International Conference on

Applied Physics and Mathematics

Leonid Vasilevich Ksanfomaliti

Leonid Vasilevich Ksanfomaliti

Professor
Space Research Institute of the RAS
Russia

Biography

L.V. Ksanfomality is a known expert in the study of Solar system bodies, by Space missions and astronomical observations. During the period (1958-1968) of working as head of the laboratory at the Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory he gained experience as qualified astronomer-observer and a designer of optico-electronic astronomical instruments. At the Space Research Institute, he works since 1968. His PhD (1961) was devoted to Lunar investigations, and doctoral (professor) dissertation (1977) was devoted to research of the planet Venus’ thermal radiation made by Venera 9 and Venera -10 orbiters.


Research Interest

Works of L.V. Ksanfomality are devoted to studies of planets, their satellites and other bodies of the Solar system.He fulfilled 17 successful space experiments including study of the planet Mars on the Mars-2 and Mars 3 spacecrafts (1971). The mission were success and returned fundamental new results, published in numerous papers. A new method of altimetry in the CO2 bands near 2 microns was used in the MARS-4 and MARS-5 missions in 1974, where the Ksanfomality had 5 experiments. The outcome of the MARS -3 - MARS-5 was published in about 30 scientific papers. Radiometric experiment of L.V. Ksanfomality on Venera-9 and Venera-10 missions in 1975 was awarded by the Republic State Prize. In the 1978-82, in experiments on landers Venera-11 to Venera-14, L.V. Ksanfomality firstly detected electrical activity of the atmosphere of Venus, that later was confirmed by study in the US Pioneer Venus mission. He was also the first who published the concept of volcanic activity of Venus that received confirmation. Two VEGA spacecrafts (1986) were provided with mass analyzers for cometary dust particles, masses ranging from 10-13 to 10-9 g (the Enrico Fermi Institute of the University of Chicago and Ksanfomality’s laboratory). Found clusters of particles and other phenomena resulted in a significant number of scientific papers. On board the FOBOS missions (1989) L.V. Ksanfomality had a radiometer-photometer. It revealed that the reflection spectrum of the Martian satellite Phobos has a pronounced "red" character. In 1989-1996. L.V. Ksanfomality developed a new charting spectro-photometer to study the Martian regolith. The layout of the device has been tested at the astronomical Moon observation, with the publication of 4 papers on the physics of the Moon. On-board equipment has been installed on the MARS-96 unit, lost at launch in 1996. In subsequent years L.V. Ksanfomality developed a new space experiment to study regolith of the Solar system bodies by the holographic method. Simultaneously he conducted astronomical study of the planet Mercury with the new millisecond method, publishing about ten papers on Mercury. Since 2006 L.V. Ksanfomality turned to the TV-images of the surface of Venus, returned by VENERA landers in 1975-82. Using modern means of image processing and time-consuming detailed analysis of images Ksanfomality revealed a significant number of objects, similar in their forms to the Earth life forms. Some objects do move, but extremely slow. The hypothetical life on Venus must have the physical properties existing at high temperature (460 C) and pressure (9.2 MPa) in an oxygen-free atmosphere. The study is published in 45 papers in international and Russian scientific press. L.V. Ksanfomality is the author of over 350 scientific papers on research of bodies of the Solar system that have been published in national and foreign scientific literature. He is the author of 4 books ( "Planet discovered anew" - Nauka, Moscow, 1978; monograph "The planet Venus", FIZMATLIT, Moscow, 1985; "Die Planeten" - URANIA, Leipzig, 1986, "Parade of Planets", Science, FIZMATLIT Moscow, 1998), and a large number of papers for a wide reader. L.V. Ksanfomality is a member of the International Astronomical Union (1973), COSPAR and other international scientific organizations. The member of the editorial board of "Solar System Research". Name of Ksanfomality was given by IAU to the 7394 asteroid Xanthomalitia (IAU, January 24, 2000). Works of L.V. Ksanfomality awarded by "Honored Scientist of Russia" award (1999) and other State awards.

Related Conferenes