Dmitrij Vasilievich Volkov was born on June, 3, 1925 in Leningrad in the family of a metal craftsman and a teacher of pre-school education. His brother Lyova was born three years earlier.
Olga Ivanovna Kazakova (Dmitrij Vasilyevish's mother), being a great fan of L.N.Tolstoy, gave her children the names of his heroes – Lyovushka and Miten'ka.
Parents took care of the sons' education. Their mother gave the sons access to music, their father Vasily Nickolayevich Volkov tried to strengthen their health, going in for sports with them. Having been unable to get full education by that time, Vasily Nickolayevich in every way possible stimulated the boys' striving to knowledge. Lyova showed early poetic talent, mathematics attracted Mitya's attention. A family newspaper was edited at home. The family atmosphere found in most part the former Dmitrij Vasilievish's life guides, his moral qualities.
In 1941 he finished the 8th form of the secondary school. The World War II began. It ruthlessly burst into the Volkov-Kazakov's family like into thousands other Leningrad families, broke the usual life course. Vasily Nickolayevich, who was not indictable to mobilization because of his age, went to Leningrad people 's volunteer corps and in February 1942 was missing. Lyova was enlisted the student in one of Leningrad military units and in December 1941 died in the result of wounding.
16 year old Dima after taking part in defense works under Leningrad was evacuated together with his mother first to Yaroslavl and then to Kurgan Region (Transurals). There he worked at the collective farm and then at the military plant.
In 1943 D.V. Volkov was called to the ranks of the Red Army. He took part in the battles as a signal man, radio man, artillery secret service man at the Karelian front and in 1945 he was transferred on the 1st Far East front were he took part at the battles against Japanese militarists. In 1946 after demobilization he returned to Leningrad with the true wish to study. He passed the examinations without attending lectures for the 9th and 10th forms of the secondary school. The war difficulties, its deprivations didn't subdue Dmitrij Vasilievich's character, they even strengthened it. In one of his interviews later defining the importance of the war years in his moral formation, Dmitrij Vasilievich noticed, that the war and Victory formed the civil position of the young people who took part in the Great World War. Solving the problem of the profession choice, they first of all thought how to bring possibly greater benefit to their country.
In 1947 D.V. Volkov entered Leningrad State University, Department of Physics. The professor-teacher staff of Leningrad University of that years played a special role in the destiny of former soldiers. It gave them not only knowledge, but also formed the interest to their profession and imparted deep respect to science.
In Leningrad Dmitrij Vasilievich studied four years. In 1951, according to the order of the Ministry of Higher Education he, as a part of the group of students from various institutions of the country, was transferred to Kharkov University, where at the Department of Physics and Mathematics the Nuclear Physics Division was organized at that time.
After graduating the Kharkov State University in 1952 he entered the post-graduate course, the Department of A.I. Achiezer. After graduating the post-graduate course in 1956 he was nominated for work to Ukrainian Physical-Technical Institute (now KFTI), where he covered a forty-year path from the junior research worker to Academician.
The years of study at the post-graduate course coincided with the rapid development of quantum electrodynamics. Alexander Ilyich Achiezer, who organized a small group of post-graduates (V.F. Alexin, D.V. Volkov, V.G. Baryachtar, S.V. Peletminsky, P.I. Fomin), rendered great assistance in the assimilation of this trend and systematically carried mutual discussions on various problems of quantum electrodynamics and field theory with them.
The 50th were marked by powerful development of elementary particles physics. After the Master's Degree defense in scalar quantum electrodynamics Dmitrij Vasilievich started the exploration of fundamental problems of quantum field theory. In this period of time great influence on the extension of his interest to physics of elementary particles was made on him by Lipa Natanovich Rosenzweig (according to Dmitrij Vasilievich), who run the main courses for theory physicists, paying special attention to the group theory and symmetry.
The first scientific works by Dmitrij Vasilievich were notable for deep and original approach to the questions explored. He studies the problems of spin connections with statistics, establish connection between the Pauly theorem and CPT-symmetry, and in 1959 proposes a new scheme of field quantization (the so called parastatistics or Green-Volkov statistics), which generalizes the Boze-Einstein and Fermi-Dirac statistics. Parastatistics played an important role in the development of the notion of quark structure of hadrons.
