History of Science and Engineering Annotation << Back The history of optical research in the Physical Institute of P.N. Lebedev S.V. Krivohizha, A.V. Masalov, Z.A. Chizhikova The history of the development of optical investigations in P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute is connected with the organization of the Laboratory of Luminescence by the first Institute Director S.I. Vavilov and with the organization of the Optical Laboratory by G.S. Landsberg. The relay-race of investigations was taken up by their followers. They were S.L. Mandelshtam, I.L. Fabelinskii, I.I. Sobelman, M.D. Galanin and others. The scientific achievements and biography information of these scientists are briefly presented in this work. The basis directions of optical studies in the Optical Division of the P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute are outlined. Key words: FIAN, Optical and Luminescence Laboratories, spectroscopy of the Earth and Cosmos e-mail: skrivokh@sci.lebedev.ru