The Faculty of Physics
The Department of Astronomy and Methodology of Physics

The Head of the Department

Vladimir Mikhailovich KUVSHINOV, Associate Professor, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Phone:+38 (0652) 602-500
E-mail: kuvshin@crimea.edu

The Department of Astronomy and Methodology of Physics was created in 1977 on the basis of the Department of Techniques of Teaching of Physics and Training Technical Aids of Physical Faculty of Simferopol М.V. Frunze State University. The initiator of creation of the Department and its first director was the Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Science (nowadays Doctor of Technical Science) Professor E.I. Terez

Veterans of the Department – the Head of the laboratory V.E. Chernyshev and engineer A.K. Dabakhov in laboratory of techniques of demonstration experiment.

who came to the University in 1975 from Crimean Astrophysical Observatory of Academy of Sciences of the USSR. In 1980 specialization "Astrophysics" was introduced at the Department that allowed the university to solve problems of training of the highly skilled specialists in Astronomy.
The contribution to development of the Department and training of specialist were made by such experts of leading scientific institutes of the country, as Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Science, Academician N.V. Steshenko, Dr.Sci. (Phys.-Math.) from the Scientific Research Institute “Crimean Astrophysical Observatory”; Professor A.A. Zagorodnikov, Dr.Sci. (Phys.-Math.) from the Chief Geophysical Observatory; Professor I.G. Kolesnik, Dr.Sci. (Phys.-Math.) from the NASU Chief Astronomical Observatory; Professor V.P. Shabanskiy, Dr.Sci. (Phys.-Math.) from NASU Physical Institute; Professor P.V. Shcheglov from Moscow М.V. Lomonosov State University – they worked at the Department during different periods as lectures.
In 1988 the branch of Astrophysics and Physics of Atmosphere of Problem Research Laboratory were created on the basis of the Department of Astronomy and Methodology of Physics by decision of the Ministry for Higher Education of Ukrainian SSR.
Since September, 2002 the Department of Astronomy and Methodology of Physics has been headed by Associate Professor V.M. Kuvshinov, Cand.Sci.(Phys.-Math.)

General Information

The educational and laboratory base of the Department includes laboratory of methods of experimental astrophysics, laboratory of techniques of demonstration experiment and laboratory of means of information. The last two laboratories are widely used in educational process of students of all specializations of Physical and other faculties of the University.

Scientific Research Institute “Crimean astrophysical observatory". Academician N.V.Steshenko with students of the 5th course before the lectures.

• Terez, Edward Ivanovich, Prof., Dr.Sci.Tech.;
• Gordienko, Tatiana Petrovna, Assoc. Prof., Cand.Sci.(Pedag.);
• Korostelina, Tamara Anatolevna, Assoc. Prof., Cand.Sci.(Pedag.);
• Kuvshunov, Vladimir Mikhailovich, Assoc. Prof., Cand.Sci.(Phys.-Math.);
• Kuznetsova, Lily Petrovna, Assoc. Prof., Cand.Sci.(Pedag.);

• Pavlenko, Elena Petrovna, Assoc. Prof., Cand.Sci.(Phys.-Math.);
• Panenko, Vasiliy Vasilevich, Assoc. Prof., Cand.Chem.Sci.;
• Tarasov, Anatoliy Yevgenevich, Assoc. Prof., Cand.Sci.(Phys.-Math.);
• Tsymbal, Vadim Viacheslavovich, Assoc. Prof., Cand.Sci.(Phys.-Math.);
• Shulyak, Denis Viktorovich, Assistant, Cand.Sci.(Phys.-Math.);
• Shevchenko, Elena Vasilevna, Senior Teacher;
• Tchernyshov, Vladimir Yegorovich, the Head of the Laboratory;
• Dabakhov, Adam Karpovich, Engineer;
• Litvinchova, Anna Andreevna, Senior Laboratorian.

• General Astronomy. Astrophysics. Methods of Astronomical and Astrophysical Researches. Radioastronomy. Internal Structure and Evolution of Stars. Physics of the Sun. Cosmology (for masters’ degree).
  (V.M. Kuvshinov, Assoc. Prof., Cand.Sci.(Phys.-Math.));
• Physics of Star Atmospheres. Modern Methods of Star Spectroscopy (for specialists). Fundamentals of Modern Cosmology (for specialists). Filtration of Stochastic Signals (for specialists). Astronomical DataFundamentals (for masters). Modern Practical Astrophysics (for masters). (V.V.Tsymbal, Assoc. Prof., Cand.Sci.(Phys.-Math.));
• Variable Stars. Astrophysics of Black Holes and Neutron Stars (for specialists). Astrophysics of Relativistic Objects (for masters). Astronomical Practical Work. Special Astronomical Practical Work (for specialists, masters). (E.P. Pavlenko, Assoc. Prof., Cand.Sci.(Phys.-Math.));
• Physics of the Interstellar Environment. Astronomical Practical Work. Adaptive Optics in Astronomy (for specialists). Transfer of Polarized Radiations (for specialists). Transfer of Radiation to Anisotropic Environments (for masters). Modern Methods of Image Construction in Astronomy (for masters). (A.E. Tarasov, Assoc. Prof., Cand.Sci.(Phys.-Math.));
• Fundamentals of Optics and Physics of Atmosphere (for specialists). Optics and Physics of atmosphere (for masters). (E.I .Terez, Prof., Dr.Sci.Tech.);
• Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering and Radioelectronics. (V.V. Panenko, Cand.Chem.Sci.);
• Introduction into Pedagogics. Methods of Teaching of Physics. Pedagogical Skill (for specialists). Modern Educational Technologies (for masters). Pedagogics of the Higher School (for masters). Organization of Training Process in the Higher School (for masters). (T.A. Korostelina, Assoc. Prof., Cand.Sci.(Pedag.));
• Methods of Pedagogical Researches (for specialists, masters). Problems of History of Physics in the Higher School (for experts). Techniques of Teaching of Computer Science (for specialists, masters). Techniques of Solving of Olympiad Problems; Organization and Carrying out of Olympiads (for specialists). Means of Information. (T.P.Gordienko, Assoc. Prof., Cand.Sci.(Pedag.));