Here
one curious episode should be mentioned, which was spoken about by Dmitrij Vasilievich
himself. In 1960, being a young and unknown physicist, he was included into
the ranks of the Soviet delegation for the participation at the Congress on
Elementary Particle Physics, which took place in U
At the beginning of the 60th the Regge poles theory develops actively and Dmitrij Vasilievich performs a cycle of original explorations on the study of the rates of poles behavior in the relative region. In 1962 together with V.N. Gribov he opened the phenomenon, which was called "Regge poles conspiracy". The theorem of Regge poles conspiracy stated the connection between the poles of diffused particles relativistic amplitudes with spin and called the great flow of theoretical and experimental works in high energy physics.
D.V. Volkov simultaneously with American theorists G. Lipkin and S. Meshkov introduced an important notion of "collinear subgroups" into elementary particles physics, which allowed to consider the diffusion processes on the basis of higher symmetries groups notions. On this ground Dmitrij Vasilievich managed to get a number of theoretical correlations for electromagnetic nucleon formfactors, meson-barion constant connections and other values, being in consent with experimental data. He did a great cycle of works on elementary particles systematics on the ground of high symmetry groups notions.
In the middle of the 60th D.V. Volkov's scientific interests transfer on the development of a new trend – flow algebra and spontaneously broken symmetries. A fundamental cycle of the works done by D.V. Volkov on the exploration of particles correlation in the systems with degenerated vacuum had a great importance for the development of elementary particles theory and statistical physics. In these works D.V. Volkov, having based on the group-theoretical and geometrical methods of the great French mathematician E. Cartan, built a general theory of interacting Goldstone particles in field systems with arbitrary spontaneously broken inner symmetry group. Simultaneously the identical results were got by the group of foreign theoretical physicists (J. Wess, S. Coleman, B. Zumino, C. Callan).
Using methods, developed by him, Dmitrij Vasilievich together with his pupils solved a difficult problem of spontaneous vacuum transfers in Veneziano and Neveu-Schwarz dual models, found an important dual amplitude and trajectory Regge connection with inner symmetries and flow algebra. In statistical physics D.V. Volkov realized the idea of magnon consideration as Goldstone particles and built general Lagrangian of spin waves in magnetically regulated and non-regulated media.
The progress, achieved in theoretical description of the systems with degenerated vacuum, sharpened D.V. Volkov's interest to the question, which he had put before him from the beginning of the 60th and to which he constantly returned: is the existence of new fundamental multiplets connecting the particles with different spins possible? The Goldstone's theorem led Dmitrij Vasilievich to the idea of reformulation of this problem into the question if fermions can be Goldstone particles. In 1971 at the International Seminar "Functional methods of quantum field theory and statistics" (Moscow, Physical Institute named after P.N. Lebedev) D.V. Volkov presented a report "Phenomenological lagrangians, invariant under symmetry groups, containing the Poincare group as a subgroup". In this article he described the general scheme of inner symmetry groups connection, being up to Goldstone particles, with Poincare group. He indicated, that Goldstone particles, corresponding to fermion fields, which must be described anticommutating variables of the corresponding symmetry group of phenomenological lagrangian, can be included into the proposed scheme. In this way the principle possibility of Goldstone fermions existence was shown. During the extremely strenuous period of new physical symmetry raid, that followed, D.V. Volkov built the first 4-dimensional field model with a new spontaneously broken symmetry, which later was called supersymmetry. A new model proposed to describe neutrino as a Goldstone fermion with spin half and its formulation was published in 1972 in the co-authorship with his student V.P. Akulov. Proceeding from other theoretical premises Yu.A. Goldfand and E.P.Likhtman in 1971 came to the idea of supersymmetry as well as J. Wess and B. Zumino in 1974, who summerized for the 4-dimensional case the sypersummetric structures, appeared in the works by P. Ramond, A. Neveu and J. Schwarz, J.-L. Gervais and B. Sakita, dedicated to dual models and strings.
The supersymmetry discovery eliminated principle restrictions, existing within the bounds of common symmetry groups, and showed the way to unusual connection of inner symmetry group with Poincare group. The notion of superspace, connecting common space-time coordinates with anticommutating spin variabilities was introduced.
Immediately after supersymmetry introduction Dmitrij Vasilievich put the problem about the joint of its general covariant transformations with in curved space-time. Exploring this problem, he opened the possibility of localization of supersymmetry transformations . Touching the transformation of space-time coordinates, supersymmetry theory let to go over again and generalization of the general Einstein's theory of relativity main theses and to the building of such variants of it, which satisfy the supersymmetry demands.
