A.V. SHUBNIKOV AND HIS IDEAS IN MODERN CRYSTALLOGRAPHY

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the work of Aleksei Vasilevich Shubnikov in the field of modern crystallography. Aleksei Vasilevich Shubnikov was born 100 years ago. He was an outstanding natural scientist, one of the founders of modern crystallography, the creator of the Soviet crystallographic school, and a full member of the USSR Academy of Sciences. His life's work was to bring a physical meaning to crystallography that he considered to be an independent scientific discipline in the unity of its geometric, physical, physical-chemical contents in both the fundamental scientific and applied aspects. Subnikov's 100th anniversary is an important date for modern crystallography. Shubnikov worked at the turn of two eras in crystallography. He inherited and developed classical crystallography, and foreshadowed the major trends of its progress for several decades ahead. In 1920, Shubnikov started to teach crystallography at the Urals University in Ekaterinburg, which is currently known as Sverdlovsk. He delivered several original courses on crystallography and crystal physics that later formed the basis of modern textbooks on these disciplines. Shubnikov suggested organizing also an industrial research laboratory of applied crystallography to study raw minerals. This laboratory also developed methods for efficient processing and use of crystals, and for growing Rochelle salt single crystals and making piezoacoustic transducers. Shubnikov's services to his country were appreciated at their true value. He was honored with title of Hero of Socialist Labor and awarded several government orders and prizes.