On 7^th September 2003, academician of the Ukrainian Science Academy, Yakov Borisovitch Faingerg, celebrates his 85^th birthday. Name of this outstanding scientist is closely related with the evolution of physics and engineering of the accelerators, non-relativistic and relativistic electronics, plasma physics and controlled thermonuclear physics.

Ya.B. Fainberg graduated from Kharkov State University with the experimental specialization, in particular electronuclear physics. Yakov Borisovitch fought the World War II. After demobilization he started working in the theoretical department of Physical-Technical Institute (Kharkov). To implement and experimentally verify his ideas he became head of the experimental laboratory in 1957 and the heap of the experimental-theoretical department in 1972.

His more than half-centennial scientific activity is closely related to the KhFTI. He performed fundamental works in the theory of linear accelerators. These works, together with V.P.Veksler and G.I.Budker constitute foundation of the collective acceleration methods. Modifications of the proposed by him method of the charged particles acceleration by the charge waves in plasma and non-compensated charged particles beams are widely spread in the world and is the most prospective direction of the new acceleration methods. Ya.B. Fainberg performed original theoretical studies and calculations, underlying first USSR linear electrons accelerators. He guided and participated directly in the design of theory and calculation of the high-energy linear accelerations, in particular the largest in Europe 2 GeV accelerator, built in KhFTI. He proposed and implemented principally new ideas, in particular new method to provide simultaneous radial and longitudinal particle stability in the linear accelerator, i.e. method of the alternative-phase focusing, underlying principally new linear ions accelerators. This work have been awarded by the Science and Engineering Ukraine State Award in 1996.

Ya.B. Fainberg made essential contribution in the plasma physics. Studies, performed by him and his followers have lead to the new direction in the plasma physics - relativistic and non-relativistic plasma electronics. In 1948 together with A.I.Ahiezer they theoretically predicted and studied first and most widely spread instability of non-equilibrium plasma - plasma-beam instability. This result became classical and is nowadays a part of any book on plasma physics. In the experimental studies he and his followers have first discovered plasma-beam instability and designed method of its control. They also discovered new type of gas discharge - plasma-beam discharge and new technique of the collisionless plasma heating - beam heating.

Ya.B. Fainber and E.K. Zavoiski are the coauthors of the discovery "Turbulent heating and anomalous plasma resistance".

Together with his colleagues he performed first theoretical and experimental studies of the relativistic electron beams interactions with plasma, where he proved high efficiency of this interaction, leading to the entirely new direction - relativistic plasma electronics, resulting in design of high power microwave generators and lasers.

Ya.B. Fainberg made an outstanding contribution in the design of the principally new plasma high-current induction accelerators of electrons and ions.

Close coupling of the fundamental studies and their wide application for the important applications, to include defence, is a vital feature of Ya.B. Fainberg activities.

Ya.B. Faingerg participates actively in the scientific activities being the president of the scientific council "Plasma Electronics and Novel Methods of Acceleration" of the Ukrainian Science Academy and member of the Scientific Council Bureau "Plasma Physics" of the Russian Academy of Scienties. Ya. B. Fainberg created world famous school of plasma electronics and new methods of acceleration, counting more that 25 Dr. of Sciences and 35 Candidate of Sciences. He took an active part in the teaching process in the Kharkov State University for more than 25 years where he created original courses on Plasma Physics, Physics of Accelerators and Plasma Electronics.