A nuclear theorist who made reactor design possible
Isai Gurevich was a Soviet theoretical physicist who worked on fission and neutron physics. In 1943, amid wartime shortages of experimental resources, he and Isaak Pomeranchuk developed a theory of heterogeneous assemblies that placed uranium in a lattice within graphite moderator. Their calculations showed how this arrangement could reduce resonance absorption in uranium and supplied a theoretical foundation for the F-1 reactor built by Kurchatov's team.
Career Timeline
- 1912Born
- 1930년대Began research in theoretical physics
- 1943At Laboratory No. 2, developed the theory of heterogeneous uranium-graphite assemblies with Pomeranchuk
- 1946The theory was realized experimentally with the start-up of the F-1 reactor
- 1950년대–1980년대Continued research as a Soviet theoretical physicist
- 1992Died