Division of physics of dielectrics and semiconductors was founded in 1989 as department of Physico-technical institute, but this collective has rather older and deep scientific traditions. Bases researches in the field of physics of semiconductors were founded by academician A.F.Ioffe which he began in PTI and then continued together with A.R.Regel and many other well known scientists in the Institute of semiconductors (IPAN).

    In 1954 A.F.Ioffe has invited S.S.Shalyt to join the new organized Institute of semiconductors of AS USSR as a head of Laboratory of low temperatures. Shalyt initiated constructing in his Laboratory the second in St.-Petersburg cryogenic station, that has allowed to carry out researches of kinetic phenomena in semiconductors and metals at temperature of liquid hydrogen (14-20.4К) and liquid helium (1.2 – 4.24К). Soon his laboratory became a country leader on low temperature physics of semiconductors, and he has been entered into Scientific council AS USSR on a problem “Physics of low temperatures”.

    Researches of physics segneto-electrics in Physico-technical institute have been started by I.V.Kurchatov. These researches were continued by the team for many years supervised by G.A.Smolenskii, who initiated neutron researches of ferroelectrics and studying of ferro- and an antiferromagnetic resonance, spin waves and magnito-optics as well, that received a international recognition.

    Becoming and development of jobs under the theory of semiconductors passed under A.I.Anselm's management(manual). New quantum effects, topological phase transitions, features of a power spectrum of tellurium have been predicted, the theory of small mobility is advanced. Scientific traditions and an atmosphere, created by patriarches of the Russian science, today are an integral part of ability to live of collective of branch.<

    Development of researches on the theory of semiconductors initially was headed by A.I.Anselm. New quantum effects, topological phase transitions, features of a power spectrum of tellurium were predicted by his team as well as the theory of small mobility is advanced. Scientific traditions and an atmosphere, created by Russian science patriarchies, today are integral traditions of this Division. Now in it continues actual researchment in areas of phisycs of the condensed materials: physics of ferroelectricity and magnetism, ferroelectric phase transitions. Relaxors and incipient ferroelectrics, ferroelectric thin films. Physics of magnetism, domain walls, spin waves.