ISSN 1027-4510, Journal of Surface Investigation. X-ray, Synchrotron and Neutron Techniques, 2008, Vol. 2, No. 5, pp. 815–816. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2008.

Original Russian Text © Editorial Board, 2008, published in Poverkhnost’. Rentgenovskie, Sinkhrotronnye i Neitronnye Issledovaniya, No. 10, pp. 5–6. 815


Svetlana Ivanovna Zheludeva


DOI: 10.1134/S1027451008050297


The Russian scientific community experienced a great loss on May 17, 2008, with the sudden death of Doctor of Physics and Mathematics Svetlana Ivanovna Zheludeva, a talented scientist, an outstanding organizer, and a fine person. The community knew her as a tireless worker and a great enthusiast of science with inexhaustible energy and optimism. S.I. Zheludeva was born in 1948 in Moscow to a family of physicists. Having graduated from Moscow State University with honors, she entered graduate school at the Department of Physics of the Moscow State University and, in 1976, defended the thesis “Study of Domain Recombination Instability under Conditions of Pulsed and Alternate Voltages.” While still an undergraduate, her remarkable creativity was noticed by Academician A.I. Shalnikov, which predestined in many respects the further course of her life. After postgraduate study, S.I. Zheludeva entered the Shubnikov Institute of Crystallography. At that time, x-ray diffraction studies of surface layers and heterostructures were initiated on the basis of the available scientific structural school. Svetlana Ivanovna, with her usual enthusiasm, had engaged in familiarization with the new research area and shortly was quite confident in this field. She first systematically studied such secondary processes as the internal photoelectric effect and photoluminescence under conditions of dynamical diffraction of x-rays. In the study of x-ray scattering in layered long-period systems, i.e., x-ray waveguide structures, multilayer x-ray mirrors, and Langmuir–Blodgett films, she succeeded in detecting novel capabilities of the x-ray standing wave method, which made it possible to obtain spectrally selective information on the structure of ordered organic systems with complex molecular architecture and to determine parameters of ultrathin nanoscale films. The results of these studies performed by Svetlana Ivanovna using various synchrotron radiation sources underlay her doctoral dissertation “Method of Long-Period X-ray Standing Waves for Characterizing Layered Nanostructures,” successfully defended in 1995. In recent years, S.I. Zheludeva primarily paid attention to the development of methods for diagnostics of protein–lipid layered nanosystems on the liquid subphase surface, which represents an adequate model of biological membranes. These studies are very important to understand the mechanism of cellular membrane functioning. Their further development in our country necessitated creation of a novel instrumental basis, and Svetlana Ivanovna actively undertook the development of the “Langmuir” unique scientific and technological complex at the Kurchatov Center of Synchrotron Radiation and Nanotechnology. This facility will allow x-ray studies of bioorganic systems on the liquid surface in which native conformation of protein molecules is conserved. She laid the foundation for this project, which, unfortunately, will need to be completed without her. In recognition of the significance of the contributions of S.I. Zheludeva to the development of the scientific and technical complex at the “Kurchatov Institute,” she was awarded the rank “Laureate of the Prize of the Government of the Russian Federation in the Field of Science and Engineering” in 2006. She was nominated as a candidate for correspondent member of the Russian Academy of Sciences in “Nanodiagnostics” of the Division of Nanotechnologies and Information Technologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences and was recommended by the Division for election. Her great work ethic allowed her to perform many duties associated with science organization. She was a deputy chairman of the working group of the direction “Industry of Nanosystems and Nanomaterials” of the scientific and coordination council of the federal target program “Research and Development of the Priority Areas of Science and Technology in Russia for 2007– 2012” and a member of the Commission of the Russian Academy of Sciences on nanotechnologies at the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences, deputy head of the Nanodiagnostics” section. For many years, S.I. Zheludeva represented our country in the European Crystallographic Association and was a member of the Bureau of the National Committee of crystallographers of Russia. Since 1998, S.I. Zheludeva was a deputy director on scientific work of the Shubnikov Institute of Crystallography of the Russian Academy of Sciences. She was also an executive secretary and later a deputy editor-in-chief of the journal “Surface Investigation. X-ray, Synchrotron, and Neutron Techniques.” Svetlana Ivanovna was a second mother to many young scientists and in every possible way supported their participation in various international and Russian programs and projects. She supervised the work of the Council of Young Scientists, organized lectures on problems of crystallography and crystal physics given by leading specialists of the Institute. Svetlana Ivanovna was not only held in high respect by Russian and foreign colleagues because of her scientific achievements. She was distinguished by remarkable human qualities, i.e., high intelligence, respectability, responsiveness, striking work ethic, and the high expectations she placed on herself and others. Svetlana Ivanovna was a bright and unordinary forward-looking person. The many colleagues and friends of Svetlana Ivanovna feel deep sorrow at her untimely passing and offer their sincere condolences to her family.


JOURNAL OF SURFACE INVESTIGATION. X-RAY, SYNCHROTRON AND NEUTRON TECHNIQUES Vol. 2, No. 5 2008