Alexei Starobinsky was a pioneering theoretical physicist whose groundbreaking work fundamentally transformed modern cosmology. Born in Moscow on April 19, 1948, he earned his master's degree in physics from Moscow State University in 1972 and completed his doctorate at the Landau Institute for Theoretical Physics in 1975 under Yakov Zeldovich's supervision. Throughout his distinguished career, Starobinsky remained steadfastly affiliated with the Landau Institute, where he served as head of the department of gravitation and cosmology from 1990 to 1997, became principal research scientist in 1997, and held the position of deputy director from 1999 to 2003. He also maintained a professorship at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow and was honored as a full member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Starobinsky pioneered the theory of cosmic inflation, becoming the first to propose a viable mathematical model in 1979 that now bears his name as Starobinsky inflation. His seminal 1973 work demonstrated that rotating black holes must emit particles according to quantum uncertainty principles, directly inspiring Stephen Hawking's subsequent formulation of Hawking radiation for all black holes. Alongside collaborators, he developed the theoretical framework explaining how quantum fluctuations in the early universe are amplified by inflation to provide the seeds for cosmic structure formation. These revolutionary contributions transformed cosmology from a speculative field into a precision science with experimentally testable predictions, establishing the foundation for modern understanding of the universe's origin and evolution.
As a globally recognized leader in theoretical physics, Starobinsky received numerous prestigious honors including the Kavli Prize, Gruber Prize in Cosmology, and Dirac Medal of the ICTP for his transformative contributions to cosmological physics. His work provided the theoretical foundation for precision measurements of cosmic microwave background radiation that have become standard in contemporary cosmology. Even in his later years, he continued exploring ways to extend beyond inflation theory, seeking deeper understanding of the universe's earliest moments. Starobinsky's enduring legacy continues to guide theoretical and observational research in cosmology, cementing his status as one of the most influential physicists of the modern era whose insights remain central to our quest to understand the fundamental nature of the universe.
