Both authors are affiliated with the B. Verkin Institute for Low Temperatire Physics and Engineering, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

• 1 Introduction.- 2 Metallic point contacts as a physical tool.- 3 Fundamentals of PCS theory.- 4 Experimental techniques.- 5 PCS of quasiparticle excitations.- 6 PCS of nonphononic scattering mechanisms.- 7 Thermal effects in point contacts.- 8 Point contacts in the magnetic field.- 9 Electrical fluctuations in point contacts.- 10 Point contacts under irradiation.- 11 PCS of semimetals, semiconductors, and dielectrics.- 12 PCS of superconductors.- 13 PCS of high-Tc and other uncommon superconductors.- 14 PCS of heavy-fermion systems.- 15 New trends in research.

Both authors are affiliated with the B. Verkin Institute for Low Temperatire Physics and Engineering, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

• 1 Introduction.- 2 Metallic point contacts as a physical tool.- 3 Fundamentals of PCS theory.- 4 Experimental techniques.- 5 PCS of quasiparticle excitations.- 6 PCS of nonphononic scattering mechanisms.- 7 Thermal effects in point contacts.- 8 Point contacts in the magnetic field.- 9 Electrical fluctuations in point contacts.- 10 Point contacts under irradiation.- 11 PCS of semimetals, semiconductors, and dielectrics.- 12 PCS of superconductors.- 13 PCS of high-Tc and other uncommon superconductors.- 14 PCS of heavy-fermion systems.- 15 New trends in research.