Yuri Alexandrovich Krutkov (29.05.1890—12.09.1952) was a Soviet theoretical physicist and a corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences (1933). He was born at St Petersburg University, and attended the seminar run by P. Ehrenfest in 1908-12. From 1921 he was professor at Leningrad University.
His main research was in the field of quantum theory, statistical mechanics and the rotation of rigid bodies. His studies of adiabatic invariants were of great importance for the theory of the atom, and his research in mechanics for the theory of gyroscopes. His work also concerned Brownian motion, the theory of elasticity and other subjects. He was a brilliant lecturer and populariser of physics. He played a considerable part in the organisation and establishment of theoretical physics in the USSR.
USSR State Prize.