Biography
Alexander Georgiev Petrov
Emeritus Prof., Sc.D., Member of BAS
(27.05.1948 – 21.09.2024)
Born
in Stara Zagora (27.05.1948)
Education
(1987) DSc in Physics from Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia. DSc Thesis: Molecular Physics and Biophysical Aspects of Lyotropic Liquid Crystalline State of Matter
(1974) PhD in Physics from Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia. PhD Thesis: Electric Polarization of Nematic Liquid Crystals: Dielectric and Flexoelectric Properties
(1966 – 1970) MSc in Atomic Physics from St. Kliment Ochridski University of Sofia. Master Thesis: Dielectric Properties of Nematic Liquid Crystals with Ellipsoidal Molecules
Professional Experience
(2006–2015) Head of Soft Matter Division, ISSP-BAS
(2003) Fellow of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
(1999–2015) Director, Institute of Solid State Physics-BAS
(1991–2008) Head of Biomolecular Layers Department, ISSP-BAS
(1990–2017) Professor, ISSP-BAS
(1984–1990) Associate Professor, ISSP-BAS
(1974–1989) Scientific Secretary of Sofia Liquid Crystal Group
(1974–1984) Assistant Professor, ISSP-BAS
(1971–1974) Research Scientist, Liquid Crystal Department, Institute of Solid State Physics (ISSP), Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), Sofia
Research
Area: Liquid crystal physics, membrane biophysics and biomolecular electronics: Six new effects in liquid crystal physics and in living matter physics are discovered experimentally and interpreted theoretically, notably bioflexoelectricity and biohelielectricity. These new effects are applied in optoelectronics, nanotechnology, membrane biophysics. Holder of five patents on liquid crystal display devices
Guest-Lecturer
(2008, 2010, 2013) Visiting Professor, Centre for Liquid Crystal Research, Bangalore
(2008) Invited Professor, Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent, Ohio
(2004, 2006) Invited Professor, Universita della Calabria
(2003) Visiting Professor, SUNY Buffalo
(2002) JSPS Fellowship, Japan
(2001) NATO Expert Visitor, SUNY Buffalo
(1999-2001) Bulgarian Principal Investigator, NATO Linkage Grant with Nottingham University
(1997) Visiting Scholar, Leipzig University
(1996-1997) Bulgarian Principal Investigator, Royal Society Collaborative Grant with Nottingham University
(1994-1996) Bulgarian Principal Investigator, NATO Collaborative Research Grant with Sheffield Hallam University
(1994) Invited Professor, Universita della Calabria
(1994) EC Senior Go West Grantee, Nottingham University
(1993) NSF Visiting Scholar, Syracuse University, USA
(1993) Invited Professor, Universite de Paris-Sud, Orsay
(1991-1996) Bulgarian Principal Investigator, British Council Academic Link with Nottingham University
(1989-1990) SERC Senior Research Fellow, Nottingham University
(2015) President, Union of the Physicists in Bulgaria (2010 - 2017). President, Balkan Physical Union
(2009) Chairman of the Natural and Mathematical Sciences Division of the Fellows of BAS’ Assembly
(2009-2015) Chairman of the Consultative Council on Nanosciences, new materials and technologies at the Administrative Council of BAS
(2005) 1st Award for a Completed Project of the Ministry of Education and Science of Bulgaria
(2003-2010) Chairman of the Specialized Scientific Council on Condensed Matter Physics at the Higher Attestation Commission of the Republic of Bulgaria
(2003) Fellow of the World Innovation Foundation
(2002) Member, Editorial Council of the journal Zhidkie Kristalli, Ivanovo
(2001 and 2003) Co-organizer of the 1st and 2nd World Congress on Bioflexoelectricity, Buffalo and Houston
