Born on April 7, 1931 in Moscow in the family of physicist Veniamin Lvovich Granovsky and mathematician Lyudmila Vsevolodovna Keldysh (sister of Academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences Mstislav Keldysh).

In 1954 he graduated from the Faculty of Physics of Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov (MSU). In 1957 - postgraduate studies at the Physics Institute named after. P.N. Lebedev Academy of Sciences of the USSR (FIAN, Moscow). Leonid Keldysh's scientific supervisor was the scientist Vitaly Ginzburg (Nobel Prize winner in physics, 2003).

Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (the academic degree was awarded in 1965 when defending a candidate's thesis at the Lebedev Physical Institute on the topic "Semiconductors in strong electric fields"). In 1968 he was elected a corresponding member, in 1976 - an academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences (now the Russian Academy of Sciences, RAS).

After completing his postgraduate studies, he remained at the Physics Institute. P.N. Lebedev, worked in the Department of Theoretical Physics (now the I.E. Tamm Department of Theoretical Physics). He held the positions of junior (1957-1965), then senior researcher (1965-1968), head of the sector (1965-1989). From 1989 to 1993 he was director of the Lebedev Physical Institute. Since 1994, he has been the chief researcher of the Department of Theoretical Physics. Currently he is a member of the academic council of the department, as well as the scientific and dissertation councils of the institute.
Since 1962 he was a professor at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (now has the status of a state university).
In 1965 he became a professor at Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov. In 1978-2000 Head of the Department of Quantum Radiophysics (now the Department of Quantum Electronics) of the Faculty of Physics of the University. Since 2001, I taught the course “Interaction of Radiation with Matter” for several years.
In 1991-1996 served as Academician-Secretary of the Department of General Physics and Astronomy of the USSR Academy of Sciences (later RAS).
Advisor to the Russian Academy of Sciences, member of the Presidium of the Academy. Chairman of the National Committee of Russian Physicists (operates under the RAS). Editor-in-Chief of the Russian Academy of Sciences journal "Advances in Physical Sciences" (since December 2009).
Leonid Keldysh's main scientific works are devoted to the quantum theory of many-particle systems, solid-state physics, as well as semiconductor physics and quantum radiophysics. In 1957-1958 The scientist developed the theory of the tunnel effect in semiconductors and discovered a phenomenon called the Franz-Keldysh effect. Constructed a general theory of the behavior of atoms and solids in strong electromagnetic fields. Predicted a new type of collective excitation - phonoriton and studied its properties (1983-1986). He developed a special diagram technique for the theoretical description of the states and kinetics of highly nonequilibrium quantum systems, which has become classical and has found application in various fields of physics.

He was awarded the Lenin Prize (1974) and the Prize of the President of the Russian Federation in the field of education for 2003. He was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor (1975), the Order of the October Revolution (1985), and “For Services to the Fatherland”, IV degree (1999).

Winner of many awards: them. M.V. Lomonosov Academy of Sciences of the USSR (1964), Hewlett-Packard ("Hewlett-Packard") European Physical Society (1975), named after. Alexander Humboldt (1994; Germany), international prize in the field of nanotechnology RUSNANOPRIZE-2009, named after. AND I. Pomeranchuk (2014; awarded by the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Physics, Moscow), Moscow State University Prize for outstanding contribution to the development of education (2014), etc.
Awarded medals of the Russian Academy of Sciences: gold named after. S.I. Vavilov (2005) and the Big Gold named after. M.V. Lomonosov (2015).
Honorary member of the Physico-Technical Institute named after. A.F. Ioffe RAS (St. Petersburg; 1992).
Foreign member of the US National Academy of Sciences (1995), member of the American Physical Society (1996). In 1997, the Russian scientist was awarded the honorary title of “X-ray Professor” at the University of Würzburg (Germany).

Published more than 200 scientific papers. Among them are “On the behavior of non-metallic crystals in strong electric fields” (1957), “On the influence of a strong electric field on the optical characteristics of non-conducting crystals” (1958), “Diagram technique for nonequilibrium processes” (1964), “Superconductivity in non-metallic systems” ( 1965), “Phonon wind and capillary instability of electron-hole drops” (1975), etc. He is the author of the textbook “Interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter” (1989).