Students-astronomers in laboratory of radioastronomy of scientific research institute "Crimean Astrophysical Observatory"

• Techniques of Teaching of Physics (practical classes). (L.P. Kuznetsova, Assoc. Prof., Cand.Sci.(Pedag.));
• Computer Physics. Software for Astrophysical Researches. Techniques of Application of Computer Technologies in Teaching Physics (for specialists, masters). (D.V. Shulyak, Assistant, Cand.Sci.(Phys.-Math.));
• Questions of Ecology in the School Course of Physics (for specialists). Modern Training Technologies. (Е.V.Shevchenko, Senior Teacher).

The basic directions of scientific activity:

• Physics of star atmospheres;
• Star magnetism;
• Astroseismology;
• Explosive variable stars;
• X-ray systems;
• Optics and physics of a terrestrial atmosphere;
• Modern problems of the higher and secondary education.

The basic scientific results
The major results in the field of Astrophysics, Optics and Physics of the Atmosphere, received last years are as follows:

• Superficial distribution of chemical elements and magnetic fields for chemically peculiar stars was received;
• The complex of programs is developed, allowing to calculate models of star atmospheres with individual chemical compound, in view of stratification of chemical elements on the surface and in depth;
• For the first time it was proven, that presence of strong enough magnetic field with intensity of more than 5 kgf can explain a number of characteristic depressions in distribution of energy of stars which origin till now remains unknown;
• For the first time the self-coordinated one-dimensional models of star atmospheres have been built that take into account magnetic field; the calculations of atmosphere models made that allow to reveal laws in distribution of energy of magnetic stars depending on intensity of a magnetic field and a corner of an inclination of the vector of magnetic field in relation to the beam of sight;
• The software of automatic processing of the spectra received by spectrometers UVES and FEROS (the South-European Astronomical Observatory, Chile) was developed;

Scientific research institute "Crimean Astrophysical Observatory" Associate Professor E.P. Pavlenko at the special astronomical practice with students 5 rates.

• For the first time peculiarities of substances accretion and structures of the magnetic field of asynchronous polar BY Cam were investigated;
• On the basis of multi-colour BVRI observation of magnetic New V1500 Cyg, radiation of the hot white dwarf of double system for the first time were registered;
• On the basis of long-term (1996-2002) observation of double system Swan Х-1, consisting of the supergiant of early spectral type and the black hole, for the first time for a similar class of objects, complex in character of behaviour anticorrelation between changeability of the ?-alpha, loss of weight of an optical component and intensity of soft x-ray radiation was discovered; it is proved, that photoionization of the star wind, as in case of Swan Х-1, does not play the decisive role in changeability of emission of the line ?-alpha, and that a hot supergiant, possessing a non-stationary star wind, in many respects is responsible for processes in accretion disk surrounding relativistic component;
• The precision technique of determining the contents of ozone and other gas additives in the earth atmosphere was developed;
• The new effective method of determining optical thickness of the atmosphere of the Earth (ОТА) is developed, that allows to exclude regular errors of measured values of ОТА at solar photometric observation.

In the field of modern problems of the higher and secondary education, the major results were:

• Development of the integrated course on the Physics and Astronomy for classes of social and humanitarian specialization of secondary educational institutions according to the order of the Ministry for Education and Science of Ukraine;
• Participation with other universities of Ukraine in creation of the curriculum on the speciality "Physics" providing preparation of the teachers-physicists.
• Development of effective system of pedagogical training of university students.

At the beginning of the Department of Astronomy and Methodology of Physics. 1976 In the first row (from left to right) - T.A.Korostelina, К.В. Albinas, E.I.Terez, L.A.Vlasov. In the second row - E.Kolomiytseva, L.P.Kuznetsova, Z.E.Yakovleva, S.V.Zaychenko, I.V.Saula, A.N.Butenko. In the third row - A.K.Dabakhov, A.K.Pankratov, S.P.Zheltobryukh.

The Department has close contacts and conducts joint scientific researches with many universities and scientific organizations in Ukraine and abroad, such as Scientific Research Institute “Crimean Astrophysical Observatory” Ministry for Education and Science of Ukraine, NASU Chief Astronomical Observatory, Odessa National I.I.Mechnikov University, Moscow М.V. Lomonosov State University, St.-Petersburg State University, Tartu University (Estonia), Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Science, Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Science, Chief Astronomical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Science, Institute of Space Researches of the Russian Academy of Science (Russia), Chief Geophysical A.I.Voejkov Observatory (Russia), the Ukrainian Antarctic Center, Institute of Astronomy of the Viennese university, University Uppsala (Sweden), University of the Western Ontario (Canada), Korean Institute of Astronomy and Physics of Space (Republic of Korea), Max Plank Institute (Germany), Department of Astronomy of Kyoto University (Japan), Colombian University (USA), the Center of Space Flights of NASA (USA), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (USA).