The Birthday of the Renowned Physicist, Nobel laureate, and Professor at Karazin University, Lev Landau: the University Remembers

On January 22, 2025, it will mark 117 years since the birth of Lev Landau – one of the most brilliant physicists of the 20th century and a Nobel laureate in 1962, whose name is written in golden letters in the history of physics. His path is closely linked with Kharkiv University, which today is named after Vasily Nazarovich Karazin.

Landau entered Baku University at the age of just 14. Even then, his talent was remarkable: he simultaneously studied at two schools – physics-mathematics and chemistry. Starting in 1929, Landau spent a year and a half abroad in the scientific centers of Denmark, England, and Switzerland, where he worked with leading theoretical physicists, including Niels Bohr, whom he considered his sole teacher from that point on.

Kharkiv became not only the place where Landau formed as a scientist but also the field for his first scientific achievements. In 1932, Landau headed the theoretical department of the Ukrainian Physico-Technical Institute (UFTI), where he developed the idea of the diamagnetic effect in metals and made the first important steps towards creating the legendary "Course of Theoretical Physics." In 1934, he earned the degree of Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences without defending a dissertation, and the following year, he was appointed a professor.

From 1935, Dau (as his family, close friends, and colleagues called him) headed the Department of General Physics at Kharkiv University. His research covered quantum mechanics, solid-state physics, the theory of superfluidity, cosmic ray physics, hydrodynamics, physical kinetics, quantum field theory, plasma physics, and more. It was in Kharkiv that Landau revealed his unique gift for synthesizing theories, combining deep mathematical abstractions with concrete physical phenomena, and developing the theory of second-order phase transitions, which became a benchmark for the scientific world.

Lev Landau was not only an outstanding physicist but also a person who changed the very concept of education. His so-called theoretical minimum – a rigorous yet brilliant exam for students – became legendary. He taught students to think, not to memorize; to seek essence, not formality.

Today, Karazin University proudly preserves the memory of its distinguished alumnus. In January 2014, the "Landau Center" at Karazin University was established and named in honor of the scientist to stimulate and revive interest in science. Lev Davidovich not only brought worldwide fame to Ukraine and Kharkiv but also left behind a legacy that continues to inspire.