The pyrochemical conditioning of spent nuclear fuel for the purpose of final disposal is currently being demonstrated at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). One aspect of this program is to develop a lithium preprocessing stage for the Fuel Conditioning Facility (FCF). Furthermore, a pilot scale of this preprocessing stage is being designed by ANL-W to demonstrate the in situ hot cell capability of this process. In this pilot scale system, fused lithium chloride salt is saturated with molten lithium to form a powerful fluxing compound with a vigorous reducing agent. During this stage of the fuel conditioning, the reduction will take place at a nominal temperature of 650 C in an argon-cell atmosphere contaminated with up to 10,000 ppm nitrogen, 100 ppm oxygen and 100 ppm of moisture. The maximum local temperature was calculated to be 725 C on the inner shell of the reduction vessel during operation. One of the significant concerns of this project is the system`s corrosion response in the presence of irradiated commercial fuel as well as atmospheric impurities. The purpose of this work was to demonstrate the potential corrosivity of the salt matrix in a worse case environment as well as provide a boundary for allowable …

Interest in critical experiments with lattices of mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel pins has been revived by the possibility that light water reactors will be used for disposition of weapons-grade plutonium. A series of six experiments with MOX lattices, designated PNL-30 through PNL-35, was performed at Pacific Northwest Laboratories in 1975 and 1976, and a set of benchmark specifications for these experiments subsequently was adopted by the Cross Section Evaluation Working Group (CSEWG). Although there appear to be some problems with these experiments, they remain the only CSEWG benchmarks for MOX lattices. The number of fuel pins in these experiments is relatively low, corresponding to fewer than 4 typical pressurized-water-reactor fuel assemblies. Accordingly, they are more appropriate as benchmarks for lattice-physics codes than for reactor-core simulator codes. Unfortunately, the CSEWG specifications retain the full three-dimensional (3D) detail of the experiments, while lattice-physics codes almost universally are limited to two dimensions (2D). This paper proposes an extension of the benchmark specifications to include a 2D model, and it justifies that extension by comparing results from the MCNP Monte Carlo code for the 2D and 3D specifications.

The results of an analysis of operations data from the 1996 run-cycle of the LANSCE accelerator complex will be presented. Frequency and history of operational events including system and component failures which affect beam availability have been tracked. Some of the significant downtime incidents will be described and analyzed in detail. These results will be used to improve future operations and beam availability.

A new 14 GHz ECRIS has been designed and built over the last two years. The source design incorporates the latest results from ECR developments to produce intense beams of highly charged ions. An improved magnetic electron confinement is achieved from a large mirror ratio and strong hexapole field. The aluminum plasma chamber and extraction electrode as well as a biased disk on axis at the microwave injection side donate additional electrons to the plasma, making use of the large secondary electron yields from aluminum oxide. The source will be capable of ECR plasma heating using two different frequencies simultaneously to increase the electron energy gain. To be able to deliver usable intensities of the heaviest ion beams the design will also allow axial access for metal evaporation ovens and solid material. The main design goal is to produce several e{mu}A of at least {sup 238}U{sup 34+} in order to accelerate the beam to coulomb-barrier energies without further stripping. First charge state distributions for {sup 16}O and {sup 40}Ar have been measured.

Over the last few years, there has been a resurgence of interest in small-x or diffractive physics. This has been due to the realization that perturbative QCD techniques may be applicable to what was previously thought of as a non-perturbative problem and to the opening up of new energy regimes at HERA and the Tevatron collider. The goal is to understand the pomeron, and hence the behavior of total cross sections, elastic scattering and diffractive excitation, in terms of the underlying theory, QCD. This paper is divided into experiments of hadron-hadron colliders and electron-proton colliders.

The surface thermal lensing technique (STL) successfully resolved and measured the absorptance of transmissive optical components: near- normal angle-of-incidence anti-reflectors and beam splatters. The STL system uses an Ar ion laser to pump the components at 514.5 mn. The absorptance-induced surface deformation diffracts the HeNe probe beam into a photo-detector. The signal intensity was calibrated with a sample of known absorptance. The optical components were designed to function in a copper vapor laser (CVL) transport system, and were previously tested for absorptance with a high power CVL system at 511 rtm. To assure proper absorptance data from the STL system, the pump laser power densities were set at the operational level of the coatings, absorptance time trends were monitored, and absorptance area scans were made. Both types of transmissive optics are more stable than the CVL high reflectors that were measured in another study. Parameter studies based on Fresnel diffraction theory were also performed to optimize experimental condition. The STL system was assessed to have 10 ppb sensitivity for absorption measurement given 2 W of pump power.

