Electrical, mechanical, thermal, and neutron response data indicate that microchannel plate photomultiplier tubes are viable candidates as miniature, ruggedized neutron detectors for flight test applications in future weapon systems.

The first portion of the report, from the Executive Summary (page 1) through the Schedule of Milestones (page 10), gives a general overview which highlights our progress and problems for the second year. The Task report portion of the text, written by individual task investigators, is designed primarily for scientists interested in technical details of the second year's work. The second portion of the report consists of appendices of data compiled by the principal investigators.

A general review of national solar energy programs is provided. An executive summary and a brief history of the Federal solar energy program are presented. The issues and implications of the National Energy Plan that relate to solar energy development ae discussed. An overview is provided of the present Federal solar energy program, including the activities of several Federal agencies outside the Department of Energy. Some of the non-Federal solar energy programs ae reviewed, including international programs in which the U.S. has some role, programs of state and local governments, college and university programs, the work of private industry, and individual and small scale activities. A synposis of the major categories of solar technology is provided. Each chapter discusses a particular technology area and includes a basic technological description; a summary of the goals and activities of the Federal R and D program for the technology; significant events and development of the past year; and a brief overview of problems, uncertainties, and dissenting views. Three appendices include a synopsis of major energy events of 1977; a glossary of technical terms, abbreviations, and acronyms, and a table of conversion factors. (MHR)

Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy (DLTS) has been applied for the first time to high-purity germanium p-i-n diodes. Using the correlator technique, a large number of peaks due to acceptor levels in the forbidden band have been observed. The levels due to substitutional copper, to copper--hydrogen complexes and to divacancy-hydrogen defects have been positively identified. Several unknown levels have been discovered. The results obtained with DLTS are in excellent agreement with results from Hall-effect measurements. DLTS is the perfect tool to follow the creation and annealing of radiation defects.

Single-charge and row-charge subsurface cratering experiments were performed to learn how close-spacing enhances single-crater dimensions. Our first experimental phase established cratering curves for 60-lb charges of the chemical explosive. For the second phase, to be described in a subsequent report, the Row-cratering experiments were designed and executed. This data report contains excavated dimensions and auxiliary data for the single-charge cratering experiments. The dimensions for the row-charge experiments will be in the other report. Significant changes in the soil's water content appeared to cause a variability in the excavated dimensions. This variability clouded the interpretation and application of the cratering curves obtained.

The Lawrence Livermore Laboratory was asked by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to investigate the inelastic behavior of a representative noncategory I structure and determine the amount of reserve seismic capacity that is available beyond elastic design levels. Elastic and elastic-plastic seismic analyses were conducted on a braced steel frame using eight time-history records. In addition, two spectra were ultimate capacity, the reserve strength of the frame was determined. In order to ensure operability, a frame model incorporating a piping system was subjected to the above seismic loadings using elastic analyses. It was found that the piping system components controlled the seismic capacity of the combined structure. The average results show a reserve capacity of 2.6 times the seismic design level.

An extractor for accelerating 50 A of deuterium ions to 10 keV for injection into a metal-vapor charge-exchange cell has been designed. The beam-forming electrodes are convection cooled and capable of continuous service.

As part of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Low-Cost Solar Array Project, test methods have been evaluated and procedures developed for testing photovoltaic flat-plate solar cell modules for resistance to impact by hailstones. Testing has included the use of simulated hailstones (frozen ice spheres projected at terminal velocity), steel balls, and other projectile types applied with three loading methods: pneumatic gun, gravity drop, and static loading. Results are presented that compare the advantages and disadvantages of the three test methods. Dropped-steel-ball tests are shown to exhibit little correlation with high-velocity ice-ball tests, whereas statically-loaded steel balls show a somewhat better correlation with ice-ball tests. Results are also presented on the hail impact strength of 16 flat-plate photovoltaic modules. The module designs tested have been shown to be capable of withstanding as large as 1-1/2-inch diameter and not capable of withstanding as small as 1/2-inch diameter simulated hail. The top surface material of the modules has a dominant influence on the hail impact resistance of the modules. In order of increasing impact strength for a given thickness, the top surface materials encountered in the modules tester were: clear silicone rubber, annealed glass, tempered glass, and acrylic sheet. The critical failure mechanism of …

