The State Optical Institute and its scientific school

摘要

This paper presents information from the history of the State Optical Institute (GOT). The Sources of GOT and of its scientific school, the chief of which were the outstanding Russian scientists Academicians D. S. Rozhdestvenskii and S. I. Vavilov, are analyzed. It is asserted that optics is a high-priority specialization of modern science and engineering, the achievements of which determine the level of development of the leading branches of the national economy, the country's defence, health care, and the culture of the nation. (C) 2008 Optical Society of America.