he led in creating the new science and technology of introscopy — non-destructive testing using the full radiation spectrum.
The last years of Oshchepkov’s life were dedicated to problems of entropy
Entropy
Entropy is a thermodynamic property that can be used to determine the energy available for useful work in a thermodynamic process, such as in energy conversion devices, engines, or machines. Such devices can only be driven by convertible energy, and have a theoretical maximum efficiency when...
, particularly radically different ways of using energy. He established the Public Institute of Energy Inversion, based on the thesis that "energy is impossible to eliminate, but it can be dissipated; energy is impossible to create, but it can be collected." In this, his theories were considered highly “off center,” and were criticized by the academic community.
Recognitions
- Given the rank of Honored Figure of Science and Techniques RSFSR and Honored Inventor RSFSR
- Rewarded with the Order of LeninOrder of LeninThe Order of Lenin , named after the leader of the Russian October Revolution, was the highest decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union...
, the Order of the October RevolutionOrder of the October RevolutionThe 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...
, and Order of the Red Banner of LabourOrder of the Red Banner of LabourThe 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...
. - Was an honorable member of a number of domestic and foreign science-technical societies.
Sources
- Chernyak, V. S., I. Ya. Immoreev, and B. M. Vovshin; “Radar in the Soviet Union and Russia: A Brief Historical Outline,” IEEE AES Magazine, Vol. 19, December, p. 8, 2003
- Erickson, John; “Radio-location and the air defense problem: The design and development of Soviet Radar 1934-40,” Social Studies of Science, Vol. 2, p. 241, 1972
- Kostenko, A. A., A. I. Nosich., and I. A. Tishchenko; “Radar Prehistory, Soviet Side,” Proceedings of IEEE APS International Symposium 2001, Vol. 4, p. 44, 2002
- Siddiqi, Asif A.; “Rockets Red Glare: Technology, Conflict, and Terror in the Soviet Union," Technology & Culture, Vol. 44, p. 470, 2003
- Watson, Raymond C., Jr.; Radar Origins Worldwide, Trafford Publishing, 2009