The discharge tube and circuitry has been assembled and tested and awaits the addition of metal vapor for the first discharge and gain tests. Further problems with the discharge tube as a result of high voltage arcing were encountered and finally overcome. Materials testing with cadmium has demonstrated that stainless steel and Inconel are suitable for fabrication materials while Monel is not. An investigation of scaling considerations of a single pulse metal vapor laser system was initiated and some preliminary assessments are detailed below. Inverse Bremsstrahlung pumping of a metal vapor system is discussed as a possible alternate to a conventional e-beam stabilized discharge.

An experimental technique is proposed for measuring the fusion product leakage from the PLT and TFTR tokamaks. The experiment would use two detectors (one at the top and one at the outboard side of the torus) shielded, and facing away from the plasma so that fusion products can enter along gyro-helices. (MOW)

For HTGR commercialization studies, an LWR/HTGR Technology Transfer program was devised. Candidate programs were identified out of a total of 208 EPRI NPD (Nuclear Power Division) projects. Of these, 26 project areas presented the highest probability for technology transfer. (DLC)

The stress analysis performed on the 1''-SSS-3-E piping system inside containment penetration S-11C is described. Deadweight, thermal expansion, and seismic loads were considered. Results of this analysis show that the subject pipe system will meet ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section III, Class 2 Requirements provided that additional supports (S3 and S6) are installed as recommended.

Data are presented on the relative yields of ..pi../sup + -/, K/sup + -/, p and anti p with momenta between 60 and 370 GeV/c produced at forward angles by 400 GeV/c protons incident on a beryllium target.

The purpose of this document is to describe in both programmatic and technical terms the methodology that the US Department of Energy will use to commercialize a molten carbonate fuel cell power plant. Responsibility for the planning and management of the program resides in the molten carbonate fuel cell program office at the Argonne National Laboratory which reports to the Assistant Director for Fuel Cells in the Division of Fossil Fuel utilization of DOE/FE. The actual development of technology is carried out by selected contractors. The technology development phase of the program will culminate with the construction and operation of two demonstration power plants. The first power plant will be an industrial cogeneration plant which will be completed in 1987. The other power plant will be a baseload electric power plant to be completed in 1989.

In work for the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Lawrence Livermore Laboratory is developing an assessment procedure to evaluate the effectiveness of a potential nuclear facility licensee's material control (MC) system. The purpose of an MC system is to prevent the theft of special nuclear material such as plutonium and highly enriched uranium. The key in the assessment procedure is the generation and analysis of the adversary event sets by a directed graph and fault-tree methodology.

Double-shelled inertial confinement fusion targets in which the outer shell is exploded have been studied with LASNEX. To achieve high DT density, configurations have been found in which the inner shell is ablatively driven by the hot outer shell. Calculations indicate that greater than 100 times liquid DT density can be achieved with the Shiva laser while still retaining some of the symmetry and stability advantages of the single-shelled exploding pusher target. The relative merits of transferring energy to the inner shell by electron conduction and by hydrodynamic work will be discussed.

In accordance with the US--USSR Cooperative Program in MHD joint US--USSR tests were conducted in May 1978 at the U-02 facility of an MHD generator section consisting of U.S.-built electrode blocks and USSR-built insulating walls. The main purpose of the experiment was to conduct continuous 100-hour duration tests of materials and structures of electrode blocks; in particular, to study the behavior of ceramic electrodes and insulators in operating conditions of an MHD generator, the electro-physical and thermal characteristics of the working section as a whole and electrodes in particular, and to analyze the change in the phase composition and structure of materials during the test. The main thrust of the experiment was a study of electrode material behavior. Six varieties of electrodes based on doped lanthanum chromite were tested and investigated. The electrodes were made of fine grained, hot-pressed mass (the porosity of the ceramic was 2 to 3%). The interelectrode insulators were made of magnesial and magnesial-spinel ceramic also manufactured by the hot pressing method. Results are presented and discussed.