(2000) President, Bulgarian Liquid Crystal Society
(1998) Member, Research Board of Advisors, The American Biographical Institute
(1995-2000) Member of the Editorial Board, Europhysics News
(1995-1999) Chairman of the Scientific Council, ISSP-BAS
(1995-2001, 2007-2010) Vice President, Union of the Physicists of Bulgaria
(1994-1997) Member of the Higher Attestation Commission of the Republic of Bulgaria
(1993) Member of the International Advisory Committee; 2nd Liquid Matter Conference of EPS; Firenze
(1992) Member of the Administrative Council, Union of the Physicists of Bulgaria
(1991) Advisory Editor, European Biophysics Journal
(1989-1999) Member of the International Advisory Board of the European Liquid Crystal Conferences
(1987) Guest-Editor, Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals
(1987) Vice-Chairman, 5th European Liquid Crystal Conference, Borovets, Bulgaria
(1984) Scientific Secretary, International School-Colloquium "Lyotropics and Biomembranes", Varna, Bulgaria
(1977) Scientific Secretary, 2nd Liquid Crystal Conference of E.European Countries, Sunny Beach, Bulgaria
Awards
(10 May 2018) „St. Kyril and Methodius“ state medal – necklace
(2008) Marin Drinov sign of honour of BAS on a ribbon
(2007) Annual Award of the Ministry of Education and Science of Bulgaria for outstanding contribution to science
(2004) Freedericksz medal of the Russian Liquid Crystal Society for outstanding achievements in liquid crystal physics.
(2000) Biennial award in Physics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
(1999) Award, National Council “Scientific Studies”, Ministry of Education and Science of Bulgaria
International Recognitions
(2012) Flexoelectricity in Liquid Crystals. Theory, Experiments and Applications. Chapter 6. Imperial College Press, London
(2007) Current Topics in Membranes, vol. 58: Mechanosensitive channels, Elsevier/Academic Press
(2006) Analytica Chimica Acta, Elsevier
(2003) Invited book chapters in “Planar Lipid Bilayers (BLMs) and their Applications”, Elsevier Science
(2002) BBA-Biomembranes, Elsevier
(2001) EMIS Datareviews Series
(1994) European Biophysics Journal, Springer
(1984) Monographic review in Progress of Surface Science
(1983) Invited reviews in Mendeleev Journal of All-Union Chemical Society
Publications
(2017) A. Ayriyan, E. Ayrjan, A. Egorov, M. Dencheva-Zarkova, G. Hadjichristov, Y. Marinov, I. Maslyanitsyn, A. G. Petrov, L. Popova, V. Shigorin, A. Strigazzi, S. Torgova, Modeling of static electric field effecton nematic liquid crystal director orientation in side-electrode cell, Mathematical Modeling and Computational Physics: Book of Abstr. of the Intern. Conf. (3–7 July 2017) Dubna, JINR
(2017) G. Hadjichristov, Y. Marinov, A. G. Petrov, S. Prasad, Photoresponsive azo-doped aerosil/7CB nematic nanocomposites: the effect from concentration of the azobenzene photoactive agent, J. Phys: Conf. Series 794, 012037
(2017) Y. Marinov, M. Marinov, G. Hadjichristov, A. G. Petrov, S. Prasad, L. Marino, N. Scaramuzza, Dielectric study of azo-doped aerosil/7CB nematic nanocomposite upon UV light, Journal of Physics: Conf. Series 780, 012009
(2017) Y. Marinov, G. Hadjichristov, A. G. Petrov, H. Koduru, L. Marino, N. Scaramuzza, Dielectric and electrical behaviours of polymeric (PEO/PVP):NaIO4 composite for solid electrolytes, IOP Conf. Series: Journal of Physics: Conf. Series 794, 012020
(2017) H. Koduru, L. Marino, F. Scarpelli, A. G. Petrov, Y. Marinov, G. Hadjichristov, M. Iliev, N. Scaramuzza, Structural and dielectric properties of NaIO4 Complexed PEO/PVP blended solid polymer electrolytes, Current Applied Physics, 17, 1518-1531
