Lev Landau
22 January 1908 – 1 April 1968
Lev Davidovich Landau (1908-1968) was a Soviet theoretical physicist who made fundamental contributions across physics, including the theory of superfluidity, phase transitions, Fermi-liquid theory, and diamagnetism. He received the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physics for his pioneering theories of condensed matter, especially liquid helium. With Evgeny Lifshitz he authored the influential multi-volume Course of Theoretical Physics.
Lived at the same time
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Life events
Lev Landau was born into a Jewish family in Baku (in present-day Azerbaijan), the son of a petroleum engineer.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgA prodigy who entered university at 14, Landau completed his physics degree at Leningrad State University at age 19.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgOn a Soviet government fellowship Landau visited research centers in Germany, Switzerland, England, and Denmark, where Bohr's institute strongly shaped his approach to physics.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgIn Kharkiv Landau built a leading school of theoretical physics and began the Course of Theoretical Physics with Evgeny Lifshitz.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgLandau joined Pyotr Kapitsa's Institute for Physical Problems as head of its theoretical division, a post he held for the rest of his career.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgLandau was arrested in April 1938 on charges connected to an anti-Stalin leaflet and held in an NKVD prison until his release in April 1939, secured after Kapitsa personally appealed on his behalf.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgLandau explained the superfluid behavior of helium II discovered by Kapitsa, introducing the concepts of phonon and roton excitations.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgLandau received the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physics for his pioneering theories of condensed matter, especially liquid helium; the prize was presented to him in his Moscow hospital.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgA collision near Moscow on 7 January 1962 left Landau in a coma for weeks; although he survived, he never returned to research.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgLandau died at age 60 from complications of the injuries sustained in his 1962 car accident.
Source: en.wikipedia.org