CHUDAKOV Alexander Evgenievich
(June 16, 1921 - January 25, 2001).

Academician (1987), Doctor in Physics and Mathematics, Professor.

He worked at the Institute from the moment of its foundation, until 1998 he headed the Laboratory of High Energy Leptons of the Department of High Energy Leptons and Neutrino Astrophysics, then he was a chief researcher.

He was known as an outstanding physicist with a worldwide reputation. All his bright scientific activity was an example of the influence of talent and personality on the development of a whole field of science - cosmic ray physics, which lies at the intersection of elementary particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology.

He was the first to study the high-altitude course, composition and interaction of cosmic rays with matter using rocket technology; transition radiation was observed for the first time; the effect of mutual screening at the birth of a high-energy electron-positron pair was discovered; a technique for recording Cherenkov radiation from wide atmospheric showers was developed; the first studies of cosmic rays on satellites were carried out; the outer radiation belt of the Earth was discovered.

Under his leadership, a unique scientific complex was designed and built, combining ground and underground installations of the Baksan Neutrino Observatory, where studies of the fluxes of nuclei, neutrinos and gamma quanta of high-energy cosmic rays were carried out.

He was the leader of one of the leading scientific schools in Russia "Study of characteristics of fluxes of nuclei, gamma quanta and neutrinos of high and ultrahigh energies of primary cosmic radiation. Search for new particles and rare decays", brought up many highly qualified scientists.

His name was included in the INR RAS Book of Honor in 2000.

Awards: Honored Professor of Moscow State University (1999), Lenin Prize (1960), State Prize (1998), Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", IVth degree, Order of the Red Banner of Labor.