(2016) A. Ayriyan, E. Ayrjan, A. Egorov, G. Hadjichristov, Y. Marinov, I. Maslyanitsyn, A. G. Petrov, J. Pribis, L. Popova, V. Shigorin, A. Strigazzi, S. Torgova, Some Features of Second Harmonic Generationin the Nematic Liquid Crystal 5CBin the Pulsed-Periodic Electric Field, Physics of Wave Phenomena, 24, No. 4, pp. 1–9
(2016) G. Hadjichristov, Y. Marinov, A. G. Petrov, Electrically and spatially controllable PDLC phase gratings for diffraction and modulation of laser beams, Am.Inst.Phys. Conf.Proc. 1722, 290007 (1-4)
(2016) Y. Marinov, G. Hadjichristov, A.G. Petrov, S. Krishna Prasad, Photo-controllable electro-optics of aerosil/7CB nanocomposite nematic doped with azo-bonded molecules, Journal of Physics: Conference series, 682, 012030
(2016) G. Hadjichristov, Y. Marinov, A. G. Petrov, L. Marino, N, Scaramuzza, Dielectric and electrical characterization of 5CB nematic liquid crystal doped with silver nanoparticles, Journal of Physics: Conference Series 682, 012015
(2016) Y. Marinov, G. Hadjihristov, A. G. Petrov, S. Krishna Prasad, Electro-optic modulation by silica-nanostructured nematic system (aerosil/7CB nanocomposite), Composites Part B90,471–477
(2014) A. G. Petrov, Living Matter Physics, Marin Drinov Academic Edition, Sofia
(2007) A. G. Petrov, Lyotropic State of Matter, Taylor and Francis
(2002) A. G. Petrov, F. Sachs, Flexoelectricity and elasticity of asymmetric biomembranes. Physical Review E (65) 021905-10 (2002)
(1999) A. G. Petrov, The Lyotropic State of Matter. Molecular Physics and Living Matter Physics, Gordon & Breach Publ, New York
(1999) A. G. Petrov, Liquid Crystal Physics and the Physics of Living Matter, Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals, 332 (1) 577-584 (1999)
(1996) A. G. Petrov, M. Spassova, J. Fendler, Flexoelectricity and photoflexoelectricity in model and biomembranes, Thin Solid Films, 284-285, 845-848 (1996)
(1994) A. Todorov A. G. Petrov, J. Fendler, Flexoelectricity of charged and dipolar bilayer lipid membranes studied by stroboscopic interferometry. Langmuir (10) 2344-2350 (1994)
(1993) A. G. Petrov, B. Miller, K. Hristova, P. Usherwood, Flexoelectric effects in model and native membranes containing ion channels, European Biophysics Journal (22) 289-300 (1993)
(1992) G. Ivanov, K. Kostadinov, A. G. Petrov, Aspects of Langmuir-Blodgett trough design: computerization, surface pressure measurement, unevenness of motion, generated vibrations, Thin Solid Films (210) 13-15 (1992)
(1987) A. G. Petrov, A. Derzhanski, Generalized asymmetry of thermotropic and lyotropic mesogens, Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. 151, 303
(1986) A. G. Petrov, V. S. Sokolov, Curvature electric effect in black lipid membranes, Eur. Biophys. J. 13, 139
(1986) A. G. Petrov, L. Mircevova, Is flexoelectricity the coupling factor between chemical energy and osmotic work in the pump? A model of pump, Gen. Physiol. Biophys. 5, 391
(1986) A. Derzhanski, A. G. Petrov, M. D. Mitov, Future development of the multipole model of molecular asymmetry in thermotropics and lyotropics. Dependence of the generalized multipoles on the generalized fields, Wiss. Beitrage MLU Halle 52, 170
(1986) A. G. Petrov, L. Mirchevova, Is flexoelectricity the coupling factor between chemical energy and osmotic work in the pump? A model of pump. General Physiology and Biophysics (5) AEPress (1986)
(1986) A. G. Petrov, Molecular physics and biophysical aspects of lyotropic liquid crystal state of matter (in Bulgarian), D.Sc. Thesis, Inst Solid State Physics, Bulg Acad Sci, Sofia, 507 pp.
