The research conducted by Abram Fet resulted in a classical theorem concerning two closed geodesic arcs, fundamentally advancing the study of variational calculus. Beyond his contributions to topology and geometry, his career was defined by professional ostracism in the Soviet Union, leading him to operate independently while producing significant work in mathematical physics and translation.
Mathematical Foundation and Academic Career
Born in Odesa in 1924, Fet pursued his education at Tomsk State University and Lomonosov Moscow State University. Under the supervision of Lazar Lusternik, he specialized in topology and defended his candidate thesis on the homology ring of closed curve space on a sphere in 1948. His academic trajectory included positions at Tomsk State University and the Sobolev Institute of Mathematics, where he served as a senior researcher. His 1967 doctoral thesis, focused on the periodic problem of variational calculus, established his reputation within the Soviet mathematical community.
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In 1968, Fet signed the Letter of 46, a document protesting the treatment of political prisoners. This action, combined with his vocal criticism of scientific bureaucracy and institutional privileges, resulted in his dismissal from both university and research posts. For four years, he survived through technical and mathematical translation work. In 1986, he faced further professional erasure when his monograph, A Symmetry Group of Chemical Elements, was withdrawn from publication, and he was dismissed from the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry due to an adverse performance evaluation.
Interdisciplinary Research in Physics and Chemistry
Collaborating with physicist Yu. B. Rumer beginning in 1965, Fet applied mathematical group theory to quantum fields and chemical systems. Their joint monographs included The Theory of Unitary Symmetry and The Theory of Groups and Quantum Fields. Their paper regarding the Group Spin-(4) and the Periodic Table initiated a group-theoretical approach to classifying chemical elements, effectively bridging the divide between pure mathematics and theoretical physics.
Samizdat and Philosophical Translation
Fet was a significant figure in the Samizdat movement, translating works that circumvented Soviet censorship. He introduced Russian readers to texts by Konrad Lorenz, Erich Fromm, Karen Horney, and Eric Berne. These translations were often issued under pseudonyms or the names of colleagues, such as A.I. Fedorov. His own writing focused on social philosophy, including articles such as Social Doctrines and What is Socialism?, reflecting his belief that the ultimate goal of culture is the development of a harmonious human personality.
Fast facts
- Born: 1924, Odesa
- Died: 2007, Novosibirsk
- Citizenship: Soviet Union, Russia
- Doctoral Degree: Moscow University, 1967
- Primary Fields: Topology, Differential Geometry, Calculus of Variations
- Key Publication: The Theory of Unitary Symmetry (1970)
Questions readers ask
Why was Abram Fet dismissed from his academic positions?
He was dismissed primarily for signing the Letter of 46 in 1968 and for his independent, critical stance toward scientific administrators and the systemic privileges within the Soviet academic establishment.
What was his contribution to chemistry?
He developed a group-theoretical classification of atoms, which incorporated the Periodic Table into the framework of mathematical physics.
Achievements
- Held posts at Sobolev Institute of Mathematics SB RAS, Tomsk State University and Novosibirsk State University
- Fields: differential geometry, topology and calculus of variations
