Work is being done at the Rocky Flats Plant under contract from the Savannah River Operations Office (SROO) of the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) to critically analyze and evaluate existing technology for converting plutonium nitrate to plutonium oxide, and to recommend flow sheets and equipment for this process. This report details a plan for selecting the most suitable process using presently developed technology. In addition, the scope-defining assumptions and the criteria to be used for comparing the processes are defined. The criteria will be used to select a primary and several alternative processes for conversion of plutonium nitrate to plutonium oxide in reprocessing light water reactor (LWR) fuel.

An rf system is described for the 500-MHz cylindrical resonator that is coupled to the Astron beam to modulate its energy by +- 1.5 percent.

An interlaboratory program was established to compare the radiation damage produced in Mo at 800 to 1000/sup 0/C by different ions of different energies. The program included comparisons of microstructures produced by different ions, of measurements on a round robin TEM specimen, and of measurements on a common micrograph. Results are discussed. Ions used included Ni/sup 2 +/, Mo/sup +/, Cu/sup 4 +/, and H/sup +/.

Results are presented of an 8-month study to develop alternative non-site-specific OTEC facilities/platform requirements for an integrated OTEC Test Program which may include land and floating test facilities. The document, Volume II - Appendixes is bound in three parts (A, B, and C) which together comprise a compendium of the most significant detailed data developed during the study. Part A contains definitions, baseline revisions, test plans, and energy utilization sections.

These 2.2-T, 300-kJ magnets are to operate at 10 to 12 kA with a safety factor in critical current of about 50 percent at 10 kA. The conductor must exhibit low losses in addition to being stable. Magnetic Corporation of America (MCA) designed a flat conductor using 1224 copper-matrix, monofilament wires combined in two stages of cabling followed by two stages of flat braiding. Two of these conductors were constructed, one with wire already on hand and the second using wire made specifically for this application. Intermagnetics General Corporation (IGC) designed two rectangular conductors using 315 and 319 mixed-matrix multifilament wires combined in three stages of cabling followed by compaction in a Turk's head. The maximum transport current capabilities (I/sub t/) of these cables were measured in hairpin shaped samples with the straight section under test in perpendicularly applied fields. The measured results at 2.5 T for the two MCA cables were 11.7 kA and 15.4 kA, and for the IGC cables were 18.2 kA and 19.3 kA (extrapolated). In addition, samples of the compacted and uncompacted major strands from the IGC cables were tested. The results of these measurements are compred with values of I/sub t/ from the single-wire …

A status report is given of the design and fabrication of a small pilot-project accelerator and storage ring using superconducting magnets. The project is called ESCAR, for Experimental Superconducting Accelerator Ring. Work is reported on a pre-production dipole magnet, a 1500W helium refrigeration plant, planned major systems tests, and conventional component development. (PMA)

Experimental research in high energy physics is summarized. (JFP)

The newtron energy spectrum of a Po-Be (alpha, n) source was measured as part of an intercomparison of newtron energy spectral measurements sponsored by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Intensity maxima for neutron energies > 1 MeV were seen at or near 1.4, 2.1, 3.1, 5.0, 6.7, 7.7 and 9.7 MeV.

During 1974, approximately 1.31 x 10/sup 13/ liters of gaseous effluents were monitored for radioactivity by the stack sampling program. A summary of the measured radioactivity was as follows: alpha (assumed source--Pu)--1.62 x 10/sup -3/ Ci and beta--0.201 Ci.

A portable computing gamma spectrometer has been constructed and environmentally tested. It functions properly after undergoing both a 150-mm drop test and a 1.5-g vibratory sweep test at 263/sup 0/K. The drop height represents the level beyond which at least partial failure results. The unit is unaffected by thermal cycling but is somewhat sensitive to thermal shock. It is mounted in a waterproof container.

The authors propose to examine in detail, using the 15-foot bubble chamber and an improved (Phase II) EMI, the characteristics of 'dimuon' events produced by neutrinos. A light neon-hydrogen filling (30% neon atoms) provides adequate target mass, good track measurements, and high detection efficiency for photons and electrons. Thus e-{mu} and e-e dileptons, as well as dimuons, can be observed with good efficiency. They estimate a yield of 100 detected dimuons in a 200 K picture expoture. They assume 400 GeV operation, 1 x 10{sup 13} protons/pulse, and a two-horn dichromatic beam focusing 100 {+-} 10 GeV/c mesons. If dimuons are made by neutrinos {ge} 30 GeV, then the yield from this dichromatic beam is about half the yield from a wide-band beam. Knowledge of neutrino energy is important in dimuon analysis. An improved two-plane EMI, as proposed by the UH-LBL group, would provide about 1 kg/cm{sup 2} absorption thickness for particles above 10 GeV/c, thus ensuring excellent dimuon identification. Another proposed EMI improvement, the Internal Picket Fence (IPF), is designed to eliminate EMI random background (mainly neutrino-induced in the internal coil-absorber). this should greatly simplify EMI analysis and reduce the misidentification of low momentum hadrons as muons. Thus they …

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The PALLOT code was developed to simplify the assimilation of data relating to effects of nuclear blackout on particular reentry trajectories. This code operates in three modes: azimuth, elevation, and inline, In the azimuth and elevation modes, the PALLOT picture represents a family of trajectories that only vary, respectively, in approach azimuth and impact elevation angle. The incline mode depicts a set of reentry vehicles approaching on the same trajectory through a nuclear environment. The code, written in Fortran IV, was developed on the CDC 7600 computer; it will run on the CDC 6600 without modification although the run times may be excessively long. (auth)

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A phase-sensitive eddy current system was used to measure the presence of ferrite in an austenitic stainless steel matrix. Measurements were made on pressed powder specimens and on a weld in Type 304L stainless steel. The data obtained showed that small amounts of ferrite, on the order of 1 to 3%, could easily be detected. Variation in ferrite with position within the weld was also detected with good reproducibility. Absolute values for the ferrite content were not obtained as accurate standards for calibration were not available. (auth)

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From joint meetlng of the American Nuclear Society and the Atomic Industrial Forum and Nuclear Energy Exhibition; San Francisco, California, USA (11 Nov 1973). Physical processes important to laser-fusion are discussed along with the models of these processes used by the LASNEX code. Arguments are presented to show the validity of diffusion theory and calculational results are compared to a more detailed transport method and to several experimental observations. A study of stabillty and symmetry results in a full two- dimensional calculation of a typical laser-fusion pellet. (auth)

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The capability of using eddy current techniques to measure the thickness of nickel plating on carbon steel is investigated. Factors examined are the influence of: different plating baths (Watts and Sulfamate), different substrates (A285 and A516 carbon steels), and the effects of using different types of eddy current instrumentation (phase sensitivity versus amplitude sensitivity). The results show that the thickness of nickel plating (for the conditions described) can be measured accurately using eddy current techniques, if proper procedures are followed. These procedures are described along with many other variables that are associated with tests of this type. (auth)

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