In the wake of the departed

Sergey Fedotov 3.12.1936 - 16.02.2026

On 16 February, at the age of 89, Sergey Ivanovich Fedotov, a Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences that had dedicated his whole life to work at JINR, passed away.

Sergey Ivanovich Fedotov was a prominent specialist in the field of nuclear theory and nuclear reactions. In 1961, he graduated from the Physics Department of Lomonosov Moscow State University with a degree in Physics, after which he taught for some time in the Republic of Cuba. After having graduated from graduate school at Moscow State University in 1967 and until his recent retirement, S.I.Fedotov had worked at the Laboratory of Theoretical Physics of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research.

The first investigations of Sergey Ivanovich Fedotov were dedicated to the theory of low-energy non-rotational excitations of deformed nuclei. These investigations, carried out under the supervision of Professor V.G.Solovev, were the basis of his Ph.D. thesis, defended in 1972. For these investigations, Sergey Ivanovich, as one of LTP and LCTA employees, was awarded the JINR First Prize in 1976 for theoretical physics research. Subsequently, the scientific interests of Sergey Ivanovich shifted towards the theory of nuclear reactions. In particular, with his active engagement, a very general formulation of the theory of nuclear reactions with heavy ions was developed and a model was developed for the dissipation of kinetic energy and the transmission of nucleons in collisions of nuclei at average energies. Interesting and essential results were obtained by S.I.Fedotov when studying the properties of antiproton helium atoms, as well as the well-known "Hoyle state" of the ¹²C nucleus.

Since his student years, S.I.Fedotov had extensively participated in the public life of the country: he organized the first student virgin units, for two years, he was secretary of the Komsomol organization of the Physics Department of Moscow State University and was a member of the University Committee of the Komsomol.

In Dubna, the social activities of Sergey Ivanovich in the 1970-1980s of the last century are well known. As secretary of the CPSU Party Committee at JINR, he participated in meeting the most relevant issues of the scientific and production activities of the Institute, made a significant contribution to ensuring the commissioning and reconstruction of the basic facilities of JINR and invested a lot of effort in the development of the social sphere of the Institute. For many years, S.I.Fedotov had been a member of the Dissertation Council of the Laboratory of Theoretical Physics for the defense of candidate theses, in 2000-2007, he was the Scientific Secretary of the Council.

Sergey Ivanovich has always been distinguished by an acute sense of responsibility for the work carried out and high organization. He was principled in relations with colleagues, but at the same time, open and benevolent that aroused reciprocal feelings of sympathy and trust towards him. The friends and colleagues of Sergey Ivanovich Fedotov will forever keep a bright memory of him.

BLTP employees