Alexei Vasilyevich Shubnikov (29.03.1887-27.04.1970) - a Soviet physicist and crystallographer, academician (1953; corresponding member 1933). Born in Moscow. Graduated from Moscow University (1912). He worked at the A. L. Shanyavsky People's University in the laboratory of G. V. Wulff. In 1920—25 he was professor at the Urals Mining Institute, and from 1925 worked at institutions of the USSR Academy of Sciences. From 1937 he was head of the Laboratory of Crystallography of the USSR Academy of Sciences, from 1944 director of the Institute of Crystallography of the USSR Academy of Sciences, and from 1953 head of a chair at Moscow University.
His work concerned mainly the theory of symmetry, crystal physics and the theory of crystal growth. It had a considerable influence on the development of solid-state physics. Discovered in 1940 the piezoelectric textures. Predicted the possibility of the visual observation of atoms and molecules when monochromatic rays pass through two crystal rasters laid one on top of the other, which has been realised in electron microscopy. In 1951 he developed the doctrine of antisymmetry and derived the 58 crystallographic point groups of antisymmetry (the Shubnikov groups).
Under the direction of A. V. Shubnikov an industry for the production of technically important crystals was created in the USSR.
Hero of Socialist Labour (1967). USSR State Prizes (1947, 1950). He founded a school in crystallography and crystal physics.