Reviews of topical problems

E.E. Nikitin, B.M. Smirnov “Quasiresonant processes in slow collisions” 21 95–116 (1978)

I.A. Smirnov, V.S. Oskotskii “Semiconductor-metal phase transition in rare-earth semiconductors (samarium monochalcogenides)” 21 117–140 (1978)

O.I. Sumbaev “Shift of K x-ray lines associated with valency change and with isomorphous phase transitions in rare earths” 21 141–154 (1978)

Physics of our days

V.L. Ginzburg “The origin of cosmic rays (past, present, future)” 21 155–170 (1978)

From the history of physics

V.I. Pavlov “On discussions concerning the problem of ponderomotive forces” 21 171–173 (1978)

Personalia

R.G. Arkhipov, A.S. Borovik-Romanov, B.K. Vainshtein, E.S. Itskevich, P.L. Kapitsa, Yu.S. Konyaev, G.V. Kurdyumov, A.M. Prokhorov, E.N. Yakovlev “Leonid Fedorovich Vereshchagin (Obituary)” 21 174–176 (1978)

S.A. Akhmanov, N.G. Basov, É.S. Voronin, A.V. Gaponov, B.B. Kadomtsev, L.V. Keldysh, A.A. Logunov, V.V. Migulin, A.M. Prokhorov, S.M. Rytov, M.F. Stel’makh, I.M. Ternov, V.S. Fursov, I.A. Yakovlev “Rem Viktorovich Khokhlov (Obituary)” 21 176–179 (1978)

R.A. Aronov, T.N. Bolotnikova, B.M. Bolotovskii, V.L. Ginzburg, L.V. Iogansen, S.G. Suvorov “Vladimir Aleksandrovich Ugarov (Obituary)” 21 180–181 (1978)

Letters to the editors

G.A. Askar’yan “On selective collisionless excitation and dissociation of molecules by intense infrared light (with reference to review articles in Usp. Fiz. Nauk)” 21 182–182 (1978)

E.M. Belenov, V.A. Isakov, E.P. Markin, A.N. Oraevskii “Reply to the letter of G. A. Askar’yan” 21 183–183 (1978)

N.V. Karlov, A.M. Prokhorov “Concerning the letter of G. A. Askar’yan ’On selective collisionless excitation and dissociation of molecules by intense infrared light’” 21 183–183 (1978)