The methods of approximation of the isotropic medium closest to the crystal under investigation have been generalized for the case of low-symmetry structures, when elastic modulus tensor is arbitrarily assigned in matrix form. The basic invariants of elastic modulus tensor for rhombic crystals have been found. Parameters of the isotropic medium closest to the case considered have been determined. The results have been applied for the calculation of phase velocities and elastic wave displacements in CdSb crystals

A method has been developed for calculating force matrices in microscopic theory of low-symmetry crystals. Based on the results obtained, the relationships between force matrices and crystal elastic constants have been determined. Numerical values of bond elasticities corresponding to nonequivalent hybrid orbitals in CdSb have been found.

It is analysed the possible efficiency increase of the refrigeration facilities that use the thermoelectricity. Different systems to determine the refrigerating effects are checked: theoretical equations, finite elements and a new tool developed by us based on the electric analogy run by computer. It is described the new method of calculus called "Electric Analogy Run by Computer (AERO)", which allows the study of heat transfer problems included the change of phase. Once the method has been checked, it is used to see the importance of the heat transfer systems included in this kind of facilities which can get efficiencies similar to or higher than others.

The paper is deals with the investigation of Seebeck coefficient in the classic strong and quantizing fields, which gives a possibility to study electron dispersion structure for charge carriers in the crystals experimentally.

The figure of merit of monopolar nondegenerate semiconductor materials has been theoretically investigated with regard for the electron-phonon drag. It has been shown that with decreasing sample linear dimensions thermoelectric figure of merit will increase reaching its maximum in the submicron-sized samples. The most preferable here is dissipation of carriers on polarization potential of acoustic phonons. It has been shown that in the presence of a strong electron-phonon drag the figure of merit of limited-sized thermoelectric samples can exceed essentially the figure of merit of the appropriate massive samples

Procedure for justified presetting of tolerance zone limits has been proposed for thermoelement geometric parameters in cases when the distribution of probability density in studied parameters has a complex multi-modal character. The procedure allows to increase the thermoelectric products quality and operating reliability, to reduce their cost production. The procedure can be used for product arbitrary parameters control.

The influence of isochronous annealing of p-PbTe thin films in vacuum on their thermoelectric properties is investigated. High thermopower values and improved thermoelectric figure of merit are established. Experimental results are accounted for by the ambipolar diffusion of positively charged tellurium vacancies and electrons deep into the films and the formation of a two-layer p-n structure.

The paper deals with the construction and characteristics of absolute anisotropic thermoelectric receiver based on the anisotropic thermoelements designed to measure the average value of modulated and nonmodulated radiation of the submillimeter and millimeter wavelength ranges.