A. M. Prokhorov

Dates

July 11, 1916 – January 8, 2002

Authorized Form of Name

Prokhorov, A. M. (Aleksandr Mikhaĭlovich), 1916-2002

Additional Forms of Names

Procherow, Alexander, 1916-2002

Prochorov, Aleksandr Michajlovič, 1916-2002

Prokhorov, Alexander M., 1916-2002

Прохоров, A. M. (Александр Михайлович), 1916-2002

Biography

Abstract

Aleksandr M. Prokhorov won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1964 alongside Charles H. Townes and Nicolay G. Basov, "for fundamental work in the field of quantum electronics, which has led to the construction of oscillators and amplifiers based on the maser-laser principle."

Important Dates

July 11, 1916Birth, Atherton (Australia).

1939Obtained BSc in Physics, Leningrad State University (Leningradskiĭ gosudarstvennyĭ universitet), Saint Petersburg (Russia).

1939 – 1941Postgraudate student researcher, P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute (Fizicheskiĭ institut imeni P.N. Lebedeva), Moscow (Russia).

1944 – 1954After military service named Assistant Chief of the Laboratory (1950); and Director of the Laboratory of Oscillations (1954), P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute (Fizicheskiĭ institut imeni P.N. Lebedeva), Moscow (Russia).

1946Awarded Russian Medal of Valor.

1951Obtained PhD in Physics, Leningrad State University (Leningradskiĭ gosudarstvennyĭ universitet), Saint Petersburg (Russia).

1954 – 1968Professor, Moscow M. V. Lomonosov State University (Moskovskiĭ gosudarstvennyĭ universitet im. M.V. Lomonosova), Moscow (Russia).

1959Awarded the Lenin Prize.

1960Member, Russian Academy of Sciences (Rossiiskaia akademiia nauk).

1964Awarded Nobel Prize in Physics alongside Charles H. Townes and Nikolay G. Basov "for fundamental work in the field of quantum electronics, which has led to the construction of oscillators and amplifiers based on the maser-laser principle".

1967Awarded the Order of Lenin (received four additional times in 1969, 1975, 1981, and 1986).

1968Foreign Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

1968 – 1971Vice Director, P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute (Fizicheskiĭ institut imeni P.N. Lebedeva).

1969Awarded the Hero of Socialist Labor Award.

1969 – 1978Editor in Chief, Great Soviet Encyclopedia (Bolshaya Sovetskaya Entsiklopediya).

1971 – 1982Head of Laboratory, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (Moskovskiĭ fiziko-tekhnicheskiĭ institut).

1983 – 1988Founder and Director, General Physics Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences (Rossiiskaia akademiia nauk), Moscow (Russia).

2000Awarded the OSA Frederic Ives Medal.

2001Honorary Member, Optical Society of America.

January 8, 2002Death, Moscow (Russia).

Occupation

Optical physicist.

Places

Subjects

Laser spectroscopy.

Masers.

Optical physics and engineering.

Oscillators, Electric.

Quantum electrodynamics.

Relationships

People

Family

Prokhorov, Kirill A.

Son, and physicist.

Shelepina, Galina

Wife, married 1941.

Advisors & Collaborators

Basov, N. G. (Nikolaĭ Gennadievich), 1922-2001

Advised by Prokhorov at Academy of Sciences of the USSR. Awarded 1964 Nobel Prize in Physics along with Charles Townes "for fundamental work in the field of quantum electronics, which has led to the construction of oscillators and amplifiers based on the maser-laser principle."

Buzzi, J. M. (Jean-Max)

Collaborated on book, "Coherent Radiation Generation and Particle Acceleration."

Ioffe, A. F. (Abram Fedorovich), 1880-1960

Collaborated on book, "Chteniia lamiati."

Leontovich, M. A.

Advisor and collaborator at P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute.

Papaleksi, Nikolaj Dmitrievič (1880-1947)

Advisor at P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute.

Rytov, S. M., 1908-

Advisor at P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute.

Sprangle, P. (Phillip)

Collaborated on book, "Coherent Radiation Generation and Particle Acceleration."

Townes, Charles H.

Awarded 1964 Nobel Prize along with Nicolay Basov "for fundamental work in the field of quantum electronics, which has led to the construction of oscillators and amplifiers based on the maser-laser principle."

Wille, K.

Collaborated on book, "Coherent Radiation Generation and Particle Acceleration."