Abstract: An application of the magnetic mirror principle to the acceleration of a plasma is described. It is shown that an axially symmetric magnetic field which increases with time but decreases with distance along the axis can impart a net translational energy to a plasma. This effect on a plasma is contrasted with that arising from an impressed electric field, which is not effective in producing acceleration.

From abstract: "The dissociation of acids in tertiary butyl alcohol has been studied by potentiometric, spectrophotometric, and conductimetric methods. Values for the over-all dissociation of perchloric and picric acids and several tetrabutylammonium salts were estimated by the Fuoss-Kraus treatment of conductance data. Potentiometric studies were carried out at constant ionic strength in order to minimize activity coefficient variations. An acidity scale was established from potentiometric measurements at a glass electrode, and conductance values of dissociation constants. A method was developed for the evaluation of the over-all dissociation constant of weak acids using potentiometric data for hydrogen ion activities and conductance data for the corresponding anion activities. Over-all dissociation constants are reported for perchloric acid, picric acid, 2,4-dinitrophenol, and benzoic acid. Apparent dissociation constants from potentiometric measurements at a constant ionic strength were determined for hydrobromic, nitric, hydrochloric, picric, and p-toluenesulfonic acids."

This quarterly progress report details the ongoing research and experiments at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory as part of the Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion Project. The first part of this report discusses reactor theory and design. The second part of this report is not included. The third part of this report discusses materials research. The fourth part of this report includes appendixes

Investigation of aqueous and steam corrosion at elevated temperature has been carried on at Hanford for several tears. A number of reports have been published on various phases of the corrosion program but, except for monthly reports, little has been written on the progress of the Corrosion and Coatings Operation alloy development program. This interim report will outline the more important current phases of the aluminum alloy program.

This report is an amendment to the Preliminary Hazards Summary Report (1) and the Operating Procedures and Emergency Plans (5) for the Dresden Nuclear Power Station, submitted to the United States Atomic Energy Commission on September 3, 1957, and June 5, 1958, respectively.

The development of ionic methods for the determination of corrosion products in the highly radioactive Homogeneous Reactor (HR) fuels has been of major interest in the work of the Ionic Analyses Laboratory. Methods for the spectrophotometric determination of aluminum and for the polarographic determination of iron in HR fuels have been developed. The polarographic determination of molybdenum in uranyl sulfate solutions was studied. A polarographic method for the determination of zinc was developed. A fluorometric method for the determination of microgram amounts of fluoride was studied. Three organic reagents were investigated as precipitants for microgram quantities of zirconium in HR fuel. The automatic photometric titration technique was applied to the determination of thorium and of sulfate. A method was developed for the ionexchange separation and potentiometric titration of cobalt. The ultraviolet absorption spectra of technetium and rhenium were studied.

Introduction. High voltage silicon mass transistors have the ability to perform circuit functions similar to the gas thyratron tube. Upon being triggered the transistor junction breaks down, or "avalanches", and can conduct a large current for a short time. The rise time of the avalanche breakdown pulse can be short, and the delay between triggering and avalanching can be short and very consistent. This avalanche action is non-destructive if the amount of peak and average power being dissipated at the junction is limited by the circuitry.

From page 2: "This article first describes the Bevatron [particle accelerator] and its operation, and then discusses a portion of the research program. The principles of the machine and its early history were given in "The Bevatron," by Lloyd Smith, Scientific American, February 1951."

Abstract: A definitive investigation of the boron-carbon equilibrium system is being made by X-ray diffraction, metallographic, and thermal analytical techniques. On the basis of metallographic and X-ray diffraction studies it is concluded that boron carbide has a range of solubility from approximately 10 to 20 atomic per cent carbon at 1500 degrees to 2000 degrees Celsius. The melting point of the carbide-graphite eutectic has been established as 2325-2350 degrees Celsius. No reversible allotropy of the beta-rhombohedral structure has been observed. The solubility of carbon in boron is very small. The melting point of dilute carbon alloys is found to be essentially the same as that of pure boron (2040 degrees to 2050 degrees). No metallographic evidence of a three-phase reaction of dilute alloys is observed.

