Faust versus Mephistopheles? – Smirnov

Posted on March 30, 2019 by

In this post, we will see the book Faust versus Mephistopheles? by Kim Smirnov.

faust.jpg

About the book

Where does knowledge lead – does it benefit man or will it prove to be his undoing? This con­troversy between Faust and Mephistopheles in Goethe’s Faust is a sort of key to this book by the Soviet journalist Kim Smirnov. Reflecting on let­ters sent in by his newspaper readers, the author talks to outstanding Soviet scientists-Academicians Victor Ambartsumian, Yevgeny Velikhov and Bonifaty Kedrov, to name but a few-about the interdependence between the socio-political and moral positions of the researcher, what ways he can or cannot take to reach the truth and his moral courage.

The book was translated from the Russian by Peter Doria and was designed by Yuri Luter. Progress published the book in 1985.

You can get the book here.

Prologue 4
1. Finding a Road 8
2. The Scalpel of Kindness 16
3. Difficult Stars 32
4. What Does It Mean to Be an Optimist? 60
5. The Hour of Introduction 80
6. Logger or Forester? 100
7. On the Other Side of the Rainbow 118
8. The Rem Khokhlov Lecture Hall 135
9. “He Only Earns His Freedom and Existence, Who Daily Conquers Them Anew’’ 163
Epilogue 179

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Units of Physical Quantities and their Dimensions – Sena

Posted on January 23, 2019 by

In this post, we will look at the book Units of Physical Quantities and their Dimensions by L. A. Sena.

 

Sena-Units-of-Physical-Quantities-and-Their-Dimensions-Mir-1972-fc copy.jpg

About the book

The present book sets out in detail the prin­ciples of constructing systems of units, and also the fundamentals of the theory of dimensions. Together with detailed information on the SI system, which is the preferable one at present, a description is given of other systems of units, and also of some non-system units having prac­tical significance.

The book is intended for students of technical colleges and will also be helpful for physics in­structors in higher and secondary schools.

The book was translated from the Russian by G. Leib and was first published by Mir in 1972.

We were looking for this book for many years. Many thanks to Hitesh for the original scan of the book. We cleaned/OCRed/bookmarked the 2-in-1 scan.

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CONTENTS
Foreword 7

Chapter One. General Concepts on Systems of Basic and Derived Units 11

1.1. Physical Quantities and Their Units 11
1.2. Direct and Indirect Measurements 16
1.3. Basic and Derived Units 18
1.4. Constructing a System of Units 24
1.5. Selection of Basic Units 34
1.6. Non-System Units 40

Chapter Two. Conversion of Units and Dimension Formulas 42

2.1. Dimension Formulas 42
2.2. Conversion of Dimension When Using Different Basic Units 47
2.3. Conversion of Dimensions with Different Defining Relationships 48
2.4. Determining the Relationship between Units of Different Systems 52
2.5. Compilation of Conversion Tables 58
2.6. On the So-called Meaning of Dimension Formulas 59
2.7. Brief Conclusions on Chapters One and Two 62

Chapter Three. Analysis of Dimensions 65

3.1. Determining Functional Relationships by Comparing Dimensions 65
3.2. The II-Theorem and the Method of Similarity 72

Chapter Four. Units of Geometrical and Mechanical Quantities 79
4.1. Introduction 79
4.2. Geometrical Units 80
4.3. Kinematic Units 91
4.4. Static and Dynamic Units 96
4.5. Units of Mechanical and Molecular Properties of a Substance 109

Chapter Five. Thermal Units 121

5.1. Temperature 121
5.2. Temperature Scales 128
5.3. Fixed Temperature Points 130
5.4. Other Thermal Units 130
5.5. Units of Thermal Properties of Substances 135

Chapter Six. Acoustic Units 142

6.1. Objective Characteristics of Mechanical Wave Pro­cesses 142
6.2. Subjective Characteristics of Sound 147
6.3. Some Quantities Connected with the Acoustics of Buildings 150