It is impossible to come to terms with the thought that Leonid Veniaminovich Keldysh has left us. He was a great physicist, an outstanding personality and a wonderful person.

Ideas and results of L.V. formed entire areas of physics; effects, formulas, and theories that form the basis of many areas of condensed matter physics, the quantum theory of nonequilibrium processes, and nonlinear optics bear his name. This is the concept of “inelastic” tunneling in semiconductors and the theory of ionization in a strong electromagnetic field - the operating principle of the Esaki diode and the Franz-Keldysh effect. Multiphoton ionization of atoms in a strong laser field is the theoretical basis for the creation of ultrashort (attosecond) laser pulses. The Keldysh diagram technique for nonequilibrium processes is a working tool for an army of theorists in all areas of modern physics, from high energies to theories of highly correlated, low-dimensional and nanosystems in solids, including the theory of control of single molecules by tunnel current. Leonid Veniaminovich was the first to foresee the gigantic possibilities of controlling the electronic spectra of solids using superlattices - the operating principle of nanodevices; The physics of heterostructures, the basis of modern nanophysics, began with this idea. He created a wonderful world of cold electron-hole systems. His theoretical predictions of new states - electron-hole liquid, Bose condensation of two-fermion compound excitations (excitons), excitonic insulator, phonoritons - have served as a catalyst for intensive research in modern physics for decades.

Outstanding scientific achievements of L.V. were awarded many awards and prizes: the Lomonosov Prize of the USSR Academy of Sciences (1964), the Lenin Prize (1974), the EPS Europhysics Prize (1975), the S. I. Vavilov Gold Medal of the Russian Academy of Sciences (2005), the International Prize in Nanotechnology RUSNANOPRIZE (2009) , Eugene Feenberg Memorial Medal (2011), I. Ya. Pomeranchuk Prize (2014), Big Gold Medal named after M. V. Lomonosov (2015), etc.

L.V. had the opportunity to occupy the highest positions in our scientific hierarchy, and his decisions were always principled and motivated by the interests of science. He will remain for us an example of selfless service to science and an honest attitude to all the responsibilities that he considered necessary to take upon himself to preserve science in Russia.

Leonid Veniaminovich was a highly moral person, a man of crystal purity and the highest fortitude. He was always guided by the rule: “Never ask for anything! They will offer and give everything themselves...” These qualities of Leonid Veniaminovich determined his high moral authority.

We had the good fortune to communicate with Leonid Veniaminovich and learn from him for many years. Knowing that we could turn to him for advice in the most difficult situations created a sense of stability in our lives and gave us strength. We are orphaned and will miss him dearly.

Our sincere condolences to family and friends.

P. I. Arseev, M. A. Vasiliev, N. A. Gippius, I. I. Ivanchik, N. S. Maslova, V. I. Panov, V. A. Rubakov,
M. V. Sadovsky, N. N. Sibeldin, S. M. Stishov, R. A. Suris, V. B. Timofeev, S. G. Tikhodeev

Academician L. V. Keldysh and the fate of the Academy of Sciences

I was not familiar with Leonid Veniaminovich Keldysh and attended his speech only once, which, however, greatly influenced my views.

It seems to me that it would be appropriate to quote now this speech by L.V. Keldysh at the Conference of Scientists of Scientific Institutions of the Russian Academy of Sciences (enlarged General Meeting) on ​​December 10, 1991, that is, almost exactly 25 years ago.

L. V. Keldysh: I will present a subjective point of view, which, as far as I know, most of my colleagues do not share, considering it too radical. This is an attempt to understand what awaits us in the upcoming market, since fundamental science, as we all understand, is not a market product. And at the same time, we all agree that we consider our fundamental science to be national wealth that must be preserved. I proceed from a rather pessimistic forecast about the opportunities that we will actually have. I assume that our system of purely research academic institutions, unprecedented in scale, will not be able to survive as a single whole in the future. To begin with, I will refer to world experience: not a single country in the world, including the richest, who spend tens or even hundreds of times more on science than we can afford, allows itself to have hundreds of thousands of citizens whose sole purpose is to carry out fundamental research. It’s as if a demonstration experiment was set up especially for us - I mean the fate of the Academy of Sciences of the GDR, which was largely a copy of ours and, in general, not so bad. Today this academy does not exist. And this happened in a country with a highly organized market economy, with a traditionally very respectful attitude towards science. Economics dictates its own rules of behavior and its own reasonable proportions - the proportions between fundamental and applied science, between purely research work and the training of new personnel. In our previous life these factors were ignored.

