Rem Khokhlov

Born July 15, 1926, in Livny, Orel Oblast; died Aug. 8, 1977, in Moscow. Soviet physicist; one of the founders of nonlinear optics. Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (1974; corresponding member, 1966). Member of the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (from 1975) and the academy’s acting vice-president (from 1977). Member of the CPSU from 1951.

Khokhlov graduated from Moscow State University in 1948. Beginning in 1952, he worked at the university, where he became head of the subdepartment of wave processes in 1965. In 1973 he became the university’s rector.

Khokhlov proposed a method for the analysis of nonlinear radio-technical devices and used the method to solve a number of problems in radiophysics (1954–56). He developed methods for the asymptotic solution of nonlinear wave equations, which became the foundation of the general theory of wave processes. He also applied these methods to nonlinear acoustics. In the period 1960–63, he laid the theoretical foundations of nonlinear optics and solved many problems. He proposed a wave-frequency multiplier, whose principle was later used to build generators of optical harmonics. Khokhlov was the first to conceive the idea of building and operating a frequency-tunable optical radiation generator. Together with S. A. Akhmanov, he proposed the first optical parametric oscillator (1962). He also advanced the idea of resonant selective effects of coherent radiation on matter and developed many aspects of such effects.

Khokhlov was a deputy to the ninth convocation of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. He received the Lenin Prize in 1970. He was awarded the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Red Banner of Labor, and several medals. He was an honorary member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (1976).