Semen Altshuler
Encyclopedia
Semen Alexandrovich Altshuler (also Altshuller, Al'tshuler or Al'shuller; ; September 24, 1911 – January 24, 1983) was a Soviet physicist known for his work in resonance spectroscopy and in particular for theoretical prediction of acoustic paramagnetic resonance
in 1952.
, now a city in Belarus
, near the border with Russia. He finished school in Nizhny Novgorod
and later moved to Kazan
, where he spent most of his life. In 1928, he entered the physics faculty of the Kazan University aiming to study theoretical physics. He graduated in 1932 and obtained a post-graduate scholarship, but had to change university due to the scholarship rules. He moved to Moscow to study with Igor Tamm
whom he adored by his books on electricity and magnetism. In 1934, Altshuler and Tamm published a famous article which predicted the existence of the magnetic moment of neutron
and correctly estimated its value and sign. This idea was so unusual then that even Niels Bohr
who visited Moscow in 1934 could not accept it.
In 1934, Altshuler was recalled to Kazan by Evgeny Zavoisky who offered him a position of lecturer and a chair of theoretical physics group. In Kazan, Altshuler closely collaborated with Zavoisky in his search for nuclear magnetic resonance
and electron paramagnetic resonance
. One indication of this collaboration was a paper published during the World War II
with the names of Zavoisky, Altshuler and Kozyrev – Altshuler was absent with the army between 1941–1946, yet his ideas were valued by his group.
, in the first day of the World War II
Altshuler volunteered to serve in the army. After a short training course, he joined an anti-tank artillery unit and fought with it until the end of war.
He returned to Kazan University in 1946, to work on the newly discovered by Zavoisky phenomenon of electron paramagnetic resonance
(EPR). In 1948, he demonstrated the so-called hyperfine interaction in EPR, that is splitting of the resonance signal due to electromagnetic interaction between the spins of the resonance electron and a nearby nucleus. This finding had great practical importance as it allowed detection of nuclei through resonance absorption by electrons. Although Zavoisky left the group in 1947 to work in nuclear physics in Moscow, he continued generating new ideas in electron resonance phenomena. In particular, he suggested that the EPR phenomena could be extended from the radio to the sound waves. This idea was theoretically developed by Altshuler in 1952 that resulted in prediction of a new phenomenon, acoustic paramagnetic resonance
. Altshuler continued working on resonance phenomena at Kazan University through the rest of his life. He died in 1983, leaving a school of students which included 10 professors
and more than 40 PhD-level scientists.
and a rank of a major
. He also received the Order of the Red Star
, Order of the Red Banner of Labour
and Order of the Badge of Honour. In 1976, he was elected as an Associated Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences
.
Acoustic paramagnetic resonance
Acoustic paramagnetic resonance is a phenomenon of resonant absorption of sound by a system of magnetic particles placed in an external magnetic field. It occurs when the energy of the sound wave quantum becomes equal to the splitting of the energy levels of the particles, the splitting being...
in 1952.
Early years
Altshuler was born in 1911 in VitebskVitebsk
Vitebsk, also known as Viciebsk or Vitsyebsk , is a city in Belarus, near the border with Russia. The capital of the Vitebsk Oblast, in 2004 it had 342,381 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth largest city...
, now a city in Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
, near the border with Russia. He finished school in Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod , colloquially shortened to Nizhny, is, with the population of 1,250,615, the fifth largest city in Russia, ranking after Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Yekaterinburg...
and later moved to Kazan
Kazan
Kazan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. With a population of 1,143,546 , it is the eighth most populous city in Russia. Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers in European Russia. In April 2009, the Russian Patent Office granted Kazan the...
