Recent results of measurements of the Avogadro constant by the method of crystal silicon spheres in connection with the planned transition to a new definition of the basic SI unit, the mole, are discussed.

The role of the fundamental constants and of measurement data on the Planck and Avogadro constants, the kelvin, and the electrical charge in the planned transition to new definitions of the four SI base units (kilogram, mole, ampere, and kelvin) based on fixed values of these constants is discussed.

A class of multidimensional theories is identified in which the spatial and temporal variations in the gravitational constant and the fine structure constant have a common origin and are of the same magnitude. Arguments are presented in favor of the existence of these variations despite a lack of confirmed observational data on variations in the gravitational constant because of problems in constructing a unified theory of physical interactions and the well-known faint young Sun paradox. It is concluded that the gravitational constant probably depends nonlinearly on cosmological time.

Обсуждаются последние результаты измерений постоянной Авогадро методом кристаллических кремниевых шаров в связи с планируемым переходом на новое определение основной единицы СИ - моля.The recent data of Avogadro constant measurement by crystal silicon spheres method in connection with the planned transition on new definition of the basic SI unit - the mole.

Обсуждается роль фундаментальных констант и результаты измерений постоянных Планка, Авогадро, Кельвина и электрического заряда электрона в связи с планируемым переходом на новые определения четырех основных единиц СИ (килограмма, моля, ампера и кельвина) на основе фиксированных значений этих постоянных.The role of fundamental constants and measurement data for the Planck, Avogadro and Boltzmann constants and the elementary electric charge in connection with the planned transition to new definitions of four base SI units (the kilogram, mole, ampere and kelvin) based on fixed values of these constants is discussed.

Work on the redefinition of the kilogram and mole underway in many countries with experiments employing watt balances is analyzed. It is found that at present the reasons for the discrepancies in measurements of the Avogadro and Planck constants by different methods are not clear and that the required measurement accuracy has not been attained. Thus, studies with watt balances and crystalline silicon spheres must be continued in the framework of new projects.

Указан класс многомерных теорий, в которых пространственные и временные вариации гравитационной постоянной и постоянной тонкой структуры имеют общую причину и совпадают по значению. Несмотря на отсутствие проверенных наблюдательных данных о вариациях гравитационной постоянной, связанных как с проблемами построения теорий объединения физических взаимодействий, так и с известным «парадоксом слабого молодого Солнца», приведены аргументы в пользу их существования. Сделан вывод о вероятной нелинейной зависимости гравитационной постоянной от космологического времени.A class of multidimensional theories of gravity where spatial and temporal variations of the gravitational constant G and the fine structure constant α have a common cause and coincide in value is pointed out. Despite the absence of confident observational data on G variations. arguments in favor of their existence, connected with both the problem of unification of physical interactions and with the well-known «faint young Sun» paradox, are presented. The conclusion on possible nonlinear dependence of G from the cosmological time is drawn.

Review materials and international procedural regulatory documentation devoted to methods of areal (zone) characterization of the topography and texture of a rough surface are analyzed. Questions related to the use of special filters designed to eliminate undesirable components of a measured surface are considered. The contemporary standardized approach to distinguishing between roughness and waviness on a primary (basic) surface is presented.

A brief review of theoretical models explaining the variation in the fine structure constant α in space and time is given. A method is described for constructing models in which variations in α and other fundamental physical constants, including the gravitational constant G, follow from the dynamics of extra space-time dimensions in the framework of a multidimensional theory of gravitation that is nonlinear with respect to curvature. An explicit example of such a model is constructed for explaining the observed spatial and temporal variations in α.

Selection of a fundamental physical constant for the purpose of redefinition of the updated SI base measurement unit according to the principle of concordance of dimensions of the constant and of the unit of measurement, when they either coincide or differ by a factor having the dimension of time, is proposed. A quantitative criterion for reconciling the new prototypes of the kilogram with its international prototype and a quantitative limitation of their instability are proposed. The possibility of preserving a relation between the definitions of the mole and the kilogram in the updated SI is considered. It is proposed that the kilogram and mole be redefined using a fixed value of the Avogadro constant, the kelvin, and the ampere, after, that is, the measurement accuracy of the Boltzmann constant has been improved and after closure of the “quantum triangle.”

Results of an analysis of the procedural and instrumental errors that unavoidably arise in measurement of the texture and shape parameters of a surface by means of the methods of three-dimensional interferometry with reference wave front and lateral shift interferometry are presented. It is noted that the errors in measurement of the current interference orders are responsible for the greatest contribution to the total procedural error, while the errors associated with measurement of the current coordinates and the shift are negligible. It is shown that the total error of the method of approximate integration is related to the interpolation error and depends on the state of the shape of the surface.

Предложено осуществлять выбор фундаментальной физической константы для переопределения основной единицы измерения обновленной СИ по принципу согласования размерностей константы и единицы измерения, когда они либо совпадают, либо отличаются на фактор размерности времени. Предложены количественный критерий согласованности новых прототипов килограмма с его международным прототипом и количественное ограничение их нестабильности.Рассмотрена возможность сохранения связи между определениями моля и килограмма в обновленной СИ. Предложено переопределять килограмм и моль с помощью фиксированного значения постоянной Авогадро,кельвин и ампер – после повышения точности измерения постоянной Больцмана изамыкания «квантового треугольника».A principle of concordance for physical dimensions of a baseunitof the SI and a fundamental physical constant is proposed. In this case the dimensions of the constant and the base unit coincide or differ with a time dimension factor. A quantitative criterion of correspondence of new BIPM prototypes of the kilogram and the IPK and also quantitative limitation of the instability of new BIPM prototypes of the kilogram are presented. A possibility to preserve the connection between the definitions of the mole and kilogram in the updated SI is considered. It is proposed to redefine thekilogram and mole using a fixed value of theAvogadro constantand the kelvin and ampere after the improvement of measurement accuracyof the Boltzmann constant and the closure of the “quantum triangle”.