Dmitrij Vasilievich was the first who realized and proved that super-Poincare group localization, i.e. connection of supersymmetry and gravitation demands the introduction of a new fermion gauge fields into the theory – gravitino, carrying the spin 3/2. He showed just then, that the spontaneous supersymmetry breaking in the presence of gauge graviton fields and gravitino leads to super-Higgs effect. A new theory, opened by D.V. Volkov, was named supergravity. The first formulation of this theory was published in 1973 in the co-authorship with V.A. Soroka. By the end of the 70th supersymmetry and supergravity became generally accepted theoretical conceptions of the modern field theory.
D.V. Volkov implemented pioneer works in formulation of supergravity in terms of curved superspace. Working at supergravity development, Dmitrij Vasilievich formulated common notions of superspaces differential geometry, which together with supersymmetry were used in building superstrings theory, which became precursor of the indivisible fundamental interactions theory.
The
International Conference on the history of original ideas and basic discoveries
of the XXth century in elementary particles physics took place in
Dmitrij
Vasilievich always chose the most difficult scientific problems for exploration
and in the process of their solving he proposed new ideas and fundamental approaches.
He constantly watched the achievements in various spheres of physics and mathematics.
Wide scientific erudition and constant strive to widen the sphere of his scientific
interests were his way. To a considerable extent scientific business trips into
the International centers of Europe and
In
1960 Dmitrij Vasilievich took part in the International congress in the USA,
in 1963 he was in Denmark, in 1968 – in Austria, in 1975 – in Poland, in 1994
– in Erice, in 1995 – in Padova and this is not a full list of his foreign business
trips. The trips to
In the 70th, being in CERN, he demonstrated a great interest to the works on dual and quark models, supersymmetry and supergravity and also underlined especially the role of string theory.
The development of quantum theory of superstrings in supergravity led to the statement of underlined role of spaces with measures D = 10, 11 and, correspondingly, put the problem of additional interpretations of space measurements. Dmitrij Vasilievich was one of the first, who understood the important role of spontaneous compactification of additional space measurements mechanism. He proposed the spontaneous compactification mechanism in supersymmetric field models of Yang-Mills, correlating with supergravity, based on the investment of gauge field connection into spin connection of compactificated spaces. The realization of this and other ideas, connected with the study of compactificated spaces structure in generalized Kaluza-Klein theories, the cycle of original works, done by D.V. Volkov together with his pupils was dedicated.
An important role in the theory of elementary particles physics is assigned to Dmitrij Vasilievich's exploration of space-time spin structure, in the process of which he reopened an odd bracket of Poisson (Butten bracket) and proved, that the dynamics of Hamilton system wide class in phase superspace admits the alternative formulation on the base of the odd bracket. The fact, that D.V. Volkov found an unexpected application of the odd bracket in the description of hydrodynamics as Hamilton system and built an endless number of hydrodynamic invariants, is of great interest.
At the end of 80th D.V. Volkov. introduced new ideas, connected with the inclusion of twistors into the theory of superparticles and superstrings and together with his pupils he built new twistor-like formulations of action functionals for these theories. Based on them, he illuminated the geometrical essence of mysterious k-symmetry in the superparticles and superstrings theory as superdiffeomorfisms symmetry of their universe lines and surfaces. The progress in understanding the nature of k-symmetry illuminated in the new way the problem of covariant superstrings quantization.
The works by D.V. Volkov in the field of supersymmetry and the problems connected with it got a wide international acknowledgement by the end of the 70th. It was quoted as the basic in the works of many large International conferences.
The
last report by Dmitrij Vasilievich at the International Conference "Supersymmetry-85"
(SUSY-95) in
Taking into account D.V. Volkov's prominent contribution to the development of elementary particles physics the collection of Conference materials, edited later (in 1996, after Dmitrij Vasilievich's death) its organizers (I. Antoniadis and H. Videau) dedicated to the D.V. Volkov's memory.
For Dmitrij Vasilievich, as a scientist, deep intuition and a delicate feeling of beauty were characteristic features. His colleagues regarded Dmitrij Vasilievich to scientists-romantics, looking for and carving new ways in science. He was always "open" to new scientific tendencies. According to his colleague's words, to discuss any problem with him was a pleasure. He quickly went deep into its essence and introduced, as a rule, original ideas and considerations. He had a rear talent to see an important physical result behind difficult mathematical calculations, to use in his computations modern mathematical apparatus and again, on the higher level of understanding, return to physics. His distinctive feature was a high exactingness to the quality of the work performed, constant striving to its scientific completeness.
