Reviews of topical problems

S.G. Rautian “Reflection and refraction at the boundary of a medium with negative group velocity” Phys. Usp. 51 981–988 (2008)

M.V. Kuzelev, A.A. Rukhadze “Spontaneous and stimulated emission induced by an electron, electron bunch, and electron beam in a plasma” Phys. Usp. 51 989–1018 (2008)

Methodological notes

S.G. Karshenboim “New recommended values of the fundamental physical constants (CODATA 2006)” Phys. Usp. 51 1019–1026 (2008)

A.L. Zuev, K.G. Kostarev “Certain peculiarities of the solutocapillary convection” Phys. Usp. 51 1027–1045 (2008)

From the history of physics

N.A. Popov, V.A. Shcherbakov, V.N. Mineev, P.M. Zaydel’, A.I. Funtikov “Thermonuclear fusion in the explosion of a spherical charge (the problem of a gas-dynamic thermonuclear fusion)” Phys. Usp. 51 1047–1053 (2008)

Conferences and symposia

S.M. Stishov, L.G. Khvostantsev, V.N. Slesarev, S.V. Popova, V.V. Brazhkin, T.I. Dyuzheva, L.N. Dzhavadov, E.L. Gromnitskaya, G.N. Stepanov, Yu.A. Timofeev, E.M. Dizhur, V.A. Venttsel, A.N. Voronovskii, V.N. Ryzhov, A.F. Barabanov, M.V. Magnitskaya, E.E. Tareyeva “On the 50th anniversary of the L F Vereshchagin Institute for High Pressure Physics, RAS (Scientific outreach session of the Physical Sciences Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 23 April 2008)” Phys. Usp. 51 1055–1083 (2008)

S.M. Stishov “The Institute for High Pressure Physics is now 50 (opening address)” Phys. Usp. 51 1055–1059 (2008)

L.G. Khvostantsev, V.N. Slesarev “Large-volume high-pressure devices for physical investigations” Phys. Usp. 51 1059–1063 (2008)

S.V. Popova, V.V. Brazhkin, T.I. Dyuzheva “Structural phase transitions in highly compressed substances and the synthesis of high-pressure phases” Phys. Usp. 51 1064–1066 (2008)

L.N. Dzhavadov, E.L. Gromnitskaya, G.N. Stepanov, Yu.A. Timofeev “Studies of the thermodynamic, elastic, superconducting, and magnetic properties of substances at high pressures” Phys. Usp. 51 1066–1070 (2008)

E.M. Dizhur, V.A. Venttsel, A.N. Voronovskii “Quantum transport at high pressures” Phys. Usp. 51 1070–1077 (2008)

V.N. Ryzhov, A.F. Barabanov, M.V. Magnitskaya, E.E. Tareyeva “Theoretical studies of condensed matter” Phys. Usp. 51 1077–1083 (2008)

Personalia

V.N. Mikhailov, V.P. Neznamov “Radii Ivanovich Il’kaev (on his 70th birthday)” Phys. Usp. 51 1085–1086 (2008)

A.F. Andreev, M.A. Vasil’ev, V.L. Ginzburg, A.V. Gurevich, Yu.A. Izyumov, Yu.M. Kagan, L.V. Keldysh, Yu.V. Kopaev, G.A. Mesyats, V.I. Ritus, M.V. Sadovskii, V.Ya. Fainberg “Evgenii Grigorievich Maksimov (on his 70th birthday)” Phys. Usp. 51 1087–1088 (2008)

Physics news on the internet

Yu.N. Eroshenko “Physics news on the Internet (based on electronic preprints)” Phys. Usp. 51 1089–1090 (2008)