Chapter Seven. Electrical and Magnetic Units 153

7.1. Introduction 153
7.2. Possible Ways of Constructing Systems of Electrical and Magnetic Units 154
7.3. Units of theCGS System 169
7.4. Units of the SI System 182
7.5. On the So-called Wave Resistance of a Vacuum 196
7.6. International Units 198

Chapter Eight. Units of Radiation 201
8.1. Scale of Electromagnetic Waves 201
8.2. Characteristics of Radiant Energy 202
8.3. Illumination Engineering Units 207
8.4. Relationship between Subjective and Objective Cha­racteristics of Light 212
8.5. Units of Parameters of Optical Instruments 214
8.6. Units of Optical Properties of a Substance 217

Chapter Nine. Selected Units of Atomic Physics 218
9.1. Introduction 218
9.2. Basic Properties of Atomic and Elementary Particles 218
9.3. Effective Interaction Cross Sections 223
9.4. Units of Energy in Atomic Physics 225
9.5. Ionizing Radiation Units 229
9.6. Units of Radioactivity 231
9.7. Ionization, Recombination and Mobility Coefficients 233
9.8. Natural Systems of Units 235

Appendix 1. Logarithmic Units 238
Appendix 2. Measuring the Density of a Liquid with an Areo­ meter 241
Appendix 3. pH Index 242
Appendix 4. Constants 243
Appendix 5. Tables 245
Bibliography 286
Index 288

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A Visit To Transurania – Knorre

Posted on January 17, 2019 by

In this post, we will see the book A Visit To Transurania -by E. Knorre.

Knorre-A-Visit-to-Transurania-Mir-1974.jpg

About the book:

The synthesis of elements heavier than uranium has opened up new spheres in our knowledge of nature and new fields of nuclear physics and chemistry. The transuranic elements, the heaviest in Mendeleev’s Periodic Table, are throwing new light on the structure of the atomic nucleus and the mechanisms of reactions be­tween nuclei, enabling us to understand the chemical pro­perties of newly produced elements, and to clarify ideas on the Periodic Law.

The story of current nuclear physics is full of surprises and is an intriguing tale of imaginative exploration and painstaking, persistent search, of heartbreaking failure and unexpected results. The author, Elaine Knorre, a science correspondent of the Novosti News Agency, knows many of the people involved personally, and has herself been present at some of the crucial moments in the discovery of new elements. Thus she has an inside knowledge of the story that makes her account interesting and reader will find it attractive.

The book was translated from the Russian by M. Brodskaya and was edited by H. C. Creighton. The book was published by Mir in 1974.

I had purchased this and many other Mir books in the US, a rather ironical fact considering that we need to purchase Soviet literature from the Capitalist heartland.

The Internet Archive Link

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Contents

Chance Plus 7

First Steps beyond Uranium 15

Riddles of the Transuranic Elements 39

Heavy Ions 62

A Machine for ‘Making Atoms’ 68

When Ion Strikes Nucleus 82

Playing Nuclear Patience 89

A New Type of Radioactivity 94

On White Dwarfs and on Earth 112

Uncommon Properties of Common Nuclei 123

How Are New Elements Created? 148

New Flash Chemistry 192

How Many New Elements Can There Be? 198

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Things to Come – Fedchenko

Posted on January 16, 2019 by

In this post, we will see the book Things to Come composed by V. Fedchenko.

fedchenko-things-to-come-mir-1977

About the book

The book is a collection of essays by leading Soviet scientists who predict how the future will pan out for various fields. The first essay is by Academician Semenov who talks about the power sources for the future. In the next essay, the production technologies for the future are discussed. In the third essay materials science and artificial matter are discussed by Kitaigorodsky. In the fourth essay prospects of transportation in the future are discussed. In the fifth essay aspects of information and communication are discussed. In the final essay, an outline of our interaction with environment and its future is discussed.

The book was published by Mir in 1977.

There are some great line drawings at the head of each essay.

