At the age of 88, Zhores Alferov, a Soviet and Russian scientist and Nobel Prize in Physics, passed away. This was reported by his wife Tamara Darskaya.

According to the chief physician of the hospital of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Oleg Chagunava, the cause of death was acute cardiopulmonary failure.

“Death came yesterday, March 1, at 23:40 Moscow time,” TASS quoted him as saying.

As the head of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation Gennady Zyuganov, in the past few months, the scientist was in the hospital - Alferov was hospitalized in November 2018 after a severe hypertensive exacerbation. Zyuganov also added that shortly before his death, Alferov worked on drawing up a letter on the development of the scientific industry in the country, which he wanted to send to the name of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

“I had him in the hospital, he was treated. I must say, it seemed to me, everything worked out, he felt fine, prepared a letter addressed to the president and the prime minister about the development of academic science, ”Zyuganov said.

Zhores Alferov was the winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics. He received an award in 2000 with American Herbert Kremer for developing semiconductor heterostructures used in high-frequency circuits and optoelectronics.

In 2001, the Russian physicist transferred part of his Nobel Prize to a charitable foundation that supports education and science, which he himself established.

The scientist’s record includes many other international awards and prizes, including Global Energy and a gold medal to them. A.S. Popova RAS.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences in connection with the death of Alferov.

“The head of state noted the great contribution of the great Russian scientist to the development of Russian and world science, noted the firm civil position and the role he played in the public life of the country,” said Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Science and social activities

Science, specifically electronics, Alferov became fascinated in childhood. After graduating from high school number 2 in Minsk, he finished with a gold medal, he entered the Belarusian Polytechnic Institute, but a year later he transferred to the Leningrad Electrotechnical Institute and graduated with honors with a degree in Electrovacuum Engineering.

After that, he began work at the Leningrad Institute of Physics and Technology (now the AF Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences - RT ), where he joined the work on the creation of the first Soviet transistors and germanium devices. We emphasize that, in total, Alferov was the author of over 600 scientific papers, 50 inventions and three monographs.

The works of the scientist were evaluated and noted by the state. Alferov is the owner of many domestic awards and prizes, including the Lenin and State Prizes of the USSR and the Russian Federation, the Order of Lenin, the October Revolution, the Red Banner of Labor, Alexander Nevsky. In addition, the scientist became a full holder of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland.

The merits of the Russian physicist have also not been noticed abroad. He was awarded the Orders of the Legion of Honor (France), Yaroslav the Wise, V degree (Ukraine), Francis Skaryna, as well as Peoples Friendship (Belarus).

From 1990 to 2017, Alferov was Vice President of the Soviet and then the Russian Academy of Sciences. Since 2010, he has become co-chairman of the advisory scientific council of the Development Fund of the Center for the Development and Commercialization of Skolkovo New Technologies.

In addition, he was engaged in social and political activities, was a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, and later of the State Duma of the Russian Federation.

  • Zhores Alferov during a meeting of the State Duma of the Russian Federation
  • RIA News
  • © Vladimir Fedorenko

“I never stayed away from human problems”

According to the ex-presidential candidate Pavel Grudinin, Zhores Alferov can be called the pride of Russia.

“We have not so many Nobel laureates. We must be proud of just such people. He always stood on the principles of justice, equality and fraternity. This is a very heavy loss for us and for the whole country, ”he said in a conversation with RT.

This is an irreplaceable loss for the scientific community of the Russian Federation, added Boris Chernyshov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Education and Science.

“He was an incredibly responsive person, with whom it was always very interesting to communicate. He never stayed away from human problems. Both professors and ordinary citizens could come to him, he was always glad to everyone, ”the parliamentarian stressed.

Alferov was the “fiery advocate” of Russian science, using both the academic rostrum and the State Duma, the president of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander Sergeev noted.

“Zhores Ivanovich Alferov was the highest, brightest point of our science. This is our great scientist by all standards. And his brilliant achievements have long been recognized all over the world, ”RIA Novosti quotes him.

In turn, the head of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Compatriots Affairs Leonid Kalashnikov noted that Alferov was a patriot who did not leave the country in the 1990s, although he would be in demand in the West.

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“After many years in the State Duma Committee on Science and Education, he suddenly, several months ago, decided to join the committee, which I head. I then asked him about the reasons for this decision. And he said that our past is our future. The first thing he wanted to do in the committee was to create the Academy of Sciences in the Eurasian Economic Union. He has always been like this. In those difficult years, he directed half of his Nobel Prize to the development of an academic and educational institute in St. Petersburg. I did it without a shadow of a doubt, ”said the source RT.

According to the first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, Dmitry Novikov, the best memory of a scientist would be the same attitude towards life, the fate of the country and the people, which he himself followed.

“He always tried to protect Russian science, he did it honestly and sincerely. He always worried about the Academy of Sciences, found an opportunity to support us when it was required, including during political battles. He will remain with us forever, because many have a personal impression of communicating with this person who is deeply thinking and deeply experienced what is happening in the country, ”Novikov explained in an interview with RT.

Zhores Alferov will be buried in the cemetery in Komarovo near St. Petersburg. Reports about it TASS with reference to the city administration.