One of the journalists in the article "Comprehend symmetry", dedicated to D.V. Volkov, wrote: "This man with kind eyes and low voice was difficult to imagine incensed. But, when talking about the science honor, about persisting the principle positions, here he was irreconcilable". Many from those, who had to work with D.V. Volkov directly, mark his being uncompromised to any scientific ethics violations and bureaucratism manifestations in the science organization.
Much effort was given by Dmitrij Vasilievich to scientific-organizational and social work. He was a member of a number of scientific Soviets, editorial boards of scientific journals and collections. In particular D.V. Volkov was a member of the Scientific Council on the problem "Nuclear Physics" of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences for a long time, was a member of the journal "Sov. Ою Nuclear Physics" editorial board (Moscow) and the collection "The Problems of Nuclear Physics and Cosmic Rays" (KSU, Kharkov), was the leader of the scientific seminar in elementary particles physics in KSU. It should be specially mentioned D.V. Volkov's many years work (from 1967 to 1995, i.e. nearly 30 years) as a President of the Library Council of KFTI. In this role he made great effort to improve the provision of new trends of physics with scientific-technical literature and informational materials: the high energy physics, the plasma physics, etc. In particular, due to his efforts the problem of foreign scientific-technical literature regular entry was solved.
Youth always tried to keep step with Dmitrij Vasilievich. The scientific school created by him in Kharkov is a great popularity. In one of the interviews on the question about pupils Dmitrij Vasilievich said that he tried to conduct a free discussion of new ideas, appearing in science, with them, if in some time he finds out, that the idea is false, unperspective, he himself explained its insolvency. Besides Dmitrij Vasilievich underlined, that communicating with the pupils, he not only helped them to penetrate into scientific problems, but also learned himself from his young colleagues. Everybody, who communicated with D.V. Volkov, always felt the strength of his nature, he infected his colleagues and pupils with his enthusiasm, craving of new ideas and patient devotion to science.
Being notable for his benevolence, respective attitude to people, striving to help and support the one, who is in trouble, Dmitrij Vasilievich at the same time was exacting to himself, to his collaborators and colleagues.
Scientific achievements and labor merits of D.V. Volkov were repeatedly marked by orders and medals. He was awarded the title of Honored Scientist of Ukraine, he was awarded the Order of Labor Red Banner. In 1997 (posthumous), according to the decision of the International Committee he was awarded the International Price named after Walter Tirring for the discovery of supersymmetry and supergravitation.
In his scientific search Dmitrij Vasilievich always was moved by the feeling of beauty and striving to harmony. Deep intuition allowed him to feel about for key ideas and constructions. His creative activity was covered with mystery and romanticism, that attracted his colleagues to him from the world association.
Though it might have been a mistake to think, that D.V. Volkov interests were reduced and restricted to science. Dmitrij Vasilievich loved life, family, his friends, travelling, forest, river, bonfire. He was fond of Indian philosophy, loved classical literature, went in for sports, swam well, was a good skier.
That's a pity, but early heart disease – the consequence of hard experience in the war years made to bring changes not only to the sports activities, but changes to the whole Dmitrij Vasilievich's life style. To remain at duty and be as usual on the first rank of science, much will tension was needed. On the question of one of the correspondents at one of the interviews to remember the hardest moment of his life Dmitrij Vasilievich remembered the time (the beginning of the 70th), when doctors interdicted him to "overload his brain" and proposed to refuse hard labor of scientist. And here, like at the front long ago, he gained the victory, it was the victory of will and character. Just in these years Dmitrij Vasilievich learned Yoga and adopted it, gained mechanisms of autosuggestion, possibilities of using it for organism's health, tried to penetrate into the mysteries of human psychology. Thus he managed to win the illness. He returned into the ranks and could give himself to science again. He worked nearly 30 years more. He was the knight of Science and it gave Dmitrij Vasilievich lavish gifts.
Dmitrij Vasilievich's life stopped suddenly just at the time of intensive raids of new principles and symmetries, which describe quantum structure of fundamental material interactions on the Plank energy scale. As usual, he was full of ideas and admired his surrounding with his obsession.
Dmitrij Vasilievich scientific discoveries will serve a monument to him. People will keep in their memory Dmitrij Vasilievich Volkov's image – generous and noble person, real intelligent, kind and wise teacher.
Translated into English by Tatiana Kudryashova from:
S.I.Volkova, A.A. Zheltukhin, in "D.V. Volkov (1925-1996), To 75th Birthday",
KFTI, Kharkov 2000.