Isaac Khalatnikov

Isaak Khalatnikov is a Russian theoretical physicist who has made significant contributions to a variety of fields, including general relativity and quantum field theory, as well as quantum liquids and superfluidity. Isaak is best known for his work on the role of singularities in relativistic models of the Universe’s evolution.

He helped to discover a general solution to the Einstein field equations, which contained an oscillatory chaotic singularity. This was named the Belinsky–Khalatnikov–Lifshitz (BKL) singularity, reflecting his crucial role in its development. In addition, his more recent work has indicated the likelihood of the Universe having had an early phase of rapid expansion, or inflation.

Isaak has received many accolades in recognition of his work, including the State Prize of the USSR in 1953, the Alexander von Humboldt Award in 1989, the I. E. Tamm Gold Medal of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 2010 and the Marcel Grossmann Award in 2012.