Abstract: The removal of both SM-1 Core I high burnup elements from SM-1 Core II and the insertion of the PM-1-M-2 element and the SM-1 Core I spare element in SM-1 Core II is discussed. Nuclear and thermal characteristics of Core II with these changes are presented and conclusions related to the changes in the hazard potential are made. If the core change indicated by this report is made, local peaking factors will be decreased and burnout ratios will be increased. This, of course, in itself leads to a more conservative estimate of core safety. There is no conceivable reason why the perturbation may not be safely made in the SM-1 Core II.

Quarterly progress report discussing activities related to the Vallecitos Boiling Water Reactor (VBWR) and related facilities

In a recent paper, Bowers and Salpeter described a method for calculating the correlation energy of a classical one-component electron gas. The same problem has been considered by Meeron, Friedman, and Abe, using methods involving the summation of cert infinite classes of diagrams. While the relation between these theories and that of Bowers and Saltpeter is not year clear, it is interesting to note that Abe obtained an equivalent expression by approximating an integral. We have calculated the contribution to the equation of state using Abe's original expression and we found that the equation is valid only for certain values and it gives a correction of the wrong sign. On the other hand, our results are comparable to those which Bowers and Salpeter obtain from higher approximations.

The preparation of essentially pure dimethyl selenide for the Isotype Separations Group, Chemistry Division, is described. The compound was prepared by warming a mixture of selenium, sodium hydroxide, sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate in aqueous solution for several hours at 50°C and then adding methyl iodide. Dimethyl selenide was removed by distillation.