APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200070028-8
from cosmic ray work undertaken at both centers. A considerable amount of cosmic ray physics is still carried out at Lodz. At Nuclear Institutes of Warsaw and Krakow, studies are being conducted dealing with hadron interactions and the development of models for hyperon-nucleon reactions. At the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, physicists are engaged in studying hyperon polarizations resulting from meson-baryon reactions. At the same university, others are probing theories involved with hadron scattering associated with the model for diffractive production of particles in high-energy collisions.
The Poles have been hampered in various subbranches of physics research that require the use of vacuum technology, primarily because they lack the necessary equipment. To overcome this deficiency, efforts are being made to produce their own high-vacuum machinery. Such developments occur at the Institute of Electronics Technology where work is underway on studies of characteristics for orbiton ion-getter pumps, zeolite traps, evaporators, diffusion pumps, seals, and instrumentation. Although Poland ranks high in mathematics, there is little activity in research on gravitation and relativity. Probably the best specialist in Poland on relativity is Dr. B. Kuchowicz at the University of Warsaw. His work involves searches for exact solutions of gravitational field equations that relate to the general relativistic treatment of stellar structures. In acoustics, ultrasonics, vibration, and shock waves, Poland's programs are relatively modest. Most of the research is applied and is being done at PAN institutes and various university laboratories. Probably the most advanced work that is being done by J.K. Zienuk in his experiments dealing with ultrasonic holography at a PAN institutes in Warsaw. Other important work is concerned with velocities and polarization of elastic waves propagating in cubic crystals. This research is done by J. Mielnicki, also at a PAN institute in Warsaw. To be successful in such research, experimental work requires only perfect crystals. Shock and vibration research in Poland is related to aerodynamics and some of it involves the propagational problem of plane shock waves in plastic bodies that possess elastic unloading properties. Research in sonics is good. The Polish work involves characteristics of sound, tone, and directivity, with possible applications to musical instruments.
The most advanced Polish research in molecular and atomic physics occurs at the Nicholas Copernicus University where investigators are studying electronic structures and the spectra of organic molecules. Also, some research there involves the study of hyperfine splitting of radical ions in the electron-spin resonance spectra. Others at the University of Warsaw are studying interaction energies of ground state hydrogen atoms.
Among the Communist countries, Poland probably is second only to the U.S.S.R. in amount of attention given to mathematical research, although it is closely given to mathematical research, although it is closely rivaled by the much less populous Hungary. Poland has a long and commendable history of performing mathematical research, although political difficulties have intervened at times. All of the main fields are investigated actively by Polish mathematicians, who are recognized internationally as competent. Dr. Kazimierz Kuratowski of PAN is the leading Polish mathematician and one of the most outstanding in the world. In their present circumstances, the Poles are producing new mathematics at a good rate, but its form seems subject to some political influence. Thus they tend toward applicable forms of mathematics but lack the computing capacity that many applications of mathematics require.
It is estimated that between 1% and 2% of the world's mathematical research is done in Poland. Subject areas strongly represented in this research are analysis (especially differential and functional equations and function analysis), logic, and topology. Also well represented are geometry, mathematical physics, and subjects related to economics and statistics. Algebra is represented somewhat weakly but, on the whole, the Polish effort may be considered fairly well balanced. It is interesting also that much foreign mathematical research is published in Poland, with a large share coming from the United States, with the Soviet Union well represented, and with contributions from many other widely scattered countries. Polish journals seem to offer an international forum, a situation probably fostered by periodic use of Poland for international symposia. The Poles also publish their work abroad moderately often, distributing it to many countries.
Fairly sophisticated applications of mathematics to military and industrial decision-making are being made in Poland. These applications draw on the principles of operations research and the capabilities of computer and data transmission hardware to produce systems which serve as decision-making aids. Systems are currently in use on an experimental or limited operation basis, and plans call for integration into large-scale systems. The technology itself is several years behind that of the United States and of the Soviet Union, but the Poles are making good use of the available technology and knowledge to develop these systems.
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200070028-8
