A history of the diamond synthesis at the Institute of High Pressure Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union (IHPD), is described based on archival materials. Many details of those events are still unclear. In particular, the name of the IHPF researcher who was the first to see in his apparatus the diamond first synthesized in the USSR is not known. It is also not entirely clear why the high-pressure group at the Institute of Crystallography, Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union, that was quite close to success had been ruthlessly liquidated. The history described allows the reader to better understand the organization of science in the USSR that is often idealized nowadays.

Keywords: diamond, borazon, belt, anvils PACS: 01.65.+g DOI: 10.3367/UFNe.2019.03.038545 URL: https://ufn.ru/en/articles/2019/7/g/ 000492057500007 2-s2.0-85076795075 2019PhyU...62..704S Citation: Stishov S M "Mysteries of diamond synthesis at the Institute of High Pressure Physics of the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union" Phys. Usp. 62 704–710 (2019) BibTexBibNote ® (generic)BibNote ® (RIS)MedlineRefWorks Received: 1st, March 2019, accepted: 20th, March 2019 Оригинал: Стишов С М «Загадки синтеза алмаза в Институте физики высоких давлений АН СССР» УФН 189 752–758 (2019); DOI: 10.3367/UFNr.2019.03.038545