We talk about the need to preserve scientific potential and we all admit that it is rapidly being destroyed. But let’s ask the question: how much time do we still have left? How long can a researcher be unable to conduct scientific work without being disqualified? I think the number 3 will not be exaggerated. We have essentially already lived through one year; there are no big doubts about the next year, so judge for yourself.

A conversation about the future of our science should begin with the question: what kind of science do we need and in what volume? What kind of science is our society willing to pay for and at what price? In conditions of extreme financial tension, this question requires a clear answer without any guile - so as not to throw away the small funds that society can allocate to science, and not to create illusions among a large mass of scientific workers.

The basis of technologies for the near future is applied science, and fundamental science works for future decades. Do we need such basic science in our current circumstances? In general, only the richest countries in the world actually allow themselves to maintain fundamental research at a high level - countries that claim to be world leaders. Of course, none of us or our top leaders are mature enough to say that we are forever abandoning the prospect of being one of the leading nations of the world. Therefore, our society will, in a sense, support fundamental science, but funding in any case will be extremely limited. In order to preserve all the existing potential and maintain it at the global level, there is no such money in Russia and there will not be for a long time. And we will have to take extremely tough measures to make the most rational use of the funds allocated to us. In reality, this will come down to the fact that it will be necessary to strictly limit the number of supported teams, focusing only on the most high-quality ones, but maintaining them at a level as close as possible to the world one. In addition, a strict distinction must be made between fundamental and semi-applied work. For this purpose, there should be two different funds: a fund for basic research and a fund for scientific and technological development.

If we remain at the level of universal equal beggary, then fundamental science will die very, very quickly. Most groups must earn stable basic funding in the field of education or production (in the broad sense). And only a very small number of national research centers should receive basic funding directly from the government.

Thus, current academic institutions may have three different paths to the market: either a research center (for a small number of institutes), or an institute within a university, or in a commercial structure or even as an independent innovation firm. The Academy and the Ministry of Science should provide all our teams with maximum assistance in finding their place.

I do not share everyone’s joy over the transfer to the ownership of the Academy of all the property it uses. This is a dangerous step for the development and even the existence of our fundamental science. Throughout the world, scientists are employees and not owners of their means of production. Property is the basis of business activity, and there will be people who will be able to use this property for its intended purpose. Science will be swept away from institutions by the invasion of small business. No bans or regulations can stop this invasion. Therefore, all this property should be national property, not academic property. It should be managed by a state body - the ministry, the State Committee for Science and Technology - based on a system of expert councils and responsible for financing fundamental science. As for institutions involved in the field of education or commercial activities, the property they use must be transferred to them as a “dowry”.

As for the Academy of Sciences in the narrow sense of the word - as a meeting of members of the Academy of Sciences - then in the version I propose it is deprived of all administrative and distribution functions. More precisely, he is not deprived, but freed. The performance of these functions, which are not typical for it, primarily causes damage to itself, turning it from a scientific meeting into a general administrative council.

Zhimulev (Novosibirsk): Who and how will select first-class scientific teams for support? The structure of the modern Academy, with its academicians and doctors, is not capable of this.

