Table of contents

Theoretical work dealing with the electron-phonon interaction (EPI) and its effects on the physical properties of metals is reviewed. The many-body approach and that using Landau's Fermi-liquid theory are briefly described and their adequacy is demonstrated for low values of the adiabaticity parameter (ω_D/ε_F)^(1/2), where ω_D is the characteristic photon frequency, and ε_F is the Fermi energy. Density functional theory is applied to EPI calculations are outlined, and for a number of simple and transition metals, the results of calculations for EPI spectral densities and EPI-dependent physical properties are presented. The potentialities and the range of validity for EPI applications of the density functional method are discussed.

Effects of nonlinearity in the classical field theory for non-integrable systems are considered, such as soliton scattering, soliton bound states, the fractal nature of resonant structures, kink scattering by inhomogeneities, and bubble collapse. The results are presented in both (1 + 1) and higher dimensions. Both neutral and charged scalar fields are considered. Possible application areas for the nonlinearity effects are discussed.

Exciting the electronic subsystem of a semiconductor via photoionization or ionization by charged particles, or, alternatively, injecting nonequilibrium charge carriers into a semiconductor stimulates atomic migration, generates new structural defects, and modifies the nature of those present. These effects change the major electrical and physical parameters of semiconductors, in particular of those crucial for modern solid-state electronics. Current data on the subject are presented and discussed.

Possibilities of detecting nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) signals in explosives and drugs are considered. Direct and indirect NQR techniques for searching substances are described and the potentialities of various experimental methods are compared.

The author's theoretical work on superconductivity and superfluidity from 1943 to 1996 is described.

A scientific session of the Division of General Physics and Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences was held at the P N Lebedev Physical Institute RAS on 2 October 1996. It marked an occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Academician V L Ginzburg's birth. Nine reports were presented at this session: (1) Opening address of L V Keldysh as the Academician-Secretary of the Division of General Physics and Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences; (2) A F Andreev (P L Kapitza Institute of Physical Problems RAS, Moscow) ''Bose condensation and spontaneous distortion of the time homogeneity'' ; (3) E L Feinberg (P N Lebedev Physical Institute RAS, Moscow) ''Special theory of relativity: how good-faith delusions come about''; (4) R M Arutyunyan, V L Ginzburg, G F Zharkov (P N Lebedev Physical Institute RAS, Moscow) ''On the 'giant' thermoelectric effect in a hollow superconducting cylinder''; (5) A V Gurevich, K P Zybin, V A Sirota (P N Lebedev Physical Institute RAS, Moscow) ''Cold dark matter and microlensing''; (6) V V Zheleznyakov (Institute of Applied Physics RAS, Nizhnii Novgorod) ''Astrophysical plasma in extreme conditions''; (7) B M Bolotovskii, A V Serov (P N Lebedev Physical Institute RAS, Moscow) ''On the transient radiation interference with the proper field of an emitting charge''; (8) E G Maksimov (P N Lebedev Physical Institute RAS, Moscow) ''Extreme evidences of lacking the strong change-correlation effects in HTSC systems''; (9) M A Vasil'ev (P N Lebedev Physical Institute RAS, Moscow) ''Gauge theories of highest spins''. An abridged version of papers No 3, 4, and 6 is given below.