It is argued that, historically, the concept of the existence of hypothetical superluminal particles called tachyons was preceded by the concept of a faster-than-light process. The latter concept, put forth by Lev Yakovlevich Strum (1890–1936) of the Soviet Union, contained within it the formulation of what later came to be known as the `reinterpretation principle’ of tachyon theory, a principle which proved instrumental in solving the problem of cause and effect in faster-than-light motions. L Ya Strum’s results on this subject are briefly discussed, and his professional career is outlined.

PACS: 01.65.+g, 03.30.+p (all) DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.0182.201211g.1217 URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2012/11/f/ 000314808600006 2-s2.0-84873893507 2012PhyU...55.1134M Citation: Malykin G B, Savchuk V S, Romanets E A "Lev Yakovlevich Strum and the hypothesis of the existence of tachyons" Phys. Usp. 55 1134–1139 (2012) BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks Received: 17th, May 2011, revised: 14th, November 2011, accepted: 16th, November 2011 Оригинал: Малыкин Г Б, Савчук В С, Романец Е А «Лев Яковлевич Штрум и гипотеза существования тахионов» УФН 182 1217–1222 (2012); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.0182.201211g.1217 L. Shtrum is author of Physics-Uspekhi