(1984) A. G. Petrov, Flexoelectricity of lyotropics and biomembranes, Nuovo Cimento 3D, 174
(1984) A. G. Petrov, M. M. Kozlov, Curvature elasticity and passage formation in lipid bilayers. Lattice of passages, Compt. rend. Acad. bulg. Sci. 37, 1191
(1984) V. F. Pastushenko, A. G. Petrov, Electromechanical mechanism of pore formation in bilayer lipid membranes, Seventh School Biophys. Membrane Transport, Poland 1984, Proceedings, vol. II, pp 69-91 Wroclaw
(1984) A. G. Petrov, I. Bivas, Elastic and flexoelectric aspects of out of plane fluctuations in biological and model membranes, Progress in Surface Sci., Ed. S. Davison, 16, 389 512
(1983)L. Komitov, A. G. Petrov, Optical method for determination of anchoring energy of tilted nematic layers, phys. stat. sol.(a) 76, 137
(1983) A. Hauser, G. Pelzl, C. Selbmann, D. Demus, S. Grande, A. Petrov, Order parameter and molecular polarizabilities of liquid crystals with nematic and smectic phases, Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. 91, 97
(1983) K. Gawrisch, M. Mitov, A. Mops, A. G. Petrov, Bestimmung der Phasenubergangstemperaturen lyotroper flussig-crystalliner, Systeme mittels Microscopie im polarisierten Licht, Wiss. Ber. Karl Marx Universitat Leipzig, 32, 80
(1983) L. Komitov, A. G. Petrov, Quasihomeotropic, reversely pretilted hematic liquid crystal layers. Electrooptical behaviour, phys. stat. sol. (a) 79, 623
(1983) L. Komitov, A. G. Petrov, A novel polar electrooptic effect in reversely pretilted nematic liquid crystal layers with weak anchoring, Japan Display '83: Proc. 3rd Int. Display Res. Conf. Kobe, p. 482
(1983) S. A. Seleznev, A. G. Petrov, Short and long range interactions of proteins and mesomorphic lipids within biological membranes, Compt. rend. Acad. bulg. Sci. 36, 615-618
(1983) A. G. Petrov, G. Durand, Thermal instability in lamellar phases of lecithin: a planar undulation model, J. Physique Lett. 44, L 793
(1982) K.Gawrisch, K. Arnold, A. G. Petrov, G. Brezesinski, A.Mops, A.Losche, G. Klose Optical, DSC and 31P NMR investigations of phase separation in phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine mixtures, studia biophysica, 90, 131
(1982) A. G. Petrov, K. Gawrisch, G. Brezesinki, G. Klose, A. Mops, Optical detection of phase transitions in simple and mixed lipid water systems, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 690, 1
(1982) A. G. Petrov, M. D. Mitov, Defects in lipid bilayers and their influence on membrane fusion, Studia biophysica 90, 223
(1982) G. Klose, A. G. Petrov, F. Volke, H. Meyer, G. Forster, W. Rettig, Self assembly and phase behaviour of short chain phosphonic acid water systems in a wide concentration range. Microscopic, NMR and X ray diffraction studies, Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. 88, 109
(1982) A. Derzhanski, A. G. Petrov, Multipole model of the molecular asymmetry in thermotropic and lyotropic liquid crystals. Volume and surface effects, Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. 89, 339
(1981) A. Derzhanski, A. G. Petrov, Y. V. Pavloff, Curvature induced conductive and displacement currents through lipid bilayers, J. Physique Lett. 42, L 119
(1981) I. Bivas, A. G. Petrov, Flexoelectric and steric interactions between two lipid bilayer membranes resulting from their curvature fluctuations, J. theor. Biol. 88, 459-483
