Anatoly G. Zhilich
(25.05.1930 - 27.01.1994)

Anatoly Georgievich Zhilich was born on May, 25, 1930 in Leningrad and never left his native city for long. The only exception was evacuation during the years 1941 - 1944. In 1948 A. G. Zhilich entered the Physics Department of Leningrad State University, and then studied three more years in the graduate school under the direction of Professor P. P. Pavinsky. In 1957 he got his Ph.D. degree for theoretical investigation of excitons in copper protoxide crystals.

The subject of his Ph.D. thesis was of great current importance. The pioneer experiments carried out by E. F. Gross et al. in 1950-ies had already demonstrated existence of excitons in copper crystals, but definitive confirmation could be achieved only by means of thorough theoretical analysis. It was A. G. Zhilich who had later accomplished fundamental calculations of exciton absorption spectra in semi-conductors. The results of these calculations were confirmed by numerous experiments carried out in Leningrad State University, in Joffe Physical Technical Institute as well as abroad (in USA). Thus the exciton conception was finally established in solid state physics. His second degree "Doctor of Science" Anatoly Georgievich got for the study "Exciton structure of semiconductor crystals".

Though he never lost interest in exciton problems, the area of his research was far more extensive and can be specified as optical effects in semi-conductors in external fields. The results of these detailed studies were summarized in the monograph by A. G. Zhilich and B. S. Monozon "Magnetic and electric absorption in semi-conductors" (1984), which remains required by specialists up to now. The complete list of publications of A. G. Zhilich contains almost one hundred items, mainly in solid academic editions.

Although scientific activity of Anatoly Georgievich was very high it did not interfere with his educational work. For more than thirty years he was delivering lectures on theoretical mechanics and on solid state theory at the Physics Department of Leningrad State University. He prepared for his classes thoroughly, always including up-to-date problems of modern physics. His articles "Superfluidity" and "Superconductivity" in the book "Physics on the eve of new discoveries" (1990) are written extremely clearly, though without any popularization. Great scientific activity of A. G. Zhilich, his professionalism and his permanent willingness to come to help always attracted young people and caused high respect from students and colleagues. Anatoly Georgievich Zhilich was one of the most true successors of the old Russian intelligentsia with its high humane and moral standards, inner generosity and faithfulness to Profession.