Vyacheslav M. Borodin
(7.10.1943 - 10.07.2005)

Vyacheslav M. Borodin was born on October, 7, 1943 in Kalinin (now Tver), where his father, a prominent shipbuilding designer worked during the years of evacuation. In 1947 the family returned to Leningrad. After graduation from the Physics Department of Leningrad State University (1960 - 1965) Vyacheslav Mikhailovich studied three more years in the graduate school. His Ph.D. thesis (1975) contained some significant results concerning extension of the zero-range potential model; this work was initiated by his scientific adviser Prof. Yuri N. Demkov. Since 1974 his main scientific interests shifted to the area of atom-atom collisions with participation of excited states as well as to processes involving Rydberg atoms. Together with Andrey K. Kazansky he published an appreciable series of papers on broadening of spectral lines (Phys.Rev. A and J.Phys. B).

In his theoretical research V.M. Borodin always tended either to establish connection with existent experiments or to suggest a new one. His collaboration with experimentalists was quite outstanding. Beginning from 1970-ies and till the very end he worked in permanent contact with experimental group of A.N. Klucharev (Division of Optics and Spectroscopy of the Physics Department). He participated in pioneer research of collisional ionization of Rydberg atoms; the results of these studies are summarized in four reviews (1986 - 2002) published in prestigious editions.

One should especially mention the pedagogical skill of Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Borodin. He never overwhelmed students by his authority but tried to develop their ability for self-dependent and original reasoning. He was able to explain the most complicated problems of theoretical physics clearly and neatly.

Lingering and serious disease and untimely death undoubtedly prevented full realization of his creative power. But everybody who knew Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Borodin - his friends and colleagues - will always remember this highly respectable, sometimes shy but very steadfast man, devoted to Physics and to his country.