The particle size distribution and morphology of HMX (cyclotetramethylene-tetranitramine) in the plastic-bonded explosive, PBX 9501 (95% HMX and 5% polymeric binder, by weight), are important to understanding the micromechanical behavior of this material. This paper shows that the size distribution of the {open_quotes}as-received{close_quotes} HMX powder, as measured by light scattering, is not preserved through the processing operations of formulation into molding powder and subsequent consolidation through hydrostatic pressing. Morphological features such as cracking and twinning are examined using reflected light microscopy. This technique helps confirm and interpret the results of the particle size analysis. These results suggest that use of the particle size distribution of the {open_quotes}as-received{close_quotes} powder could potentially yield significant errors in detailed simulations of formulated materials.

The authors have exploited anomalous small angle x-ray scattering (ASAXS) to monitor the solvation behavior of Cu(II), Er(III) and Yb(III) ions within the interlayers of the natural aluminosilicate clay mineral montmorillonite. The ASAXS technique can reveal the distribution of specific metallic species within a heterogeneous and disordered matrix. The variations of signal intensity as a function of absorption energy were monitored for all of the metal-clays as a function of hydration. Two different hydration levels were probed: as prepared at ambient conditions, or so-called {open_quotes}dry{close_quotes} powders, and {open_quotes}wet{close_quotes} pastes. ASAXS intensities should increase with absorption energy if the metal ion is associated with the interlayer solvent (water in this case), and decrease if the metal ion is associated with the solid matrix. The results show that: (1) Cu(II) is solvated within the interlayers of the wet sample, as expected, and (2) Er(III) and Yb(III) decrease in ASAXS intensity with increased hydration. This latter result was not expected and there is speculation that these ions have associated as hydrolyzed products with the clay surface. The basic principles underlying SAXS and ASAXS will also be presented in this paper.

Coulomb dissociation is a relatively clean probe of the structures of one- and two-nucleon halo nuclei. This is illustrated by the breakup of {sup 11}Be, {sup 8}B and {sup 11}Li and is discussed in terms of first order perturbation theory. First-order dipole transitions usually dominate the Coulomb dissociation but quadrupole transitions are not insignificant for a proton halo (e.g. {sup 8}B). Higher-order processes can also distort the observables, such as the momentum distributions of the fragments and the excitation energy spectrum.

The H-mode power threshold has a weak but positive B{sub T} dependence when the ion {del}B drift is away from the X-point, in contrast to the nearly linear B{sub T} dependence when the ion {del}B drift is toward the X-point. This indicates that geometry plays an important role in the H-mode power threshold scaling. A simple model of the {del}B drift effect failed to predict this behavior, but successfully predicted the sign change of gas puffing and low X-point height on the power threshold. The difference between the threshold power required for sawtooth and nonsawtooth triggered transitions can be substantial. This effect may contribute to the observed B scaling of the H-mode power threshold.

MEEC96 was a workshop devoted primarily to discussion within four working groups, not a mini-conference of prepared reports. Therefore, although there are contributions bearing the name of a single author, much of what was learned came in extemporaneous discussion of the issues posed to the participants. The original plan to produce formal proceedings has been dropped because of the limited number of participants willing to write up their own contributions and because of the difficulty of converting free-wheeling discussion to the written word. The premsise for the 1996 gathering was to set a critique of Fermilab`s R&D effort at cooling a ring of 8 GeV {bar p}`s. Separate abstracts have been submitted to the energy database for contributions to this workshop.

Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) experiments require sophisticated diagnostics with temporal resolution measured in tens of picoseconds and spatial resolutions measured in microns. The Los Alamos ICF Program is currently supporting a number of diagnostics on the Nova and Triden laser facilities, and is developing new diagnostics for use on the Omega laser facility. New systems and technologies are being developed for use on the National Ignition Facility, which is expected to be operational early in the next decade.

