(mainly in Russian) edited by G Merzon, Moscow, 335pp, pbk.
This book surveys the career of Armenian physicist academician Artem Alikhanian (1908-1978), including his initial work at the Leningrad Physical and Technical Institute; the first expedition to Mount Aragats in Armenia to establish a centre for cosmic-ray studies; the foundation of the Yerevan Physics Institute and the years of his directorship (1943-1973); the construction of one of the world’s largest electron ring accelerators at the time, the 6 GeV Yerevan machine; his pioneering use of X-ray transition radiation as an important tool in particle detection; and the application of crystals for the formation of polarized beams of electrons and photons. Despite this illustrious history, the institute is unfortunately suffering serious difficulties owing to inadequate funding and the uncertainty of its civic status.
Contributors to the book are close friends, colleagues and former colleagues of Alikhanian, including A Amatuni, L Artsimovich, T Asatiani, M Daion, B Dolgoshein, V Dzhelepov, V Goldansky, A Migdal, L Okun, W Panofsky and R Wilson.
Alikhanian’s notable scientific achievements, his versatile intellect and wide culture brought him recognition among the international physics community. In their reminiscences, Panofsky and Wilson wrote: “We wish he was still with us during this time when Armenians, Russians, Americans and other people of the world are collaborating in many activities in high energy physics.”
The publication was supported in part by the Lebedev Institute of Physics, Moscow, Russia; the Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation, Armenia; and the Yerevan Physics Institute.
