Boris M. Smirnov obtained his Master of Science in Theoretical Nuclear Physics in 1962. In 1964 he received his Doctorate in Physics, and in 1968 he became Professor of Physics. In 1972 he was appointed Head of Laboratory at Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy (Moscow). From 1982 to 1986 he was Head of Laboratory at the Institute of Thermophysics (Novosibirsk). From 1986 he is working at the Joint Institute for High Temperatures (Moscow) as Head of Laboratory, Head of Department and Principal Scientist. His research focuses on theory of atoms, molecules, clusters, plasma and chemical physics. He has authored 55 books and 500 papers. His latest books are: Fundamentals of Ionized Gases. Basic Topics of Plasma Physics (Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2011); Nanoclusters and Microparticles in Gases and Vapors (De Gruyter, Berlin, 2012); Theory of Gas Discharge Plasma (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 2014); and Microphysics of Atmospheric Phenomena (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 2016).

• Introduction.- Elements of General Physics.- Physics of Atoms and Ions.- Rates of Radiative Transitions and Atomic Spectra.