The tumultuous year 2025 is drawing to a close. Amid the whirlwind of events, anxieties, struggles, and everyday concerns, a moment has arisen to indulge in a philosophical and historical reflection and take a look at the history of the Department of Laser Engineering and Physical-Technical Technologies. And immediately the question arose: what should serve as the starting point—the establishment of the department as a graduating unit, the launch of the major, the inception of the field, or the creation of the basic laboratories from which it all began?
If we choose the latter approach, it turns out that our department is the same age as the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, and its activities began alongside it. But at the same time, a logical question arises: “What kind of Department of Laser Technologies is this, if the laser itself wouldn’t be invented for several decades?”… However, let’s take it one step at a time.
What does the number 127 in the title refer to? Since the founding of KPI in 1898, the institute’s Mechanical Engineering Department has included the teaching of the discipline “Metal Technology” and the conduct of laboratory and practical classes as part of the training of mechanical engineers.
The KPI’s educational and mechanical workshops were built in 1900 according to a design by architect I.S. Kitner; evidently, the Department of Metal Technology was established at that time, which we proudly count among our founding departments. The scientists and specialists of this department survived the Second World War, making significant contributions to the victory both while working in Kyiv and during their evacuation and return to Kyiv in 1944. The first head of the department after the war was Vasyl Yukhimovich Vasyliev, a renowned scientist in the field of metal technology and a corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR. He had broad scientific interests and left a significant legacy both in improving scientific research at the institute and in the creation and development of new scientific and educational units. From 1945 to 1958, the department was headed by Associate Professor M.F. Savin. Even during the evacuation to Tashkent, he worked with Professor E.M. Khaimovich, a renowned expert in machine tool engineering, to develop technologies for manufacturing new types of weapons. Together with the department’s staff, they designed the roller manufacturing shops, as well as the repair-mechanical and forging shops of the Uzbek Metallurgical Plant. From 1958 to 1973, the department was headed by Associate Professor B.S. Navrotsky, who joined the department after working at the “Bolshevik” plant. During 1960–1966, the department trained specialists in engineering and education. During this time, 144 engineering-pedagogical specialists graduated. Graduates from that period—Professor V.V. Dzhemelinsky, Associate Professors A.K. Skuratovsky, and V.K. Manzhurnet—dedicated their lives to the department and worked there for many years.
From 1973 to 1990, the department was headed by Professor Volodymyr Vasylovych Khilchevsky—a renowned specialist in the field of strength of materials. During this period, the scope of the department’s scientific and educational interests expanded. With the emergence of new materials possessing diverse properties, the curriculum began to address not only issues of metal technology but also broader problems in the technology of structural materials in general. Consequently, the department was renamed “Technology of Structural Materials and Materials Science.”
In parallel with these developments, 61 years ago—specifically in 1964—the first research in Ukraine on the use of laser radiation for material processing was initiated at the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute under the leadership of Professor S.O. Kartavov. Under his leadership, V.S. Kovalenko, who had by then returned to Kyiv after an internship in the United Kingdom, assembled Ukraine’s first laser processing system for drilling microholes and set about organizing a research laboratory for laser technology. This event could also be considered the starting point in the department’s history.
The research laboratory for laser technology developed rapidly, carrying out scientific projects in both military and civilian fields. It was here that V.S. Kovalenko, V.P. Kotlyarov, L.F. Golovko, V.V. Romanenko, L.M. Oleshchuk, and M.I. Anyakin conducted research, defended their dissertations, and later became the founders of a promising field in the implementation of laser technologies in Ukraine and the founders of the department.
Over time, the laboratory’s achievements outgrew the scope of a mere scientific research institution. After all, it became quite evident that without the emergence of professional personnel, it would be impossible to ensure the rapid development of laser technologies; so 41 years ago, specifically in 1984, at KPI, on the initiative of Prof. V.S. Kovalenko, a new engineering specialty, “Technology and Equipment for Laser Material Processing,” was established for the first time in Ukraine. This can also be considered the starting point of a new stage of development in the department’s history.
Thirty-five years ago, specifically in 1990, history finally reached, as they say, a point of clarity, as the Department of Structural Materials Technology and Materials Science merged with the Laser Technology Laboratory, and the graduating department “Laser Technology, Machine Design, and Materials Science” (LTKM) was established. It was headed by Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor V.S. Kovalenko. This event marked the culmination of our department’s formation.
Our research unit received its current name, “Department of Laser Engineering and Physical-Technical Technologies,” with the appointment of Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences and Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Igor Vitaliyovych Krivtsun as department head in 2009. It was he who developed the theory of the interaction of focused laser radiation and arc plasma with condensed media. The peculiarities of laser and combined laser-plasma heating of particles of finely dispersed metallic and ceramic materials were first revealed. Such innovative hybrid processes as laser-microplasma welding of thin metals, laser-plasma powder cladding and sputtering of ceramic materials, and laser-plasma deposition of diamond and diamond-like coatings have been developed. For the practical implementation of these technological processes, a series of integrated laser-arc plasma torches has been created, which have no analogues in global practice.
Since the department’s inception as a degree-granting unit, more than 500 students have graduated from it, including scientists, founders and heads of enterprises, and directors of research laboratories and industrial departments. More than 10 doctoral and 30 master’s theses have been defended. Department staff have been honored with state awards and international distinctions.
… The pace of modern life does not allow for prolonged philosophical musings or historical digressions. The department is actively working on scientific and industrial projects, and international cooperation is expanding. And despite all the difficulties our country is facing today, we look to the new year with optimism.
So, is it 35, 41, 61, or 127?
We consider ourselves a young department with over a century of experience!