Rem Viktorovich Khokhlov (15.07.1926 — 8.08.1977) was a Soviet physicist, one of the founders of nonlinear optics, an academician (1974; corresponding member 1966). He was born in the town of Livny, Orel region. He graduated from Moscow University (1948) and worked there (professor from 1963, rector from 1973).
His research was in the field of the theory of nonlinear oscillations, radiophysics, quantum electronics and nonlinear optics. He developed a method of solving nonlinear oscillation problems (the method of stepwise simplification of truncated equations), which he later extended to wave problems as well. In 1959 — 60 he made a clear classification of nonlinear wave processes and gave the corresponding mathematical apparatus. He was the first to develop the theory of second-harmonic generation in wave systems. He constructed (1963 — 64) a detailed classical theory of stimulated Raman scattering of light. In 1962, together with S. A. Akhmanov, he was the first to propose a new type of generator of coherent oscillations — the parametric generator — and in 1965 he built a parametric light generator in the infrared range, tunable in frequency. Later he and his colleagues built similar tunable generators in other ranges of the optical spectrum. He discovered a new kind of light scattering — parametric scattering. He studied the interaction of powerful light beams and proposed (1966) an effective method of analysing the phenomenon of self-focusing. He developed the mathematical apparatus of nonlinear optics and nonlinear acoustics. He carried out pioneering research in selective laser photophysics and photochemistry, the photochemistry of heterogeneous processes, and gamma optics. For his research in nonlinear optics he was awarded the Lenin Prize in 1970.
He founded a scientific school.