The paper considers the instrument metering configurations dependent on the position of the ellipsometer phase compensator fast axis. We have shown that they play a very important role in increasing the accuracy of experimental estimation of polarization angles Δ and &Psi. Particular cases (Δ = 0, π, π/2, 3π/2) permitting complete analytical consideration have been studied. For those cases, relations for second derivatives of the light beam intensity at the instrument output by the polarizer and analyzer angular positions have been constructed. As a result, metering configurations providing maximum derivatives of the mentioned type, which ensure suf-ficient pronouncement of the intensity minimum and, therefore, the necessary accuracy of experimental estima-tion of the Δ and &Psi angles, have been revealed. A conclusion was made that, in certain situations when angle Ψ is small, the process of measuring angles Δ and &Psi can be subdivided. At the same time, we have noticed that in many cases it is necessary to make efforts to select some general optimal metering configuration ensuring suf-ficient resolution by both polarization angles. Based on the results obtained in particular cases, the metering situation in the vicinity of the Brewster angle has been analyzed. The paper considers a general case of arbi-trary polarization angles Δ and &Psi. In addition, the paper discusses questions that need further analysis of the in-strument metering configurations. Particularly, a conclusion has been made that it is necessary to thoroughly study the role of metering configurations in null ellipsometry of anisotropic media.

* Institute of Applied Physics NAS, Ukraine, Sumy **Institute for Analytical Instrumentation RAS, Saint-Petersburg

Optical polarization analyzers designed for measuring small birefringence of transparent objects are analyzed theoretically. Analyzers that combine methods of polarization modulation and differential suppression of excess noises are considered. Generalizations of two configurations of polarization circuits commonly used in meas-urements of this type are discussed. Analytical expressions for observable birefringence signals have been de-rived for these cases. The paper shows the coincidence of maximum signals achievable in those circuits.

*State Polytechnic University, Saint-Petersburg **Institute for Analytical Instrumentation RAS, Saint-Petersburg

The paper presents theoretical investigation of accuracy of estimating stationary birefringence of transparent objects in experiments with polarization modulation of test radiation and differential suppression of excess noises. Analytical relations for the spectrum of birefringence signal fluctuations have been derived. The signal-to-noise ratio dependences on both the properties of samples under study and measuring equipment characteris-tics have been analyzed. The results have been compared with earlier experiments.

*1State Polytechnic University, Saint-Petersburg **Institute for Analytical Instrumentation RAS, Saint-Petersburg

Some nonlinear properties of spectra of selective reflection in inclined geometry have been investigated. The paper considers the asymmetry of resonant reflection saturation and describes new nonlinear structures on the reflective resonance apexes. The work was partially supported by RFBR (grant No 06-02-17219-а).

Institute for Analytical Instrumentation RAS, Saint-Petersburg

A model of ultrasonic (US) flow fractionation has been elaborated and conditions have been revealed, under which the model can be adequately used to fractionate one- and two-component particles of natural water sus-pensions containing inorganic components of different natures. Size sorting of inorganic and heterogeneous par-ticles (inorganic component + humic substances) have been simulated for the cases of parallel superposition of US field and flow in a vertically installed chamber for various schemes of flow organization in a broad range of field parameters (1÷4.5 MHz; 1÷20 J∙m–3). Calculations were performed for particles with densities of 1200÷9000 kg∙m–3; volumetric content of inorganic base was 1.0 to 0.0; i.e., the calculations covered the entire range of natural particulate matters. Algorithms for selecting optimal US field parameters and flow velocities for fractionating mixtures of particles of different natures and compositions according to physical properties of the components have been developed. Ultimate size sorting parameters have been estimated. We have shown that this technique can be used in various ways depending on specific conditions, such as ultrasonic field pa-rameters, flow velocity and flow direction, for sequential multi-stage size sorting of particles, single-stage ex-traction of narrow fractions of particles, fractionation of particles by density and nature. Optimal conditions for solving various fractionation problems have been determined. A method for integral qualitative estimation of natural water composition according to relative distribution of different-nature particles layers in stationary standing wave US field is proposed.

Institute for Analytical Instrumentation RAS, Saint-Petersburg

The paper presents the necessary condition providing that the homogeneous Helmholtz equation solution de-termined by a preset plane boundary condition satisfies the Sommerfeld radiation condition. We have shown that this is a condition of double-continuous differentiability of the product of cosine of angle of incidence by the two-dimensional Fourier-image of field on the specified plane in spherical coordinates. This makes it possi-ble to correctly solve such problems as, for instance, determination of radiation pressure upon particles in an ar-bitrary incident field.

