Zhores Ivanovich Alferov was a Soviet and Russian physicist who contributed significantly to the creation of modern heterostructure physics and electronics. In 2000, Alferov shared the Nobel Prize in Physics for the development of the semiconductor heterojunction for optoelectronics. He also became a politician in his later life, serving in the State Duma as a member of the Communist Party from 1999. The Nobel Prize in Physics 2000, announced October 10, 2000. Zhores Alferov (1/4), “for developing semiconductor heterostructures used in high-speed- and opto-electronics”. Herbert Kroemer (1/4), “for developing semiconductor heterostructures used in high-speed- and opto-electronics”. Jack Kilby (1/2), “for his part in the invention of the integrated circuit”. Zhores Alferov: born 1930, Vitebsk, Belorussia, USSR (now Belarus). Herbert Kroemer: born 1928, Weimar, Germany. Jack Kilby: born 1923, Jefferson City, MO, USA. Wiki link Wiki link Wiki link Data: the Nobel Foundation (CC0).