The history and development of the branches of physics which profited significantly from the work of Russian Nobel laureates (P A Cherenkov, I E Tamm, I M Frank, L D Landau, N G Basov, A M Prokhorov, P L Kapitza, and Zh I Alferov) are reviewed in popular form to mark the recent Nobel Foundation centenary. Apart from the Russian prize winners’ achievements, the major contributions of their colleagues — Russian and foreign, predecessors and successors — are briefly discussed. The current state of the branches of physics advanced with the participation of Russian laureates is reviewed, and the practical implications of their work for science, technology, and everyday life are discussed.

PACS: 01.65.+g, 42.50.−p, 67.40.−w, 74.20.−z (all) DOI: 10.1070/PU2003v046n05ABEH001288 URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2003/5/c/ 000185206600003 Citation: Mukhin K N, Sustavov A F, Tikhonov V N "On the centenary of the Nobel Prize: Russian laureates in physics" Phys. Usp. 46 493–547 (2003) BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks Оригинал: Мухин К Н, Суставов А Ф, Тихонов В Н «К 100-летию Нобелевских премий (о работах российских лауреатов Нобелевской премии по физике)» УФН 173 511–569 (2003); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0173.200305c.0511