The Internet Archive Link

CONTENTS

SEMENOV N., Power Resources of the Future.
Translated by G. Roberts 7

KOBRINSKY A. and KOBRINSKY N., Production in the Year 2000.
Translated by B. Kuznetsov 53

KITAIGORODSKY A., Future Man-Made Objects and Artificial Matter.
Translated by Y. Nadler 89

MOLYARCHUK V., Transport in the Future.
Translated by B.Kuznetsov 137

PETROVICH N., Information and Communication in the Future.
Translated by B. Kuznetsov 177

PETRYANOV I., Man and His Environment.
Translated by Y. Nadler 225

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The Molecular Cafe (Soviet Science Fiction Stories)

Posted on January 13, 2019 by
In this post, we will see the book The Molecular Cafe – Soviet Science Fiction Stories
Strugatsky-Strugatsky-Molecular-Cafe-Soviet-Science-Fiction-Stories-Mir-1968.jpg
About the book
The book contains stories pub­lished by Soviet science-fiction wri­ters in the last three or four years. Of course, neither the selection of the authors in this little book, nor the stories themselves can offer a com­prehensive idea of Soviet Science fiction, which is so diverse and multiform. At present, more than a hundred Soviet writers are working in the field. Several large story col­lections, novels and serial books are published each year. Science, philos­ophy, sociology, humour, satire are some of their topics.
We hope that this book will ap­peal to the foreign reader and will promote understanding between our nations.
The book was translated from the Russian and was published by Mir in 1968 and edited (translated?) by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky.
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Contents
PREFACE
THE MOLECULAR CAFE
by Ilya Varshavsky 10
WANDERERS AND TRAVELLERS
by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky 14
CRABS ON THE ISLAND
by Anatoly Dneprov 29
THE SECRET OF HOMER
by Alexander Poleshchuk 59
I’M GOING TO MEET MY BROTHER
by Vitaly Krapivin 76
Watch for the “Magellan” Journey by Night
The Fourth Sun
GOODBY, MARTIAN!
by Romen Yarov 118
THE BLACK PILLAR
by Evgeny Voiskunsky and Isai
Lukodyanov 126
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Lasers and their prospects – Sobolev

Posted on January 12, 2019 by

In this post, we will see the book Lasers and Their Prospects by N. Sobolev.

Sobolev-Lasers-and-Their-Properties-Mir-1974.jpg

About the book

This book explores various aspects of lasers from their basic principles of its operation to applications in diverse fields. The book starts with a discussion on the nature of light and moves on the idea of the atom as a quantum system. In the next chapter, various properties of lasers and the basic idea behind the laser generation like active materials are discussed. the fourth chapter discusses various aspects of applications of lasers in diverse fields such as communications, computers, materials processing, range finding, medicine etc. In the next chapter aspects of laser usage in scientific studies is discussed. The final chapter discusses the future prospects of laser usage.

The book was translated from the Russian by V. Purto and was published by Mir in 1974.

The Internet Archive Link

Contents
Introduction 7
Chapter 1. The Nature of Light 13

Particles or Waves? 13
Photons—Quanta of Light 18

Chapter 2. Atom as Quantum System 23

Quantum Concepts on the Atomic Structure Structure of the Atom 23
Quantum Numbers Radiation and Absorption 25
Distribution of Particles Among Energy 36
Levels Active Systems 38

Chapter 3. Generators of Light 43

Ruby Laser 43
Properties of Laser Beam 51
Active Materials 56
Methods and Sources of Excitation 63
Resonant Systems 70
Continuous-Wave Lasers 74
Glass Lasers 77
Giant Pulses 80
Gas Lasers 85
Methods of Concentrating Gas Laser Radiation at One Frequency 101
Liquid Lasers 104
Semiconductor Lasers 106

