3- [N- (p-Ethoxybenzilidene) -amino] -6-n-butylpyridine (ÄBBP) exhibits one nematic and two smectic mesophases. The electric conductivity of ÄBBP is studied as a function of temperature and is found to be strongly anisotropic in the smectic phases. The value parallel to the smectic layers is up to ten times higher than in the perpendicular direction. The parallel and perpendicular conductivities give different energies of activation, which is discussed on the basis of the McMillan theory.

Further experimental results are presented on the formation of bubbles in KI-crystals [1]. Bubbles of parallelepipedic form (medium edge length of 2-3 µm) are formed when heating neutron-irradiated crystals above 400 °C after irradiation doses of 4 x 1016 to 2 x 1019 cm-2. The dependence of bubble formation on neutron dose and on annealing conditions is reported. The specific bubble volume is found to increase proportionally to (Φt)0,7. The once formed bubbles are extremely stable, even in the vicinity of the melting point. It is assumed that the bubbles are initially stabilized by xenon at about atmospheric pressure which is produced by the neutron reaction I-127(n, γ) I-128 [MATH]Xe-128

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