5. Rutherford created a school of ___________.
2 семестр. (всі спеціальності)
UNIT 1
Academician Igor Kurchatov (1903 – 1960)
Among the famous atomic scientists the first place belongs by right to Academician Igor Kurchatov.
Since 1925 I. V. Kurchatov began to work at the Physical – Engineering Institute in Leningrad. It was here that he achieved great results in the research of dielectrics which had been little known at that time.
As far as early thirties atomic research was being successfully conducted. The nuclear physics was in need of powerful source of fast particles capable of inducing a nuclear reaction. A group of young research workers, with I. Kurchatov at the head, began investigations led to a striking discovery of fission of uranium nucleus.
I. Kurchatov understood that the neutron was the key to splitting the atom and he put all his efforts into neutron research. In 1940 I. Kurchatov came to the conclusion that slow neutron chain reaction was quite possible. But World War II interrupted his work, and all research programs had to be suspended.
In 1949 the Government announced that the secret of the atom bomb no longer existed and the USA had lost its atomic monopoly. It was decided that the scientists would continue their work in the field of atom application for peace.
On June 27, 1954, the first atomic power plant in the world was put into operation near Moscow. This power generating installation based on the uranium – graphite reactor was Kurchatov`s favourite creation. Later he was carried away by another great idea – to master controlled thermonuclear reactions.
V. Kurchatov died in 1960 but his experience and his knowledge have become immortalized in the world’s first atomic power plant, atom – driven ice – breakers, in Dubna Institute and in | |