Keldysh: Indeed, the question of evaluation criteria in science, if strict selection is needed, is a very complex question that does not have a clear answer, and there is always some degree of uncertainty. Therefore, I will start with a simpler question, but of the same type - grant funding. Who really gives grants, how objective is the examination? I think expert councils should not be within the Academy, but under the body that gives the money, say, under the Ministry. It seems to me extremely important that the expert council consists of people hired for permanent work, which should be highly paid. So that the expert feels responsible. Many will say that few people would agree to this - to take a break from their scientific work for 2–3 years. I think that in a market economy, when there is a problem finding work, highly qualified people will become experts. They must serve on the council for no more than three years. Secondly, there should be an absolute ban on participation in the expert council of people occupying a high administrative position or having personal interests in financing. When classifying not projects, but entire scientific teams, the requirements should be even more stringent. None of the rating systems is absolute, but it is still possible to introduce a relatively objective scale.

Velikhov: The Academy of Sciences of the GDR was made completely dependent on the plants. The system of combines collapsed - and the Academy of Sciences of the GDR collapsed. So the analogy is superficial.

Keldysh: Wasn’t our fundamental science tied to some system and didn’t this structure collapse too?

It is obvious that many of the questions clearly formulated then by L.V. Keldysh still remain unanswered and have not even been sufficiently comprehended by the majority of the scientific community.

Andrey Kalinichev

IV.1931-11.XI.2016)- Russian theoretical physicist academician. USSR Academy of Sciences (1976, corresponding member 1968). R. in Moscow. Graduated from Moscow University (1954). Works at the Physical Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences (head of the rum department), since 1969 - also a professor, since 1978 - head. Department of Moscow University. Advisor to the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Chairman of the National Committee of Russian Physicists. Son of L.V. Keldysh, nephew of M.V. Keldysh and Yu.V. Keldyshey. Grandson V.M. Keldysh. He was brought up in the family of his mother and her second husband P.S. Novikova, half-brother of S.P. Novikova.

Research in the field of quantum theory of many particle systems solid state physics semiconductor physics quantum radiophysics. Constructed (1957 - 58) a systematic theory of tunneling phenomena in semiconductors. For the first time (1957), he carried out a correct calculation of the probability of a tunnel transition, taking into account the band structure of the materials used. Predicted the so-called indirect (with the participation of phonons) tunneling effect (1957) and the effect of shifting absorption bands in semiconductor crystals under the influence of an electric field (Franz-Keldysh effect) (1958). He showed (1964) that the multiquantum photoelectric effect and the high-frequency tunnel effect are different limiting cases of the same process and built a general theory of these phenomena. For a series of theoretical works on semiconductor physics, he was awarded the Lenin Prize in 1974.

In 1962 he proposed using spatially periodic fields (superlattices) to control the electronic spectrum and electronic properties of crystals. Developed (1964) a very general and effective theoretical apparatus for considering strongly nonequilibrium states of quantum statistical systems. Predicted (1968) the condensation of excitons with the formation of electron-hole drops.
Recent works are devoted to the theory of condensed matter.

Member of the US National Academy of Sciences and the American Physical Society.

M.V. Lomonosov Prize of the USSR Academy of Sciences (1964), Lenin Prize (1974), Hewlett-Packard Prize of the European Physical Society (1975), Prize named after. Alexander Humboldt (1994). X-ray prof. University of Würzburg (1997). Prize of the President of the Russian Federation in the field of education for 2003 - for work for educational institutions of higher professional education “Educational and Scientific Center “Fundamental Optics and Spectroscopy” - a complex for training highly qualified personnel, new scientific and educational technologies. Gold medal named after S.I. Vavilov of the Russian Academy of Sciences (2005) - for a series of works “Creation of modern methods for describing nonequilibrium states in the theory of condensed matter.” Laureate of the International Prize in Nanotechnology RUSNANOPRIZE (2009) - for pioneering research into superlattices and tunneling effects in semiconductors. Prize named after I.Ya. Pomeranchuk (2014). Big gold medal of the Russian Academy of Sciences named after M.V. Lomonosov (2015).

Leonid Veniaminovich Keldysh(born April 7, Moscow) - Russian theoretical physicist, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences (), Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. Advisor to the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences, chairman of the National Committee of Russian Physicists, editor-in-chief of the journal “Uspekhi Fizicheskikh Nauk”.

Biography

Scientific achievements

Research in the field of quantum theory of many particle systems, solid state physics, semiconductor physics, quantum radiophysics.

