Welcome to the Mathematical World!

Yakov Zeldovich (1914–1987)

Cosmologist, Astrophysicist, and Nuclear Physicist

Yakov Borisovich Zeldovich was a prolific Soviet scientist whose work spanned nuclear physics, astrophysics, and cosmology. Born in Minsk, he made foundational contributions to the theory of black holes, neutron stars, and the early universe. Zeldovich proposed the Sunyaev–Zeldovich effect, describing how cosmic microwave background photons scatter off hot galaxy cluster gas—a critical observable in cosmology today.

Contributions

• Early universe physics: developed models of baryogenesis and particle production during cosmic inflation.
• Black hole theory: calculated Hawking radiation phenomena and accretion disk energetics.
• Nuclear pathways: contributed to the Soviet hydrogen bomb program and combustion theory.

Legacy

Zeldovich combined mathematical rigor with physical insight. His theoretical work continues to influence astrophysics and cosmology, while his applied research had immediate technological impact in energy and defense.