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Lev Landau




Lev Davidovich Landau (, 1908April 1 , 1968 ) was a prominent Soviet Physicist , who made fundamental contributions to many areas of Theoretical Physics . His accomplishments include the co-discovery of the Density Matrix method in Quantum Mechanics , the quantum mechanical theory of Diamagnetism , the theory of Superfluidity , the theory of Second Order Phase Transition s, the Ginzburg-Landau Theory of Superconductivity , the explanation of Landau Damping in Plasma Physics , the Landau Pole in Quantum Electrodynamics , and the two-component theory of Neutrino s. He received the 1962 Nobel Prize In Physics for his work on superfluidity.

Early years

Recognized very early as a he moved to the Physics Department of Leningrad University , graduating with a doctorate in 1927 .


The Landau school

Apart from his theoretical accomplishments, Landau was the principal founder of a great tradition of theoretical physics in the Soviet Union, sometimes referred to as the "Landau school". He was the head of the Theoretical Division at the Institute For Physical Problems from 1937 until 1962 when, as a result of a road accident, he suffered injuries from which he was never fully to recover. His students include Alexei Abrikosov , Evgeny Lifshitz ,
Lev Gor'kov , Isaak Khalatnikov ,

Landau developed a comprehensive exam called the "Theoretical Minimum" which students were expected to pass before admission to the school. The exam covered all aspects of theoretical physics, and only 43 candidates ever passed.

He also co-authored, with Lifshitz , a beloved series of Graduate -level physics textbooks that are still widely used.


LANDAU AND LIFSHITZ COURSE OF THEORETICAL PHYSICS

  • vol. 1: "Mechanics". L. D. Landau, E. M. Lifshitz

  • vol. 2: "The Classical Theory of Fields". L. D. Landau, E. M. Lifshitz

  • vol. 3: "Quantum Mechanics: Non-Relativistic Theory". L. D. Landau, E. M. Lifshitz

  • vol. 4: "Quantum Electrodynamics". V. B. Berestetskii, E. M. Lifshitz and L. P. Pitaevskii

  • vol. 5: "Statistical Physics Pt. 1". L. D. Landau, E. M. Lifshitz

  • vol. 6: "Fluid Mechanics". L. D. Landau, E. M. Lifshitz

  • vol. 7: "Theory of Elasticity". L. D. Landau, E. M. Lifshitz

  • vol. 8: "Electrodynamics of Continuous Media". L. D. Landau, E. M. Lifshitz and L. P. Pitaevskii

  • vol. 9: "Statistical Physics Pt. 2". E. M. Lifshitz, L. P. Pitaevskii

  • vol. 10: "Physical Kinetics". E. M. Lifshitz, L. P. Pitaevskii



BOOKS ABOUT LANDAU



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