Econophysics describes phenomena in the development and dynamics of economic systems by using of a physicMly motivated methodology. First of all, Mandelbrot had analyzed economic and social relations in terms of modern statistical physics. Since then, the number of publications related to this topic has increased irresistible greatly. To be fair to this historical evolution, I point out, however, that physical and economic concepts had already been connected long ago. Terms such as work, power, and efficiency factor have similar physical and economic meanings. Many physical discoveries for...

The advent of artificial earth satellites in 1957-58 opened a new dimension in the field of geophysical exploration. Discovery of the earth's radiation belts, consisting of energetic electrons and ions (chiefly protons) trapped by the geomagnetic field, followed almost immediately 1,2]' This largely unexpected development spurred a continuing interest in magnetospheric exploration, which so far has led to the launching of several hundred carefully instrumented spacecraft. Since their discovery, the radiation belts have been a subject of intensive theoretical analysis also. Over the years, a...

The INFOS 81 Conference on Insulating Films on Semiconductors was held at the University of Erlangen-NUrnberg in Erlangen from 27 to 29 April 1981. This conference was a sequel to the first conference INFOS 79 held in Durham. INFOS 81 attracted 170 participants from universities, research institutes and industry. Attendants were registered from 15 nations. The biannual topical conference series will be continued by INFOS 83 to be held in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, in April 1983. The conference proceedings include all the invited (Y) and contrlDUtea (42) papers presented at the meeting. The...