The mechanism of formation of the uncertainty budget of measurements of the parameters of the texture and form of a surface in the nanometric range with reference to the typical optical circuits of the Twyman–Green and Fizeau interferometers is considered. It is noted that in most of the well-known studies a differential (difference) method of measurement is implemented. Amplitude and amplitude-phase interference methods of coordinate measurement of the deviation of the form of a surface are considered.

The four SI base units are proposed to be redefined in two stages: first, the kilogram, mole and ampere should be defined, and then the kelvin. To realize the redefinition of a base unit of the SI in terms of fundamental physical constant (FPC), a principle of coincidence of their physical dimensions is put forward. Direct applying this principle will lead to the changing of the sets of base and derived units in the new SI. If we want to preserve the continuity of the division between base and derived units in the new and the current SI, the principle is to be generalized with the time dimension factor be included. The status of the mole as the base unit of measurement is considered in the current and new SI. It is proposed to redefine the kilogram using a fixed value of the Avogadro constant and then to redefine the kelvin, after the measurement accuracy of the Boltzmann constant has been increased and agreed with the values of other constants of molecular physics.

A fragment of the DNA sequence of the pUC18 plasmid is proposed as a reference sequence for the calibration and metrological assurance of genome analyzers. This fragment consists of 271 nucleotide pairs and is obtained by a reference method. This sequence is optimal for determining the metrological characteristics of genome analyzers in light of its stability and the existence of several segments with repeating nucleotides. An example is given for the calculation of a genome analyzer characteristic, namely, the probability of error in measurement of the genome sequence.

We discuss the operating principle of a pyrosequencer, which is an instrument for sequential reading of the nucleotide sequence of DNA molecules in pyrophosphate sequencing (pyrosequencing). We formulate the basic principles of metrological support for DNA sequencing and we present the results of studies of the metrological characteristics of the GS FLX pyrosequencer. We list the major problems encountered in designing a system for metrological support of DNA sequencing.

For the first time, time-dependent fine structure of a huge magnetic flux avalanches, Φ(t), going out from good crystalline quality superconducting disc as a result of thermomagnetic avalanche, was observed. It is shown that some of thermomagnetic avalanches consist of a large number of very short (∼10μs) microavalanches and that each of the microavalanche has its own structure. The role of microstructure of pinning centers is discussed assuming that microavalanches are connected with jumps of flux bundles. Methodically, it may be a new facility for pinning centers investigation. The role of cubic-to-tetragonal transformation of a crystal structure of the investigated sample in appearance of pinning centers is considered.

Statistical errors of metrological control of the first kind (factually acceptable product rejected) and of statistical errors of the second kind (factually unacceptable product recognized as acceptable) are considered. The reasons for the occurrence of statistical errors of metrological control are analyzed. Formulas for estimating metrological control statistical errors of the first and second kind are presented. Approaches for increasing the reliability of metrological quality control of hydrocarbons shipped by pipeline are investigated mathematically.

The safety and quality of products made from different materials depend on the quality of metrological assurance used for characterization of the composition and properties of these materials.Modern diffractometric systems have new components which increase the productivity of these systems, whereas they may cause new uncertainties in the results of determining of the characteristics based on the diffraction pattern measurement data.Therefore of the considerable changes are needed in the Testing Program for Type Approval.Note that some manufacturers and users may not pay due attention to the metrological assurance, and the reliability and repeatability of characteristics.Some types of diffractometers are tested only for one and unconventional characteristic of the diffraction pattern, for example, angular position at small angles of diffraction reflections.As results is allows provide assurance for approximate phase analysis only.The accuracy for the positions of these reflections can be lower by one order of value than for the reflections whose positions are at very high values of angles, but it is based on these values that the uncertainty of crystal lattice parameters is determined just.In order to provide a more profound and overall testing of diffractometers for Russian Federation have been developed a new programs and certified measurement procedures and the system of Certified Standard Reference Materials (CSRM) of diffraction properties, based on stable physical characteristics and related to the parameters of the diffraction pattern [1][2].Note that the results of comparative measurements show that the achieved accuracies for our CSRM and for the similar SRM systems available at NIST are alike.This CSRM system allows to conduct tests of X-ray diffractometers for conventional and new purposes: 1) a quantitative phase analysis based on the ratio of reflection intensities and on the results of measuring of a complete diffraction pattern using the Rietveld methods; 2) determining of micro-structural characteristics (grain sizes, sizes of nano-fragments and the value of micro-distortions of a crystal lattice) which are in demand especially in the machine-building, micro-electronics and bio-nanotechnology.For this purpose we use CSRM and Measures with different levels of micro-distortions and taking into account the atomic weights of components; 3) determining of the life-service of a product on the basis of residual stress.The use is made of tablet-shaped, sintered CSRMs and measures; 4) for single crystal diffractometers we have developed new relevant and required CSRMs also.