Вонсовский Сергей Васильевич

An outstanding theoretical physicist, a specialist in ferromagnetism and quantum theory of solids; two-time winner of the USSR State Prize; Hero of Socialist Labour; Member of the Academy of Science of USSR (Russian Academy of Sciences); PhD in Physics and Mathematics and a professor; deputy director of the Metals Physics Institute of the Ural branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the founder of the Ural scientific school in ferromagnetism and metals physics. He was awarded Orders of Lenin three times, Orders of the Red Star twice, the Order of the Red Banner of Labour once, Orders of the Badge of Honour twice, and the S. I. Vavilov Gold Medal once. He has worked continuously at the Metals Physics Institute as department head (1947-1950), deputy director (1950-1953), head of laboratory (1953-1993), and chief research scientist (since 1993).

S. V. Vonsovsky's works are devoted to the quantum theory of solids, the multi-electron theory of metals and semiconductors, superconductivity, and the theories of ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism. In 1941, he developed a method for creating magnetic textures in ferromagnetic materials through combined thermomechanical treatment and created new technical magnetic materials. He authored more than 170 scientific papers and eight monographs, including Ferromagnetism (co-authored with Y. S. Shur in 1948), «Modern Doctrine of Magnetism» (1953), «Magnetism» (1971), «Superconductivity in Transition Metals, Their Alloys, and Compounds» (1977), and «Quantum Solid State Physics» (1983).