Alexei Abrikosov
Who was Alexei Abrikosov?
Russian-American theoretical physicist who shared the 2003 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the theory of superconductors and superfluids.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Alexei Abrikosov (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Alexei Alexeyevich Abrikosov (June 25, 1928 – March 29, 2017) was a Soviet, Russian, and American theoretical physicist known for his work in condensed matter physics. Born in Moscow, he grew up in a family with strong connections to science and medicine, which sparked his intellectual curiosity early on. He studied at the Faculty of Physics of Moscow State University during a highly productive period for Soviet theoretical physics. Over more than 60 years, he became a leading figure in low-temperature physics and gained worldwide recognition in the scientific community.
Before Fame
Abrikosov was born on June 25, 1928, in Moscow, into a family well-known in Russian intellectual circles. His father was a leading pathologist, and his mother also worked in medicine, so the household was steeped in science. He grew up during the Stalin era, when Soviet science faced strict ideological controls but still made remarkable strides in theoretical physics. This was partly because the state heavily invested in scientific talent that was seen as important for national security. Abrikosov studied at Moscow State University's Faculty of Physics and later trained under Lev Landau, a giant in Soviet theoretical physics. Landau's rigorous approach had a lasting impact on Abrikosov's method of work.
Key Achievements
- Predicted and described the vortex lattice in Type II superconductors, published in 1957 and now fundamental to applied superconductivity
- Co-recipient of the 2003 Nobel Prize in Physics with Vitaly Ginzburg and Anthony Leggett for theories of superconductors and superfluids
- Won the Lenin Prize in 1966 and the USSR State Prize in 1982 for contributions to Soviet theoretical physics
- Awarded the Fritz London Award in 1972 and the John Bardeen Prize in 1991, two of the most prestigious honors in low-temperature physics
- Made significant contributions to the theory of high-temperature superconductors following his move to Argonne National Laboratory in the 1990s
Did You Know?
- 01.The vortex lattice that forms in Type II superconductors under a magnetic field is named the Abrikosov vortex lattice in his honor, and its prediction in 1957 was initially met with skepticism before being experimentally confirmed decades later.
- 02.Abrikosov reportedly submitted his vortex paper to a journal in the early 1950s but was persuaded by Landau to delay publication; when it finally appeared in 1957, it transformed the field of superconductivity.
- 03.After moving to Argonne National Laboratory in 1991, Abrikosov focused heavily on high-temperature superconductors discovered in the 1980s, arguing publicly and controversially that their mechanism differed from mainstream theoretical explanations.
- 04.He received an honorary doctorate from the University of Lausanne as early as 1976, nearly three decades before his Nobel Prize, reflecting how highly his theoretical work was regarded in Europe long before the award.
- 05.Abrikosov was one of the graduates of the famous Landau Theoretical Minimum, an extraordinarily demanding series of examinations devised by Lev Landau that only a small number of physicists ever passed.
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nobel Prize in Physics | 2003 | for pioneering contributions to the theory of superconductors and superfluids |
| USSR State Prize | 1982 | — |
| Fritz London Award | 1972 | — |
| Lenin Prize | 1966 | — |
| Landau Gold Medal | 1989 | — |
| honorary doctorate from University of Orléans | 2006 | — |
| Honorary doctor of the University of Lausanne | 1976 | — |
| honorary doctorate from University of Bordeaux-I | 2003 | — |
| John Bardeen Prize | 1991 | — |
| Vernadsky medal | 2015 | — |
Nobel Prizes
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