An assessment is made of recent test data from France, Japan, and Russia, and of earlier test data from the U.S., in relation to the safety analysis performed for power reactors in the U.S. Considerations include mode of cladding failure, oxidation, hydriding, and pulse-width effects. From the data trend and from these considerations, it is concluded that the cladding failure threshold for fuel rods with moderate-to-high burnup is roughly 100 cal/g for BWRs and PWRs. Realistic plant calculations suggest that cladding failure would not occur for rod-ejection or rod-drop accidents and, therefore, that pellet fragmentation and enhanced fission product release from fuel pellets should not have to be considered in the safety analysis for these accidents. However, the data base is sparse and contains a lot of uncertainty.

The American National Standard for Radioactive Materials--Leakage Tests on Packages for Shipment (ANSI N14.5) provides guidance for leakage rate testing to show that a particular packaging complies with regulatory requirements and also provides guidance in determining appropriate acceptance criteria. Recent radioactive packagings designs have incorporated three O-ring closure seals, the middle O-ring being the containment seal. These designs have the potential for false positive results of leakage rate tests. The volume between the containment O-ring and the inner O-ring is used for the helium gas required for the leakage rate tests to reduce both the amount of helium used and the time required to conduct the tests. A leak detector samples the evacuated volume between the outer O-ring and the containment O-ring. False positive results can be caused in two ways, a large leakage in the containment seal or leakage in the inner seal. This paper will describe the problem together with possible solutions/areas that need to be addressed in a Safety Analysis Report for Packagings before a particular packaging design can be certified for transport.

This paper discusses some basic aspects of instrumentation for cold neutrons, with emphasis on conditions peculiar to pulsed sources. It also indicates the conditions under which pulsed source instruments can be most effective for cold neutron research, and presents a brief report on the status of cold neutron instrumentation at pulsed sources.

The range of mining applications from hard rock quarrying to coal exposure to mineral recovery leads to a great variety of blasting practices. A common characteristic of many of the sources is that they are detonated at or near the earth`s surface and thus can be recorded by camera or video. Although the primary interest is in the seismic waveforms that these blasts generate, the visual observations of the blasts provide important constraints that can be applied to the physical interpretation of the seismic source function. In particular, high speed images can provide information on detonation times of individuals charges, the timing and amount of mass movement during the blasting process and, in some instances, evidence of wave propagation away from the source. All of these characteristics can be valuable in interpreting the equivalent seismic source function for a set of mine explosions and quantifying the relative importance of the different processes. This paper documents work done at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and Southern Methodist University to take standard Hi-8 video of mine blasts, recover digital images from them, and combine them with ground motion records for interpretation. The steps in the data acquisition, processing, display, and interpretation are …

Colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) in doped La manganite thin films (La{sub 1-x}M{sub x}MnO{sub 3}, where M = divalent ion, either Ca or Pb) has been shown to result in a factor of 10{sup 6} suppression of the resistance. The driving force for the CMR transition is thought to be the double-exchange interaction. Many studies of both the crystal structure and the local structure of the La{sub 1-x}M{sub x}MnO{sub 3} (M = Ca, Sr, Ba, Pb) system have now been carried out. As expected, these systems all show a strong coupling of the lattice to the CMR transition. On the other hand, neutron diffraction and x-ray absorption for the Tl{sub 2}Mn{sub 2}O{sub 7} pyrochlore, which also exhibits CMR, shows no deviations from ideal stoichiometry, mixed valency, or Jahn-Teller distortions of the MnO{sub 6} octahedron. We present results of crystallographic and local structural studies of these two important classes of CMR materials, compare the differences in structural response, and discuss the implications of these findings to our understanding of these materials.

To assess the effect of edge neutrals on the low to high confinement transition threshold, a broad range of plasma discharges has been analyzed. From this analysis, the transition power divided by the density, at constant magnetic field, appears to be a function of a single parameter measuring the neutrals` effect, This parameter cannot be uniquely identified. For instance, it may be the radial decay length of the neutral profile or the charge exchange damping rate at about r/a {approx} 0.95. This results suggest that there is a missing parameter linked to the neutrals in the power threshold scaling laws.