(1981) A. G. Petrov, The problem of self assembly of lipids and proteins into liquid crystalline membrane structures, Sixth School Biophys. Membrane Transport, Poland, Proceedings, vol. 1, p. 116
(1981) A. G. Petrov, H. Frischleder, On the theory of domain formation in mixed lipid systems, Chem. Phys. Lipids, 29, 165
(1981) I. Gorina, N. Sizova, I. Chistyakov, A. G. Petrov, A. Derzhanski, The observation of hydrodynamic instability in a cholesteric liquid crystal having a free surface, Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. 66, 159
(1980) N. Aneva, A. G. Petrov, S. Sokerov, S. Stoylov, Dynamics of the Freedericksz transition in the electric field in non ideally oriented nematic layers at subthreshold and above threshold voltages, Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. 60, 1
(1980) A. G. Petrov, S. Naydenova, Stabilization of foam films of nonionic detergents by liquid crystals, J. Disp. Sci. Technol. 1, 283
(1980) A. Derzhanski, A. G. Petrov, I. Bivas, Molecular asymmetry, flexoelectricity and elasticity of nematics, Advances in Liq. Cryst. Res. and Appl., Ed. L. Bata, Pergamon Press, Oxford Akad. Kiado, Budapest, vol. 1, p. 505
(1980)A. Derzhanski, A. G. Petrov, Gradient flexoelectric effect and longitudinal domains in nematics, Advances in Liq. Cryst. Res. and Appl., Ed. L. Bata, Pergamon Press, Oxford Akad. Kiado, Budapest, vol. 1, p. 515
(1980) A. G. Petrov, M. Mitov, A. Derzhanski, Edge energy and pore stability in bilayer lipid membranes, Advances in Liq. Cryst. Res. and Appl., Ed. L. Bata, Pergamon Press, Oxford Akad. Kiado, Budapest, vol. 2, p. 695
(1980) L. Vistin', A. G. Petrov, N. Shonova, A. Derzhanski, Generation of low frequency electrical and optical oscillations in a system liquid crystal cell solar cell, Advances in Liq. Cryst. Res. and Appl., Ed. L. Bata, Pergamon Press, Oxford Akad. Kiado, Budapest, vol.2, p. 1213
(1979) A. G. Petrov, Electrohydrodynamic instability in planar, positive dielectric anisotropy nematic layers at d.c. excitation, J. Physique suppl. 40, C3 310
(1979) A. G. Petrov, Y. Pavloff, A new model for flexoelectric polarization of bilayer lipid membranes at blocked "flip flop", J. Physique suppl. 40, C3 455
(1979) A. G. Petrov, S. Seleznev, A. Derzhanski, Principles and methods of liquid crystal physics applied to the structure and functions of biological membranes, Acta. Phys. Polonica A55, 385 405
(1979) A. Derzhanski, A. G. Petrov, Flexoelectricity in nematic liquid crystals, Acta Phys. Polonica A55, 747
(1979) A. G. Petrov, The biomembrane as a liquid crystalline system, Fifth Winter School Biophysics, Membrane Transport, Poland, Proceedings vol. 1, p. 297
(1979) M. Mitov, A. G. Petrov, A. Derzhanski, Edge energy and pore stability in membranes molecular description, Fifth Winter School Biophysics, Membrane Transport, Poland, Proceedings, vol. 2, p. 313
(1979) A. Derzhanski, A. G. Petrov, M. Mitov, Electric field induced pores in erythrocyte membranes a discussion, Fifth Winter School Biophysics, Membrane Transport, Poland, Proceedings, vol. 2, p. 285
(1979) M. Mitov, A. G. Petrov, A new interpretation of the experiments on osmotic pressure induced pores in phospholipid vesicles, Proc. Colloques nationaux du C.N.R.S. No 938 Physicochimie des composes amphiphiles, p. 249