Saint Petersburg

The paper considers flight time and quadrupole mass-spectrometers. In the first case, the radiation intensity is measured versus the particle flight time; in the second case, the intensity is measured versus the magnetic field strength. Both functions are supposed to be processed by the invariant statistics technique that enables one to get a statistical resonance spectrum of intensities as a function of the order parameters and the probability of those resonances excitation. The statistical spectrum lines correspond to particles with certain masses. Probabili-ties of those lines excitation determine relative amounts of particles with the masses measured

*Institute for Computer Science and Automation RAS, Saint Petersburg **Institute of Transport Problems RAS, Saint Petersburg ***FSUC SKB AP "PO Mayak", Chelyabinsk oblast, Ozersk town

Contrary to the Berry's phase stabilization for polarized ultra-cold neutrons suggested by the Laue Langevin Institute, we propose two alternative approaches. The first one is based on concurrently acting with two beams of modulated coherent light in two opposite directions upon spin clusters (about 25 nm in size) formed by those waves interference in the transparency 1 cm2 in area. Standing waves with antipodes in the clusters arise, and a response in the form of backward light echo forms. Each cluster becomes an ideal adder. Functional relation-ships of clusters are describable in terms of Kolmogorov—Gabor algebra. The other approach is based on the Green kernel stationary field of each cluster. Invariant statistics makes it possible to stratify each cluster's mag-netization according to its statistical resonances. Inter-cluster relations are described in terms of Kolmogorov—Gabor algebra.

*Institute of Transport Problems RAS, Saint Petersburg **Saint-Petersburg State Polytechnic University, Chair of Quantum Electronics ***Institute for Computer Science and Automation RAS, Saint Petersburg

The paper considers basic requirements for systems designed to monitor radioactive substances and radioac-tive wastes. The necessity to improve data processing algorithms according to peculiar features of measured characteristics is shown.

FSUE ARRICT, Moscow *Saint-Petersburg State Polytechnic University **FSUE CRIST, Saint-Petersburg ***FSUE CRISM "Prometey", Saint-Petersburg

The paper presents a technique for correcting Clark electrode readings with consideration of autoconsump-tion. Autoconsumption can introduce a considerable error in measurements of the rate of oxygen consumption by the culture cells. It has been shown that consideration of autoconsumption in studying the cell respiration physiology reduces markedly this error.

*Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics RAS, Pushchino, **Pushchino State University

Formation of intermetallic compounds (IMCs) is known to be one of the strongest interfering factors in stripping voltammetry measurements. The most significant effect of intermetallic compounds upon the analyti-cal signals is observed in copper—zinc systems in measuring them on the mercury film glassy carbon electrode. A great number of works is devoted to investigation of the problem of whether it is possible to eliminate IMC interference in the Cu—Cd and Cu—Zn systems.

Saint Petersburg State University, Department of Analytical Chemistry

The problems of diagnostics and selection of methods for treating various viral diseases can be solved if in-formation on the quantity and location of the viral genome in the cells of organs and tissues is available. This problem can be solved by the method of in situ DNA amplification, when the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is carried out directly in the cells of tissue samples, and the reaction results can be obtained after its completion visually (with a microscope), without additionally processing the materials. The RAS Institute for Biological Instrumentation located in Pushchino has developed and constructed an in situ DNA amplifier with the following performances characteristics: 1. Sample heating and cooling temperature range is 4 to 99 oC. 2. Average value of the heating-cooling rate is at least 1 oC per second. 3. Temperature measurement and control error is no more than 0.5 oC. 4. Number of plates with samples — 4. 5. Power consumption is no more than 300 W. 6. Dimensions: 240 × 185 × 470 mm. 7. Weight of the device: 7 kg. The device was successfully tested for conformity with the requirements specification; a set of design and process documentation is available.

Institute for Biological Instrumentation RAS, Moscow region, Pushchino

The paper presents a model of capacitive pickups for the RR-type micromechanical gyroscope (MMG), which is constructed in the form of an equivalent electric circuit with inter-electrode and stray capacitances. A method for calculating those capacities is described. The resolution of MMG fabricated by the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) method has been determined. The effect of the capacitive pickups’ excitation voltage on the sus-pension resonant frequency has been estimated.

FSUE CSRI Elektropribor, Saint-Petersburg

Consistent multi-channel separation (CMS) is the method for signal transformation into a group of (on-channel separated) signals having essentially lower frequencies. Those frequency components can be used in fil-tering, speech signal coding, multiplexing, and directly in communication networks where multichannel trans-mission reduces the inter-symbol interference errors. Using the CMS-dual procedure, the components are coher-ently combined into a single signal. Due to certain transformations between the analysis (SMS itself) and syn-thesis (component integration) phases, the output signal can get new useful properties, for instance, if necessary, change its frequency structure.

Saint-Petersburg

The spectral subtraction method is used to improve the speech signal (SS) quality since this method can es-sentially reduce or even eliminate SS additive noises. On the contrary to the earlier used transformation with a uniform channel width, two variants of structure are considered, in which the total signal frequency band is sub-divided into bands with increasing widths. Such a method of the SS total band subdivision is more consistent with the virtual filtering system of the human auditory system, namely, the so-called perceptual model that manifests peculiar features of perception of SS and other acoustic signals. The paper considers two structures: one based on the discrete wavelet-transformation, the other being a nonuniform system of consistent multichan-nel separation based on the polyphase structure.

Saint-Petersburg