This study was started in May 1949 to find methods of reducing the number of element failures in the salt bath bronze furnaces. Determining the cause of the failure and methods of eliminating them is followed to completion.

From introduction: "It is the purpose of this report to give two further methods of determining end point of pontentiometric titration, neither of which require the plotting of a graph."

New reactors presently in design or construction stages, as well as revised operating procedures for existing reactors, have shown an increasing emphasis on extending the exposure time of the reactor fuel elements. However, operating experience at Hanford, as at other installations, has demonstrated that as the amount of burn-up in uranium metal is increased an increase is also noted in operational difficulties resulting from the dimensional behavior of the fuel. During reactor irradiation uranium slugs or rods have been observed to change in length and diameter, to warp, and to develop surface roughening.

The following report analyzes different values and measurements that give the same results for the captured cross section of thermal neutrons for Si.

From abstract: "The divalent metal ions of calcium, magnesium, nickel, and strontium are eluted from a cation exchange column with 1.5M nitric acid and separated from trivalent rare earths, aluminum and yttrium. Prior sequential elution of other metal ions with hydrochloric acid in acetone-water or with dilute hydrofluoric acid does not interfere with the present separation method."

This technical report is divided into two sections addressing two different chemical effects of nuclear transformations. The first section discusses the beta decay of lanthanum to cerium. The second section discusses the beta decay of selenium to bromine.

From statement of objectives: The purposes of the work described in this report are to provide data useful for designing and operating the dissolver solution clarification equipment to be installed in the Redox production plant.

The Biology Operation, Hanford Laboratories, required plutonium dioxide particles in five different micron and sub-micron size ranges. These were to be supplied as a water suspension in small containers. It was necessary to design equipment, suitable for hood operation, which would give a satisfactory separation of these particles.

General considerations involving the transportation of irradiated fuel and radioactive wastes are reviewed. It is assumed that many reactors will supply feed to a few large multipurpose chemical plants which ultimately send radioactive waste to a few disposal sites. General economic considerations of irradiated fuel reprocessing, economic aspects of the nuclear economy complex, growth predictions of the nuclear power economy in the U.S., general requirements for the shipment of fuel and waste, regulations applicable to fuel shipment, and permissible radiation levels are discussed.

From introduction: This report summarizes a study of the composution and physical properties of a number of hydrocarbon diluents together with some generalizations regarding relations between [vapor pressure, density and viscosity] properties.

The description of the thick-target neutron yields from the D(t,n)He4 and the D(d,n)He3 reactions is calculated as a function of the energy of the bombarding particles. For 60-kev particles the ratio is 108. I increases to 168 at 100 Kev and to 194 for 120-kev particles. A qualitative discussion of the yields from various deuterium target leads to the conclusion that the greatest yield would come from the target which has the lowest stopping cross section per deuterium atom.

Report detailing values of x-ray lives and limits for trans-uranic elements. Formulas and methods are detailed throughout the report.

Instrumentation shall be provided as shown on the attached drawing, SK-1-26835 for Confinement System Control. The Primary objective of the confinement system shall be to provide maximum possible confinement of contamination, consistent with building limitations, in the event of any contamination, consistent with building limitations, in the event of any credible reactor accident resulting from equipment failure or reactor mis operation.

Consider an orthogonal series [formula] where [formula] is an arbitrary orthonormal system for the interval (a, b) and [formula] is a sequence of real numbers. This report is a collection of theorems which give sufficient conditions for the convergence almost everywhere in (a, b) and summability a. e. in (a, b) of the above series.

Large savings in waste storage space may be realized by lowering the pH at which TBP waste is stored. Additional savings in neutralizing chemicals and operating time would also increase the monetary gain from such a process change. However, before such a change could be made, the corrosive effect of TBP waste at a lower pH on the mild steel waste storage tanks had to be determined.