Matvei Petrovich Bronstein


Matvei Petrovich Bronstein was a Soviet theoretical physicist, a pioneer of quantum gravity, author of works in astrophysics, semiconductors, quantum electrodynamics and cosmology, as well as of a number of books in popular science for children.
He introduced the cGh scheme for classifying physical theories. "After the relativistic quantum theory is created, the task will be to develop the next part of our scheme, that is to unify quantum theory, special relativity, and the theory of gravitation into a single theory."
He was married to Lydia Chukovskaya, a writer, prominent human rights activist, and a friend of Andrei Sakharov.
During the Great Purge, in August 1937 Bronstein was arrested. He was convicted by a list trial in February 1938 and executed the same day in a Leningrad prison. His wife was told that he was sentenced to 10 years of labor camps without the right of correspondence.
Bronstein's books for children "Solar Matter", "X Rays", "Inventors of Radio" were republished after his reputation had been rehabilitated in 1957.
The "Bronstein Prize in Loop Quantum Gravity" is offered to Post-doctoral scholars in the field, the inaugural winner of which was Eugenio Bianchi in 2013.

Solar Matter

, a renowned children’s writer and outstanding editor, scouted Bronstein to write a popular science book for teens. Bronstein chose to describe spectral analysis, but it took many attempts as well as Marshak's advice to determine that the best plot for the story should be a history of helium.
Solar Matter was first published in book form in April 1936, whereupon Bronstein made an inscription on a copy to L. Chukovskaya, his copy editor, “To my dear Lida, without whom I would have never been able to write this book.” Later, Chukovskaya wrote that the history of helium had become intertwined in her and Bronstein’s life, “The work on the book brought us closer. In fact, the book got us married."