One of his articles written with a co-author Gamov called ’My half-article’. Here his ’half-biography’ is presented. It covers the first very important part of his life, starting from his youth in Odessa, his student years in Petrograd-Leningrad and several of his visits to Germany, Denmark, and England in connection with his scientific work. Special attention is devoted to his first scientific researches (1926-1928) at the Leningrad State University and to his relations with fellow students- M P Bronstein, D D Ivanenko, and L D Landau. His research into α-decay-its genesis and subsequent fate- is analysed. This article is in many respects based on new archive material.

PACS: 01.60.+q DOI: 10.1070/PU1994v037n08ABEH000039 URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/1994/8/c/ A1994PJ71400003 Citation: Frenkel’ V Ya "George Gamow: World line 1904-1933 (On the ninetieth anniversary of G A Gamov's birth)" Phys. Usp. 37 767–789 (1994) BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks Оригинал: Френкель В Я «Георгий Гамов: линия жизни 1904-1933 (К 90-летию со дня рождения Г.А. Гамова)» УФН 164 845–866 (1994); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0164.199408c.0845 G.A. Gamov is author of Physics-Uspekhi