Constructed (1957-58) a systematic theory of tunneling phenomena in semiconductors. For the first time (1957), he carried out a correct calculation of the probability of a tunnel transition, taking into account the band structure of the materials used. Predicted the so-called indirect (with the participation of phonons) tunneling effect (1957) and the effect of shifting absorption bands in semiconductor crystals under the influence of an electric field (Franz-Keldysh effect) (1958). In 1962 he proposed using spatially periodic fields (superlattices) to control the electronic spectrum and electronic properties of crystals. He showed that the multiquantum photoelectric effect and the high-frequency tunnel effect are different limiting cases of the same process and built a general theory of these phenomena (1964).

For a theoretical description of the states and kinetics of highly nonequilibrium quantum systems, he developed a special diagram technique (1964). For the first time he proposed (together with Yu. V. Kopaev) (1964) the well-known model of the metal-semiconductor phase transition (exciton dielectric). Predicted the condensation of excitons to form electron-hole droplets (1968).

The works of L. V. Keldysh played an important role in the development of solid state physics.

Awards and prizes

Articles

see also

Write a review of the article "Keldysh, Leonid Veniaminovich"

Notes

Sources

• on the official website of the Russian Academy of Sciences
• // UFN, 2011, volume 181, Issue 4

An excerpt characterizing Keldysh, Leonid Veniaminovich

- Well, you know what burned, well, what’s there to talk about! - said the major.
Passing through Khamovniki (one of the few unburned quarters of Moscow) past the church, the entire crowd of prisoners suddenly huddled to one side, and exclamations of horror and disgust were heard.
- Look, you scoundrels! That's unchrist! Yes, he’s dead, he’s dead... They smeared him with something.
Pierre also moved towards the church, where there was something that caused exclamations, and vaguely saw something leaning against the fence of the church. From the words of his comrades, who saw better than him, he learned that it was something like the corpse of a man, stood upright by the fence and smeared with soot on his face...
– Marchez, sacre nom... Filez... trente mille diables... [Go! go! Damn it! Devils!] - curses from the guards were heard, and the French soldiers, with new anger, dispersed the crowd of prisoners who were looking at the dead man with cutlasses.