(1978) A. G. Petrov, V. Tverdislov, A. Derzhanski, Flexoelectric aspects of lipid protein interaction in biomembranes, Ann. Phys. 3, 273. 4
(1978) A. Derzhanski, A. G. Petrov, M. Mitov, Molecular asymmetry and saddle splay elasticity in lipid bilayers, Ann. Phys. 3, 297
(1978) A. G. Petrov, M. Mitov, A. Derzhanski, Saddle splay instability in lipid bilayers, Phys. Lett. 65A, 374
(1978) A. Derzhanski, A. G. Petrov, M. Mitov, One dimensional dielectric flexoelectric deformations in nematic layers, J. Physique 39, 273
(1978) A. G. Petrov, Mechanisms of curvature induced membrane polarization and their influence on some membrane properties, studia biophysica 74, 51, and Microphiche 4/ 14 25
(1977) A. G. Petrov, Flexoelectric effects and transport phenomena in biomembranes, Fourth Winter School Biophys. Membrane Transport, Poland School Proceeding, vol. 3, p. 168 176
(1977) A. G. Petrov, A. Derzhanski, Flexoelectricity and surface polarization, Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. Lett. 41, 41
(1976) S. Sokerov, N. Aneva, P. Stefanov, A. G. Petrov, S. Stoylov, V. Encheva, Electrooptic study of nematic liquid crystal ZLI 207 (in Bulgarian), Izv. Khimia (Sofia) 9, 304
(1976) A. G. Petrov, A. Derzhanski, On some problems in the theory of elastic and flexoelectric effects in bilayer lipid membranes and biomembranes, J. Physique suppl. 37, C3 155 – C3-160
(1975) A. Derzhanski, A. G. Petrov, I. Bivas, One dimensional approach to the spontaneous deformations in nematic liquid crystals, Compt. rend. Acad. bulg. Sci. 28, 1327
(1975) A. G. Petrov, Flexoelectric model for active transport, In: Physical and Chemical Bases of Biological Information Transfer, Plenum Press, N. Y. L. p. 111.
(1974) A. Derzhanski, A. G. Petrov, Chr. Khinov, B. L. Markovski, Piezoelectric deformations of nematic liquid cristals in nonhomogeneous d.c. electric field, Bulg. J. Phys. 1, 165
(1974) A. G. Petrov, Electric polarization of nematic liquid crystals dielectric and piezoelectric properties (in Bulgarian), Ph.D.Thesis, Institute of Solid State Physics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia
(1972) A. Derzhanski, A. G. Petrov, A molecular statistical approach to the piezoelectric properties of nematic liquid crystals one dimensional model, Compt. rend. Acad. bulg. Sci. 25, 167
(1971) A. Derzhanski, A. G. Petrov, Dielectric properties of nematic liquid crystal with ellipsoidal molecules, Compt. rend. Acad. bulg. Sci. 24, 569
(1971) A. G. Petrov, Molecular parameters and dielectric anisotropy of liquid crystal p-azoxyanisole, Compt. rend. Acad. bulg. Sci. 24, 573
(1971) A. Derzhanski, A. G. Petrov, A possible relationship between the dielectric permeability and the piezoelectric properties of nematic liquid crystals, Phys. Lett. 34A, 427
(1971) A. Derzhanski, A. G. Petrov, Inverse currents and contact behaviour of some nematic liquid crystals, Phys. Lett. 36A, 307
(1971) A. Derzhanski, A. G. Petrov, A molecular statistical approach to the piezoelectric properties of nematic liquid crystals, Phys. Lett. 36A, 483
(1971) A. Derzhanski, S. Naydenova, L. Grigorov, A. G. Petrov, NMR Fourier spectroscopy in liquid crystals, Proc. XVIth Congress AMPERE, Bucharest, p.841