We present a brief review of recent experimental and theoretical progress on the dynamics of Rydberg atoms using short half cycle pulses. We discuss new possibilities in coherent control and non-linear dynamics of atoms which have lately become possible using various superpositions of such pulses.

Task T-222 of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) program addresses the manufacturing and testing of permanent components for use in the ITER divertor. Thermalhydraulic and critical heat flux performance of the heat sinks proposed for use in the divertor vertical target are part of subtask T-222.4. As part of this effort, two single channel, medium scale, bare copper alloy, hypervapotron mockups were designed, fabricated, and tested using the EB-1200 electron beam system. The objectives of the effort were to develop the design and manufacturing procedures required for construction of robust high heat flux (HHF) components, verify thermalhydraulic, thermomechanical and critical heat flux (CHF) performance under ITER relevant conditions, and perform analyses of HHF data to identify design guidelines and failure criteria and possibly modify any applicable CHF correlations. The design, fabrication, and finite element modeling of two types of hypervapotrons are described; a common version already in use at the Joint European Torus (JET) and a new attached fin design. HHF test data on the attached fin hypervapotron will be used to compare the CHF performance under uniform heating profiles on long heated lengths with that of localized, highly peaked, off nominal profiles.

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard E-1739, Risk-Based Corrective Action Applied at Petroleum Release Sites (RBCA), offers a streamlined methodology for selecting and implementing cost-effective corrective action for petroleum hydrocarbon release sites. ASTM is also currently developing the Standard Guide for Risk Based Corrective Action which extends the RBCA process to include a wide range of chemicals of concern. Comparing the results derived from the RBCA vapor transport models with field data has underscored the extremely conservative nature of the RBCA inhalation pathway models. Two case studies are described in this paper which compare exposure point concentration and human health risk estimated from the RBCA vapor transport models and actual measurements of soil vapor concentrations and soil vapor flux.

We have measured the temperature dependence of the elastic constants of the 51XX series steels [gear steels] for a range of phases. At RT the normalized steel (pearlite) has the highest value of the moduli, the bainite phase the next highest, and martensite the lowest. Extrapolation of the austenite suggests that at RT austenite has lower moduli than martensite. For all the grades and phases of steels examined, the behavior of the elastic constants is similar: a curve could be drawn for each of the moduli from all the phases and all the grades would not deviate by more than {+-}4%. The normalized phase (100% pearlite in 5180) is stable up to 900 C. Bainite is stable up to 500 C. Martensite starts to change above 150 C as it tempers or strain relieves; once this is complete, the martensite moduli increase to similar values to bainite. Extrapolations are discussed. Behavior in lower carbon steels (5140, 5120) should conform to above; there is no explanation for the anomalous behavior of the quenched 5120 steel.

We present a new algorithm for solving banded diagonal matrix problems efficiently on distributed-memory parallel computers, designed originally for use in dynamic alternating-direction implicit partial differential equation solvers. The algorithm optimizes efficiency with respect to the number of numerical operations and to the amount of interprocessor communication. This is called the ``delayed coupling method`` because the communication is deferred until needed. We focus here on tridiagonal and periodic tridiagonal systems.

The unrecognized oxidation of plutonium in {open_quotes}sealed{close_quotes} canisters poses a unique problem for both material control and accountability. A feasibility study was performed to address the use of randomly pulsed neutron measurements with {sup 252}Cf to determine if plutonium metal in a canister has oxidized without opening the container. The Monte Carlo code MCNP-DSP was used to determine if time-of-flight transmission measurements could be used to determine oxidation of plutonium in {open_quotes}sealed{close_quotes} cans. In the Monte Carlo models, a plutonium button in a can was positioned between a {sup 252}Cf source and a scintillation detector, and the time distribution of counts after {sup 252}Cf fission in the detector was calculated. The time distribution of counts after {sup 252}Cf fission differs between plutonium metal and plutonium oxide because resonances in oxygen will affect transmission of certain energy neutrons from {sup 252}Cf sources in ionization chambers. This method could be used to determine the presence of other materials that react with plutonium in {open_quotes}sealed{close_quotes} cans.