On-site (North Knobs, Wyoming) activities centered around geologic and hydrologic drilling and baseline environmental data acquisition. Design of an all-weather access road was completed and construction is pending. An accelerated burn schedule was planned and budget costs were revised to reflect this change. The Permit to Mine application has been finished and will be filed with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality early in October. Research on additional back-up sites continued. The Project Data Book (referred to in earlier documents as the Blue Book and the Test Design Criteria Handbook) format was refined and updated copies were issued. Offsite engineering activities included completion of the instrumentation system requirements and development of a preliminary layout of the site.

The objective of the study program was to determine the best method of charging 20,000 to 132,000 microfarads of capacitance to 22 kVdc in 14 to 15 sec. Component costs, sizes, weights, line current graphs, copies of calculations and manufacturer's data are included.

The status of negative ion based neutral beam systems is reviewed. Methods of generating the negative ions of the hydrogen isotopes and the handling and acceleration of these ions are considered. The status of plans for stripping the ions and for constructing beam systems are included.

The recent growth in the number of light trucks is a matter of considerable interest in that it may have far-reaching implications for gasoline consumption. This paper forecasts the number of light trucks in the years to 2025. The forecast is based on economic scenarios developed by SRI International. Except for the case of the most-dismal economic forecast, the number of light trucks is predicted to increase monotonically and to show the greatest rate of increase between 1973 and 1980.

Since the inception of the hypothesized transition phase, for the late stages of a postulated LMFBR accident, there has been a continual effort to characterize the anticipated conditions of such a hypothetical state. To date, several techniques and methods have been employed to analyze the potential for energetic criticality. As part of this effort, an arbitrary criterian of monotonical dispersiveness has been employed as the measure of diminished recriticality potential. The various attempts to demonstrate monotonic dispersiveness have included experimental demonstrations, theoretical approaches, and integrated analysis using both. As part of this treatment, flow regime maps have been devised as a convenient method for inferring the state of dispersiveness. They included bubbly, churn turbulent, foam and drop fluidized regimes. Of these, foam and drop fluidized regimes were considered the most dispersive. The main thrust of the analysis to date, including flow regime maps, relates primarily to the open pool configuration. However, the bottled configuration may be the pertinent geometry. To date, no reliable escape path has been demonstrated for the advanced stages of core disruption, although strong potential escape mechanisms have been identified and are currently being analyzed. The bottled pool is examined in this paper.

The Containment Systems Test Facility (CSTF) is a 20-meter high, 850m/sup 3/ model containment vessel in which various sodium fire aerosol air cleaning tests are studied for purposes of developing and proof testing air cleaning techniques. The first series of tests was designed to study the properties of sodium fire aerosols without any air cleaning and to provide a data base for model verification using large-scale experiments. To date, three such tests (two pool fire and one spray fire) have been completed and are being analyzed. These tests will be discussed, as will plans for the air cleaning tests to follow.

The original objective of this program was to determine the feasibility of high volume, low-cost production of high purity silane or solar cell grade silicon using a nonequilibrium plasma jet. The emphasis was changed near the end of the program to determine the feasibility of preparing photovoltaic amorphous silicon films directly using this method. The nonequilibrium plasma jet is produced by partially dissociating hydrogen to hydrogen atoms in a 50 to 100 Torr glow discharge and expanding the H/H/sub 2/ mixture through a nozzle. A high flux density of hydrogen atoms is thus produced at concentrations of about 3 mol % with about 30% energy utilization efficiency. The jet is mixed with a second reactant and the reaction proceeds at a temperature of 400 to 600/sup 0/K to produce products. Yields of SiH/sub 4/, SiHCl/sub 3/, or SiH/sub 2/Cl/sub 2/ from SiCl/sub 4/ and SiHCl/sub 3/ were too low to be economically attractive. However, both amorphous and polycrystalline silicon films which strongly adhered to Pyrex, Vycor, aluminum, or carbon were prepared with either SiCl/sub 4/ or SiHCl/sub 3/ reactants. Preliminary doping experiments with PH/sub 3/ did not alter the electrical resistivity of these films. Strongly adhering films with SiH/sub 4/ …