The present monograph as well as the next one (Dorman, M2005) is a
result of more than 50 years working in cosmic ray (CR) research. After
graduation in December 1950 Moscow Lomonosov State University (Nuclear
and Elementary Particle Physics Division, the Team of Theoretical
Physics), my supervisor Professor D. I. Blokhintsev planned for me, as a
winner of a Red Diploma, to continue my education as an aspirant (a
graduate student) to prepare for Ph. D. in his very secret Object in the
framework of what was in those time called the Atomic Problem. To my
regret the KGB withheld permission, and I, together with other Jewish
students who had graduated Nuclear Divisions of Moscow and Leningrad
Universities and Institutes, were faced with a real prospect of being
without any work. It was our good fortune that at that time there was
being brought into being the new Cosmic Ray Project (what at that time
was also very secret, but not as secret as the Atomic Problem), and
after some time we were directed to work on this Project. It was
organized and headed by Prof. S. N. Vernov (President of All-Union
Section of Cosmic Rays) and Prof. N. V. Pushkov (Director of IZMIRAN);
Prof. E. L. Feinberg headed the theoretical part of the Project.