Chapter 4. Application of Lasers 117

Lasers in Communications 117
Light Beam Modulation Methods 120
Beam Waveguides 132
Lasers in Computers 138
Application of Lasers in Metrology 143
Lasers in Chemistry 145
Lasers in Photography 147
Lasers for Treating of Materials 155
Laser Gyroscopes 159
Lasers in Detection and Ranging 163
Laser Range Finders 167
Laser Tracking of Satellites 170
Lasers in Space Equipment 177
Communication with Spacecraft During Atmos­pheric Re-Entry 182
Detection and Communications Under the Sea 185
Other Military Applications of Lasers 188
Lasers in Medicine and Biology 194

Chapter 5. Lasers and Science 200

Testing Einstein’s Theory of Relativity 200
Measuring the Drift of Continents by Means of Lasers 204
Lasers for Geodetic Studies and Atmospheric Sounding 208
Measuring of Speeds 210 Laser Space Communications 210

Chapter 6. The Prospects of Lasers 225

Pipeline out of a Laser Beam 225
Lasers and Communications with Extraterrestrial Civilizations 228
Spaceship of the Future 241
Looking Ahead 243

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Diamonds Wrought By Man (Scientists To School Children) – Derjaguin, Fedoseev

Posted on January 9, 2019 by

In this post, we will see the book Diamonds Wrought By Man (Scientists To School Children) by B. V. Derjaguin and D. V. Fedoseev. This book is in the Scientists to School Children series.

Derjaguin-Fedoseev-Diamonds-Wrought-By-Man-Scientists-to-School-Children-Mir-1985.jpg

About the book

Today, scientists of many countries are working on techniques for making large gem diamonds. Undoubtedly, they shall soon find efficient methods for their production.
But before this time comes, many events will occur in the history of diamond synthesis. Investigators are faced with much time-consuming research aimed at improving existing procedures for diamond synthesis, such as the high-pressure method or the growing of diamonds and seed crystal enlargement from a carbonaceous gas. They are also engaged in the development of new techniques based on the latest advances in various branches of science.
We have made an attempt in this book to tell the story of how close cooperation between chemists and physicists enabled mankind to produce synthetic diamonds, a wonder-material that previously could only be envisioned.

About the authors

 Boris Vladimirovich Derjaguin, D.Sc. (Chem.), is an eminent Soviet scientist in the field of physical chemistry, and an associate member of the USSR Academy o f Sciences since 1946. Dr. Derjaguin was bom in Moscow in 1902 and graduated from the Physics and Mathematics Depart­ ment of Moscow University in 1922. In 1935 he organized the Thin Films Laboratory in the Physical Chemistry Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences. Dr. Derjaguin has written more than 900 papers in this area of physical chemistry. In 1958 he received the Lomonosov Medal from the USSR Academy of Sciences. Dr. Derjaguin was awarded an honorary degree by Clarkson College of Technology USA- he is also a member of the Carolinische Deutsche Naturforscher.
Dmitri Valerianovich Fedoseev, D.Sc. (Chem.), heads a laboratory in the Physical Chemistry Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences. Dr. Fedoseev was born in 1934; he graduated in 1956 from the Chemical Department of Odessa University. Dr. Fedoseev is a specialist in chemical kinetics and the physical chemistry of surface phenomena. His main investigations have been in the synthesis of diamond and graphite, as well as the formation of a new phase. He has published over 100 scientific papers, and is the coauthor of three monographs in his field. He was also a member of the team that discovered filamentary diamond crystals.
The book was translated from the Russian by Nicholas Weinstein and was published by Mir in 1985.
The Internet Archive Link

Contents

Foreword 7
King of the Minerals 8

Diamond’s Professions and Trades 22

Natural Diamonds 28

Three Periods in the History of Diamond Synthesis 38

What Nucleation Is About 46

For Those Who Want More Details 48

Diamond Synthesis at High Pressures 60

Diamond Powder Growth at Low Pressures 79

Growth of Diamond Films and Crystals at Low Pressures 99

Polycrystalline Diamond Materials 115

Science, Engineering and Synthetic Diamond 124

Not Only Diamonds Are Man-Made 139

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