Alex Gurevich
Encyclopedia
Aleksandr Viktorovich Gurevich (b. September 19, 1930) is a Soviet
and Russia
n physicist. In 1992 he proposed the theory of lightning
initiation known as the "runaway breakdown
".
Gurevich graduated from Moscow State University
in 1952. In 1984 he became a Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences (Russian Academy of Sciences
since 1991). He was the head of the I. E. Tamm
Theoretical Department at the Lebedev Physical Institute
. From 2010 he is the head of Academic Department of Physics and Astrophysics Problems in Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.
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....
and 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 physicist. In 1992 he proposed the theory of lightning
Lightning
Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
initiation known as the "runaway breakdown
Runaway breakdown
Runaway breakdown is a theory of lightning initiation proposed by Alex Gurevich in 1992.Electrons in air have a mean free path of ~1cm. Fast electrons which move at a large fraction of the speed of light have a mean free path up to 100 times longer...
".
Gurevich graduated from 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 1952. In 1984 he became a Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences (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....
since 1991). He was the head of the I. E. 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...
Theoretical Department 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...
. From 2010 he is the head of Academic Department of Physics and Astrophysics Problems in Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.
Fields of Research
His work has focused on:- Plasma kinetics (1955-)
- Ionospheric physics (1955-)
- Nonlinear dynamics of non-collisional plasmasPlasma (physics)In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. Heating a gas may ionize its molecules or atoms , thus turning it into a plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions...
(1963-) - Nonlinear waves in dispersive hydrodynamics (1973-)
- Artificial ionized layers in the atmosphere (1977-)
- The electrodynamics of neutron starNeutron starA neutron star is a type of stellar remnant that can result from the gravitational collapse of a massive star during a Type II, Type Ib or Type Ic supernova event. Such stars are composed almost entirely of neutrons, which are subatomic particles without electrical charge and with a slightly larger...
magnetosphereMagnetosphereA magnetosphere is formed when a stream of charged particles, such as the solar wind, interacts with and is deflected by the intrinsic magnetic field of a planet or similar body. Earth is surrounded by a magnetosphere, as are the other planets with intrinsic magnetic fields: Mercury, Jupiter,...
s (1983–1993) - Nonlinear dynamics of dark matterDark matterIn astronomy and cosmology, dark matter is matter that neither emits nor scatters light or other electromagnetic radiation, and so cannot be directly detected via optical or radio astronomy...
(1988-)