Along the lanes of Khamovniki, the prisoners walked alone with their convoy and carts and wagons that belonged to the guards and were driving behind them; but, going out to the supply stores, they found themselves in the middle of a huge, closely moving artillery convoy, mixed with private carts.
At the bridge itself, everyone stopped, waiting for those traveling in front to advance. From the bridge, the prisoners saw endless rows of other moving convoys behind and ahead. To the right, where the Kaluga road curved past Neskuchny, disappearing into the distance, stretched endless rows of troops and convoys. These were the troops of the Beauharnais corps who came out first; back, along the embankment and across the Stone Bridge, Ney's troops and convoys stretched.
Davout's troops, to which the prisoners belonged, marched through the Crimean Ford and had already partly entered Kaluzhskaya Street. But the convoys were so stretched out that the last convoys of Beauharnais had not yet left Moscow for Kaluzhskaya Street, and the head of Ney’s troops was already leaving Bolshaya Ordynka.
Having passed the Crimean Ford, the prisoners moved a few steps at a time and stopped, and moved again, and on all sides the crews and people became more and more embarrassed. After walking for more than an hour the few hundred steps that separate the bridge from Kaluzhskaya Street, and reaching the square where Zamoskvoretsky Streets meet Kaluzhskaya, the prisoners, squeezed into a heap, stopped and stood at this intersection for several hours. From all sides one could hear the incessant rumble of wheels, the trampling of feet, and incessant angry screams and curses, like the sound of the sea. Pierre stood pressed against the wall of the burnt house, listening to this sound, which in his imagination merged with the sounds of a drum.
Several captured officers, in order to get a better view, climbed onto the wall of the burnt house near which Pierre stood.
- To the people! Eka people!.. And they piled on the guns! Look: furs... - they said. “Look, you bastards, they robbed me... It’s behind him, on a cart... After all, this is from an icon, by God!.. These must be Germans.” And our man, by God!.. Oh, scoundrels!.. Look, he’s loaded down, he’s walking with force! Here they come, the droshky - and they captured it!.. See, he sat down on the chests. Fathers!.. We got into a fight!..
- So hit him in the face, in the face! You won't be able to wait until evening. Look, look... and this is probably Napoleon himself. You see, what horses! in monograms with a crown. This is a folding house. He dropped the bag and can't see it. They fought again... A woman with a child, and not bad at all. Yes, of course, they will let you through... Look, there is no end. Russian girls, by God, girls! They are so comfortable in the strollers!
Again, a wave of general curiosity, as near the church in Khamovniki, pushed all the prisoners towards the road, and Pierre, thanks to his height, saw over the heads of others what had so attracted the curiosity of the prisoners. In three strollers, mixed between the charging boxes, women rode, sitting closely on top of each other, dressed up, in bright colors, rouged, shouting something in squeaky voices.
From the moment Pierre became aware of the appearance of a mysterious force, nothing seemed strange or scary to him: not the corpse smeared with soot for fun, not these women hurrying somewhere, not the conflagrations of Moscow. Everything that Pierre now saw made almost no impression on him - as if his soul, preparing for a difficult struggle, refused to accept impressions that could weaken it.
The train of women has passed. Behind him were again carts, soldiers, wagons, soldiers, decks, carriages, soldiers, boxes, soldiers, and occasionally women.
Pierre did not see people separately, but saw them moving.
All these people and horses seemed to be being chased by some invisible force. All of them, during the hour during which Pierre observed them, emerged from different streets with the same desire to pass quickly; All of them equally, when confronted with others, began to get angry and fight; white teeth were bared, eyebrows frowned, the same curses were thrown around, and on all faces there was the same youthfully determined and cruelly cold expression, which struck Pierre in the morning at the sound of a drum on the corporal’s face.
Just before evening, the guard commander gathered his team and, shouting and arguing, squeezed into the convoys, and the prisoners, surrounded on all sides, went out onto the Kaluga road.
They walked very quickly, without resting, and stopped only when the sun began to set. The convoys moved one on top of the other, and people began to prepare for the night. Everyone seemed angry and unhappy. For a long time, curses, angry screams and fights were heard from different sides. The carriage driving behind the guards approached the guards' carriage and pierced it with its drawbar. Several soldiers from different directions ran to the cart; some hit the heads of the horses harnessed to the carriage, turning them over, others fought among themselves, and Pierre saw that one German was seriously wounded in the head with a cleaver.
It seemed that all these people were now experiencing, when they stopped in the middle of a field in the cold twilight of an autumn evening, the same feeling of an unpleasant awakening from the haste that gripped everyone as they left and the rapid movement somewhere. Having stopped, everyone seemed to understand that it was still unknown where they were going, and that this movement would be a lot of hard and difficult things.
The prisoners at this halt were treated even worse by the guards than during the march. At this halt, for the first time, the meat food of the prisoners was given out as horse meat.
From the officers to the last soldier, it was noticeable in everyone what seemed like a personal bitterness against each of the prisoners, which had so unexpectedly replaced previously friendly relations.
This anger intensified even more when, when counting the prisoners, it turned out that during the bustle, leaving Moscow, one Russian soldier, pretending to be sick from the stomach, fled. Pierre saw how a Frenchman beat a Russian soldier for moving far from the road, and heard how the captain, his friend, reprimanded the non-commissioned officer for the escape of the Russian soldier and threatened him with justice. In response to the non-commissioned officer's excuse that the soldier was sick and could not walk, the officer said that he had been ordered to shoot those who lag behind. Pierre felt that the fatal force that had crushed him during his execution and which had been invisible during his captivity had now again taken possession of his existence. He was scared; but he felt how, as the fatal force made efforts to crush him, a life force independent of it grew and strengthened in his soul.
Pierre dined on a soup made from rye flour with horse meat and talked with his comrades.
Neither Pierre nor any of his comrades talked about what they saw in Moscow, nor about the rudeness of the French, nor about the order to shoot that was announced to them: everyone was, as if in rebuff to the worsening situation, especially animated and cheerful . They talked about personal memories, about funny scenes seen during the campaign, and hushed up conversations about the present situation.