The rather extensive test program performed on the FFTF preheat control system resulted in successful sodium fill of one secondary heat transport loop on July 2, 1978. The data obtained during testing and the attendant operating experience gained resulted in some design changes and provided the information necessary to fully characterize system performance. Temperature excursions and deviations from preset limits of only a minor nature were encountered during preheat for sodium fill. The addition of the rate alarm feature was beneficial to operation of the preheat system and allowed early detection and correction of impending excursions.

Recent experimental progress in the fields of photofission and electrofission of actinide nuclei is summarized. In particular, experimental results which throw light on the delineation of the characteristics of the giant resonances are highlighted. Measurements of especial interest in this regard include photofission cross-section studies with monoenergetic photons and electrofission yield and angular-distribution studies. 36 references.