Novosibirsk solid-state physics laboratory

Summary

The work carried out in this laboratory is distinguished by a complex approach, which is characteristic for present-day solid-state physics, in studying mechanical, optical, electrical, magnetic, thermal, and other properties of substances and their inter-relations.

The research methods and equipment developed in this laboratory are of considerable interest to other scientific institutions. In particular, many institutes are now producing installations for measuring thermal capacity and the coefficient of thermal expansion by the modulation method. A pump for high pressures up to 250 MN/m² with an adjustable discharge of 0 to 15 liters/h, which was developed in 1965, passed its tests in 1966 and is now being produced. In 1967, twenty such pumps were made for interested organizations.

Experimental and design work is proceeding in producing standard installations for investigating the physical and mechanical properties of substances under hydrostatic pressures up to 2000 MN/m² and temperatures of 500°c.

An equipment for measuring the internal friction and theshear modulus of high-melting materials in a hydrogen atmosphere has been developed and is now being put into production at two Novosibirsk plants.

The methods and equipment developed in this laboratory are being successfully used by the Novosibirsk Civil Engineering Institute for investigating the emergency conditions which arise in the Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric Power Station model ship-raising tank when it is suddenly stopped, and for investigating the dissolving of mirabilite in the Kuchuk salt lake. The aggregate of transducers developed and made by the laboratory served to measure the height, period, and speed of waves, the depth temperature gradient, and wind velocity of Lake Kuchuk.