Nikolai Kochin
Encyclopedia
Nikolai Evgrafovoch Kochin (May 19, 1901, St Petersburg–December 31, 1944, Moscow
) was a Russia
n and Soviet mathematician specialising in applied mathematics
, and especially fluid and gas mechanics.
In 1925 Kochin married Pelagea Polubarinova. They had two daughters.
In 1928 Kochin spent a semester in Göttingen
, where he helped Gamow
to solve the alpha decay
problem through quantum tunneling.
Kochin moved to Moscow 1934. He taught mathematics and mechanics at Moscow State University
from 1934 until his death, and was the head of the mechanics section of the Mechanics Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences from 1939 to 1944.
In 1943 Kochin became ill with sarcoma
and died in 1944.
, gas dynamics
and shock waves in compressible fluids. He gave the solution to the problem of small amplitude waves on the surface of an uncompressed liquid in Towards a Theory of Cauchy-Poisson Waves in 1935.
He also worked on the pitch and roll of ships. In aerodynamics he introduced formulae for aerodynamic force and for the distribution of pressure.
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...
) was a 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 and Soviet mathematician specialising in applied mathematics
Applied mathematics
Applied mathematics is a branch of mathematics that concerns itself with mathematical methods that are typically used in science, engineering, business, and industry. Thus, "applied mathematics" is a mathematical science with specialized knowledge...
, and especially fluid and gas mechanics.
Biography
Kochin graduated from Petrograd University in 1923. He taught mathematics and mechanics at Leningrad State University from 1924 to 1934.In 1925 Kochin married Pelagea Polubarinova. They had two daughters.
In 1928 Kochin spent a semester in Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
, where he helped Gamow
George Gamow
George Gamow , born Georgiy Antonovich Gamov , was a Russian-born theoretical physicist and cosmologist. He discovered alpha decay via quantum tunneling and worked on radioactive decay of the atomic nucleus, star formation, stellar nucleosynthesis, Big Bang nucleosynthesis, cosmic microwave...
to solve the alpha decay
Alpha decay
Alpha decay is a type of radioactive decay in which an atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle and thereby transforms into an atom with a mass number 4 less and atomic number 2 less...
problem through quantum tunneling.
Kochin moved to Moscow 1934. He taught mathematics and mechanics at 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...
from 1934 until his death, and was the head of the mechanics section of the Mechanics Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences from 1939 to 1944.
In 1943 Kochin became ill with sarcoma
Sarcoma
A sarcoma is a cancer that arises from transformed cells in one of a number of tissues that develop from embryonic mesoderm. Thus, sarcomas include tumors of bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, vascular, and hematopoietic tissues...
and died in 1944.
Research interests
Kochin's research was on meteorologyMeteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
, gas dynamics
Gas dynamics
Gas dynamics is a branch of fluid dynamics concerned with studying the motion of gases and its consequent effects. Gas dynamics combines the principles of fluid mechanics and thermodynamics...
and shock waves in compressible fluids. He gave the solution to the problem of small amplitude waves on the surface of an uncompressed liquid in Towards a Theory of Cauchy-Poisson Waves in 1935.
He also worked on the pitch and roll of ships. In aerodynamics he introduced formulae for aerodynamic force and for the distribution of pressure.
Articles
- Biography in Dictionary of Scientific Biography (New York 1970-1990).
- S M Belotserkovskii, The work of N E Kochin and some current problems of aerodynamics and hydrodynamics, N E Kochin and the development of mechanics, 'Nauka' (Moscow, 1984), 115-130.
- A A Dorodnitsyn, N E Kochin-principles and system of the scientist's work (Russian), N E Kochin and the development of mechanics, 'Nauka' (Moscow, 1984), 8-12.
- A Yu Ishlinskii, Nikolai Evgrafovich Kochin (Russian), N E Kochin and the development of mechanics, 'Nauka' (Moscow, 1984), 5-8.
- A Yu Ishlinskii, N E Kochin and theoretical mechanics, N E Kochin and the development of mechanics, 'Nauka' (Moscow, 1984), 169-174.
- S A Khristianovich, The works of N E Kochin (Russian), N E Kochin and the development of mechanics, 'Nauka' (Moscow, 1984), 13-19.
- Nikolai Evgrafovich Kochin (on the occasion of the ninetieth anniversary of his birth) (Russian), Prikl. Mat. Mekh. 55 (4) (1991), 533-534.
External links
- Picture – from 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....
web site.