Their names - in the history of science

Scientist, creator, mentor

On 18 December, a seminar was held at the Laboratory of Theoretical Physics dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the birth of a well-known theoretical physicist, Academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences, President of the Georgian Academy of Sciences, one of the founders of the JINR scientific programme Albert Nikiforovich Tavkhelidze.

At the opening of the seminar, JINR Director Grigory Trubnikov emphasized that this event, held in an international format, actually opens the anniversary year for JINR. A large international scientific family, consisting of Member States, Partner States, founding states, begins celebrations with Georgia, whose Plenipotentiary Representative Arsen Khvedelidze currently chairs the JINR Committee of Plenipotentiaries.

A.N.Tavkhelidze got a job in 1956, the year JINR was founded and worked in Dubna until 1970. During these 14 years, he defended his doctoral thesis, became one of the co-organizers of the Laboratory of Theoretical Physics, among other prominent scientists, developed the IHEP scientific programme in Protvino, was Acting Head of the Theoretical Department of the Institute of Theoretical Physics in Kyiv and in the 1970s, became the organizer and first director of the Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Later, he headed and managed to preserve the Georgian Academy of Sciences, was the Plenipotentiary Representative of this country in JINR and our cooperation continues to this day on this reliable foundation.

The report of JINR Scientific Leader Victor Matveev was dedicated to A.N.Tavkhelidze, who he met 60 years ago, to his family, education, scientific school of N.N. Bogolyubov, cooperation with leading theoretical scientists.

"The time that has passed since his departure makes it possible to realize that there was an amazing person next to us, extraordinary," V.Matveev said, "a large personality of a creator, a tireless tester and pioneer, an undisputed leader and fighter in every business which he undertook for and that remained faithful despite all the vicissitudes of fate. A world-renowned scientist, an outstanding, tireless organizer of science and a talented mentor to young people... For me personally and many of my colleagues whose scientific life began in Dubna, he was a life mentor and role model. All of us were influenced by his bright, unique charismatic personality, strong, truly masculine character, great charm and love of life."

BLTP Director Dmitry Kazakov shared his memories of A.N.Tavkhelidze, joint work at BLTP with a group of Georgian physicists, the time of change in theoretical physics related to the theory of gauge fields.

Head of the Department of Theoretical Physics of INR RAS Nikolay Krasnikov dedicated his speech to the scientific heritage of A.N.Tavkhelidze and explained the reason. A few months before his death, Albert Nikiforovich said the following phrase, "And you know, Kolya, the only thing that remains by and large from a scientist is his scientific papers." Speaking about heritage, Nikolay Krasnikov identified the main areas, such as quantum number and color, relativistic quantum model, quark counting rules, behavior of matter under extreme conditions and other investigations on quantum field theory, elementary particle physics, cosmology.

Head of the Laboratory of Physics of Electroweak Interactions INR RAS Yury Kudenko spoke about walks (peripatetics) with Albert Nikiforovich. During these conversations, A.N.Tavkhelidze shared his experience in the formation of scientific staffs. He said that graduate students and students are the motor of a group or laboratory, there must be an influx of fresh forces. He considered it important to involve bright scientists in research, even if the group will have a specialist stronger than the leader. This is a necessary condition, without it, there will be no progress. Issues of historical justice were also discussed: the results should be recognized, priorities set, then everyone will receive what they deserve; to do it, to set out the history of the result, to document everything. The speaker highlighted that on the INR website there is a page of A.N.Tavkhelidze (https://www.inr.ru/tavkhelidze/), where documents, photographs, links to papers are posted.

Director of the Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences Leonid Kravchuk presented more than half a century of INR history. He said that on 16 December, 1970, A.N.Tavkhelidze turned 40 years old and on 24 December, the INR was established. The founder and first director was to head, in addition to the institute, the construction of two large facilities at once - the Baksan Observatory for the Investigation of Cosmic Ray Physics, Neutrino and Astrophysics and the Meson Factory complex based on a high-current linear proton accelerator. Today, INR RAS is a multidisciplinary research centre with a unique experimental base, a scientific school and traditions of educating high-class specialists and A.N.Tavkhelidze's great merit is that he laid a solid foundation for organizing fundamental research for many years to come.

The seminar ended with the presentation of the book-album "Georgia @ JINR. People. Years. Science" and a concert by Nash Tavkhelidze Ko led by Noshrevan Tavkhelidze.

Galina MYALKOVSKAYA