, where he spent most of his life. In 1928, he entered the physics faculty of the Kazan University aiming to study theoretical physics. He graduated in 1932 and obtained a post-graduate scholarship, but had to change university due to the scholarship rules. He moved to Moscow to study with Igor Tamm
Igor Tamm
Igor Yevgenyevich Tamm was a Soviet physicist and Nobel laureate who received most prestigious Nobel Prize in Physics, jointly with Pavel Alekseyevich Cherenkov and Ilya Frank, for the discovery of Cherenkov radiation, made in 1934.-Biography:Tamm was born in Vladivostok, Russian Empire , in a...
whom he adored by his books on electricity and magnetism. In 1934, Altshuler and Tamm published a famous article which predicted the existence of the magnetic moment of neutron
Neutron
The neutron is a subatomic hadron particle which has the symbol or , no net electric charge and a mass slightly larger than that of a proton. With the exception of hydrogen, nuclei of atoms consist of protons and neutrons, which are therefore collectively referred to as nucleons. The number of...
and correctly estimated its value and sign. This idea was so unusual then that even Niels Bohr
Niels Bohr
Niels Henrik David Bohr was a Danish physicist who made foundational contributions to understanding atomic structure and quantum mechanics, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922. Bohr mentored and collaborated with many of the top physicists of the century at his institute in...
who visited Moscow in 1934 could not accept it.
In 1934, Altshuler was recalled to Kazan by Evgeny Zavoisky who offered him a position of lecturer and a chair of theoretical physics group. In Kazan, Altshuler closely collaborated with Zavoisky in his search for nuclear magnetic resonance
Nuclear magnetic resonance
Nuclear magnetic resonance is a physical phenomenon in which magnetic nuclei in a magnetic field absorb and re-emit electromagnetic radiation...
and electron paramagnetic resonance
Electron paramagnetic resonance
Electron paramagnetic resonance or electron spin resonance spectroscopyis a technique for studying chemical species that have one or more unpaired electrons, such as organic and inorganic free radicals or inorganic complexes possessing a transition metal ion...
. One indication of this collaboration was a paper published during the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
with the names of Zavoisky, Altshuler and Kozyrev – Altshuler was absent with the army between 1941–1946, yet his ideas were valued by his group.
World War II and after
As a member of the Communist PartyCommunist Party of the Soviet Union
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only legal, ruling political party in the Soviet Union and one of the largest communist organizations in the world...
, in the first day of the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Altshuler volunteered to serve in the army. After a short training course, he joined an anti-tank artillery unit and fought with it until the end of war.
He returned to Kazan University in 1946, to work on the newly discovered by Zavoisky phenomenon of electron paramagnetic resonance
Electron paramagnetic resonance
Electron paramagnetic resonance or electron spin resonance spectroscopyis a technique for studying chemical species that have one or more unpaired electrons, such as organic and inorganic free radicals or inorganic complexes possessing a transition metal ion...
(EPR). In 1948, he demonstrated the so-called hyperfine interaction in EPR, that is splitting of the resonance signal due to electromagnetic interaction between the spins of the resonance electron and a nearby nucleus. This finding had great practical importance as it allowed detection of nuclei through resonance absorption by electrons. Although Zavoisky left the group in 1947 to work in nuclear physics in Moscow, he continued generating new ideas in electron resonance phenomena. In particular, he suggested that the EPR phenomena could be extended from the radio to the sound waves. This idea was theoretically developed by Altshuler in 1952 that resulted in prediction of a new phenomenon, acoustic paramagnetic resonance
Acoustic paramagnetic resonance
Acoustic paramagnetic resonance is a phenomenon of resonant absorption of sound by a system of magnetic particles placed in an external magnetic field. It occurs when the energy of the sound wave quantum becomes equal to the splitting of the energy levels of the particles, the splitting being...
. Altshuler continued working on resonance phenomena at Kazan University through the rest of his life. He died in 1983, leaving a school of students which included 10 professors
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
and more than 40 PhD-level scientists.
Awards
For his military achievements, Altshuler was awarded three Orders of the Patriotic WarOrder of the Patriotic War
The Order of the Patriotic War is a Soviet military decoration that was awarded to all soldiers in the Soviet armed forces, security troops, and to partisans for heroic deeds during the German-Soviet War, known by the former-Soviet Union as the Great Patriotic War.- History :The Order was...
and a rank of a major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
. He also received the Order of the Red Star
Order of the Red Star
Established on 6 April 1930, the Order of the Red Star was an order of the Soviet Union, given to Red Army and Soviet Navy personnel for "exceptional service in the cause of the defense of the Soviet Union in both war and peace". It was established by Resolution of the Presidium of the CEC of 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...
and Order of the Badge of Honour. In 1976, he was elected as an Associated Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Academy of Sciences
The 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....
.