Special Physics Laboratory Course. Compiled by a group of research workers of the Physics Faculty of the Moscow Order of Lenin State University named after M. V. Lomonosov. Edited by V. V. Spivak. OGIZ, GTTI, M.—L., 1945, vol. I, p. 279; price 10 rubles; vol. II, p. 264; price 10 rubles.

The highly prolific writer in the field of physics Buass once said: “There are not two kinds of physics, one experimental and the other theoretical; there are two kinds of occupations for physicists.”

The concise formulation of Bouasse is especially valid with respect to the education of future physicists. With the proper organization of teaching, theoretical and laboratory classes must form a single whole and complement one another. In this unified whole the special practicum occupies a very important place, for it represents an experimental supplement to a number of serious theoretical courses. Moreover, the special physics practicum is the first serious school for future experimenters, where they acquire experimental skills and become acquainted with delicate physical apparatus. The creation of a manual for the special physics practicum has long since become extremely necessary. It is clear that such a manual could be created only by a collective of physicists participating in the organization of the corresponding practicum. In this sense the initiative of the staff of the Physics Faculty of Moscow State University, where there is an interesting special practicum, is successful. It should be emphasized that there cannot exist a standard special physics practicum for all higher educational institutions. This practicum, unlike the general practicum, must to a certain extent reflect the scientific interests of the group of physicists working at the given institution. The special value of the special practicum consists in the possibility of an imperceptible transition across the threshold separating instructional work from genuine research. Such a transition is not difficult if the students are guided by instructors actively working in the corresponding field of physics.

The manual under review reflects the scientific “face” of the Physics Faculty of Moscow State University, but together with that it covers a fairly wide circle of physical problems. It is enough to list the titles of the sections of the practicum: 1) physics of oscillatory phenomena; 2) optics; 3) physics of electronic and ionic phenomena; 4) physics of molecular and thermal phenomena; 5) X-ray physics and X-ray structural analysis; 6) ferromagnetism; 7) physics of low temperatures; 8) photographic processes. We, naturally, are not able here to dwell in detail on each of the 76 problems separately. We shall note only a few essential features of the selection of problems.

In the section on oscillations, alongside the classical problems on the study of the properties of linear systems, considerable attention is devoted to nonlinear oscillatory systems (problems 3, 4, 5, 6). Many problems of this section, together with deep physical content, are of considerable practical interest (the action of generators, directional antenna).

Optical problems, strictly speaking, are contained in two sections—in “Optics” and in the section “Photographic Processes.” Here there are: the Zeeman effect, verification of the Lorentz–Lorenz formula for liquids and gases, investigation of ultrasonic waves, verification of Fresnel’s formula, investigation of molecular scattering of light, and four problems on the investigation of spectra. As is evident from the list, the range of problems is sufficiently broad and acquaints the student with various branches of optics. There are no problems only in, so to speak, true spectroscopy. Of the spectral experiments, one is devoted to familiarization with the spectrograph, and three concern methods of spectral analysis, which, as is known, are of a purely empirical character. A problem devoted to the combination scattering of light gives an idea of the problems of modern optics. The importance of the three problems in photography should be especially noted. The ability to use the methods of scientific photography is necessary for every experimental physicist.

The section “Physics of Electronic and Ionic Processes” contains, in addition to two experiments on the technique of obtaining and measuring high vacuum, problems on gas discharge, the photoelectric effect, and electron optics. The problem devoted to metastable atoms is perhaps too specialized even for a special practicum. On the whole, the section, undoubtedly, gives a quite modern picture of the corresponding field of physics and acquaints one with such important instruments as the thyratron and the electron microscope.

Molecular and thermal physics is represented by ten exercises, beginning with thermal conductivity and ending with the velocity of propagation of a shock wave. Here the exercise on determining the ratio of the specific heat capacities of liquids by means of ultrasound is of interest.

X-ray physics contains exercises introducing the fundamentals of X-ray technique, and a number of exercises giving a complete picture of all methods of X-ray structural analysis (up to precision methods and X-ray analysis of textures). In this section it is quite proper to include an exercise on electron diffraction, but the description of this exercise is practically absent. One might say that a reference to M. M. Umansky’s article saves the situation. After all, appropriate literature can be selected for any exercise, but this does not relieve the authors of the manual of the obligation to provide a methodically well-thought-out description of these exercises.

The section “Ferromagnetism” gives an idea both of the basic methods of investigation (ballistic galvanometer, astatic magnetometer) and of the basic phenomena (magnetostriction, velocities of propagation of the Barkhausen jump). In addition, there are exercises connected with applied questions (the influence of heat treatment on the properties of steel, etc.).

The section “Physics of Low Temperatures” is divided into two parts: the general part of the cryogenic practicum and superconductivity. The general part contains five exercises: bismuth spiral, platinum thermometer, bronze thermometer, thermocouple, and the heat of vaporization of liquid oxygen. Superconductivity includes the Meissner effect, superconductivity of tin, and superconductivity and the intermediate state.

Let us pass to an assessment of the general character of the exposition. Each section is preceded by an introduction. It should be said that the general discussions contained in most of these introductions are unlikely to be of real benefit. First, it is not clear to whom they are addressed: for teachers they are too insubstantial, while for students they are too abstract. For example, the introduction to optics, in three and three-quarter pages, touches upon almost all the basic questions of classical and quantum optics. All this as a whole is called an outline of the theory of light phenomena.

In the description of individual exercises, the relationship between theory and experiment is almost always resolved in favor of theory. At the same time it should be remembered that a manual should not only help one work in an already existing practicum, but also help in the creation of new special practicums. For both the former and the latter, a more detailed description of the experimental side would be extremely useful. All the more so because the “excerpts” from theory placed in the manual often do not reach the student, since they are only chunks torn out of a coherent exposition. One would like the book to have a much stronger “laboratory” spirit.

The book was written by an entire collective, and therefore much work was required of the editor, G. V. Spivak, to give the book a unified appearance. Of course, even now there is no complete uniformity, but this is practically unattainable and not so very necessary.

In general, the appearance of the manual for the special physics practicum is a great and joyful event, providing the possibility of further improving the training of Soviet physicists. The appearance of the book will undoubtedly stimulate the development of special physics practicums in higher educational institutions.

V. Fabrikant.