U and Pb isotopic data on samples (10 to 100 gram) 2 to 10 m away from the borders of the Oklo reactor zones indicate a primary age of 2.05 x 10/sup 9/ years for the Oklo deposit and a secondary age of 0.375 x 10/sup 9/ years. All samples show effects of Pb loss; the average loss is 50 percent. Both the U--Pb and Pb isotopic data are consistent with a model of a primary 2.05 x 10/sup 9/ year age of the deposit, continuous volume diffusion of Pb from uraninite, and either continuous or recent loss of this Pb. In this case the 0.375 x 10/sup 9/ year age is an artifact without time significance. Using an average value of D/a/sup 2/ 3.5 x 10/sup -11/ a/sup -1/ (Cowan, this conference) this model explains the apparent 1.8 x 10/sup 9/ year Pb age observed by other workers. From the /sup 208/Pb//sup 206/Pb data the average U/Th value calculated for the Oklo deposit is approximately 100.

Among DOE's goals for inertial confinement fusion is support of construction of a heavy ion facility for demonstration experiments on deuterium tritium (DT) pellets with ion beams of 25 to 100 kJ energy. Three accelerator laboratories (Argonne, Berkeley, and Brookhaven) are actively engaged in accelerator development toward this concept. Several accelerator systems which could meet the criteria for these demonstration experiments are analyzed and compared.

Separate abstracts were prepared for the ten summaries, dealing with various energy and nuclear topics. (DLC)

Ab initio calculations on a series of alcohol dimers including (CH/sub 3/OH)/sub 2/, (CH/sub 3/CH/sub 2/OH)/sub 2/, and (CF/sub 3/CH/sub 2/OH)/sub 2/ have been carried out to compare the effects of various substituents on the hydrogen bond energies and structures and to correlate the results with the wealth of new experimental data on them. Calculations were done with the minimal STO-3G basis set. The methanol and ethanol dimers both have nearly linear hydrogen bonds. The ethanol dimer is also similar in energy to the methanol dimer. Dimers involving both the g-staggered and t-staggered isomers of 2,2,2 trifluoroethanol were considered. The g-staggered isomer is more stable than the t-staggered isomer by 0.7 kcal/mole and has an intramolecular bond. The dimer of the t-staggered isomer was found to have a linear hydrogen bond as in the methanol and ethanol dimers with a similar hydrogen bond energy. In contrast, the dimer of the g-staggered isomer has a cyclic structure which is more stable by about 0.5 kcal/mole. The results are consistent with experimental measurements of the gas phase enthalpies of association of alcohols.

Electronic properties have an important role in the metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene (BP) and the mutagenic action of its metabolites. In this paper, the ground electronic state of BP is characterized by the ab initio molecular fragment floating spherical Gaussian orbital method, and a speculative structural-electronic mechanism is presented for the oxidation of PAHs to epoxides by cytochrome P-450.

This paper outlines the AC distribution system associated with the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor and discusses the significant areas related to design, protection, and equipment selection, particularly where there is a departure from normal utility and industrial applications.

Accelerated aging can be useful in estimating the lifetime of a component of interest. If under ambient conditions a single environmental variable is the predominant cause of the aging process, accelerated aging is often accomplished by raising the level of this variable above its ambient value. The relationship between the mean time to failure and the value of the accelerated environmental variable is extrapolated to ambient conditions in order to establish the ambient lifetime of the component. Often, however, the ambient deterioration of a component is due to a combination of two or more environmental stresses. Synergism is sometimes important in such cases so that the deteriorating effects of the various environments are not additive. Because of possible complications caused by synergistic effects, no general method currently exists for carrying out accelerated aging in combined environments. The present paper proposes a general phenomenological model potentially applicable to combined environmental situations. The model is applied to literature data on the thermoradiation sterilization of Bacillus subtilis var niger for which significant synergistic effects were found for combined thermal and radiation environments. The proposed model does an excellent job in predicting the experimental data.

The National Cancer Institute is supporting a program of accelerator development at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory aimed at the extension of proton linac technologies to produce the most suitable Pion Generator for Medical Irradiations (PIGMI). An optimized design of a pion generator suitable for a radiotherapy program at a major medical center has been established, consisting of a 250-keV injector, followed by a 35-meter-long drift-tube linac that accelerates the proton beam to 150 MeV, and an 85-meter-long coupled-cavity linac that accelerates the beam to its final energy of 650 MeV, where the average beam current of 100 microamperes impinges on one or more targets producing abundant quantities of ..pi../sup -/ mesons for radiotherapeutic applications. A number of extensions to proton linac technology are being pursued under the PIGMI program at LASL. A discussion is given of recent developments in three areas relevant to the acceleration and focusing of proton beams, namely, the alternating phase focused (APF) linac structure, the disk and washer linac structure, and small permanent magnet quadrupole lenses. The APF linac structure is being developed for the acceleration and focusing role from the injection energy of 250 keV to a few MeV, where a transition is made …

A review is given of the theory of polarized beams in circular accelerators or storage rings, and the effects of depolarizing resonances, both steady state and passage through resonance, are discussed. The resonance width is evaluated, and the possibilities of accelerating polarized particles is considered. (PMA)

One of the objectives of the BNL Neutral Beam Development Group is to accelerate negative hydrogen ion beams to energies of several hundreds of kilovolts. In a first attempt, negative ions, produced from surface plasma sources, are extracted at around 15 keV and accelerated across a single gap to energies of 120 keV. Beam currents in excess of one ampere have been accelerated.

The rising costs of /sup 235/U and other fossil fuels, and the schedule for implementing the breeder reactor have renewed interest in the utilization of accelerators for breeding /sup 233/U or /sup 239/Pu. A discussion is given of some of the basic accelerator parameters and choices to be made in order to meet the technical and economic requirements of such a facility.

For studies of interactive surface effects caused by the simultaneous bombardment of targets by both chemically active and inactive ion species (e.g., D/sup +/ and He/sup +/, respectively) a two beam component accelerator facility was placed in operation. One component, consisting of light ions (e.g., H, D, He) is accelerated by a 2-MV Van de Graaff accelerator which provides a mass analyzed and focussed beam for the energy range from approximately 100-keV to 2-MeV (for singly charged ions). The other component is a beam of light ions in the energy range from approximately 10-keV to 100-keV. This is furnished by a 100-kV dc accelerator system which provides a mass analyzed focussed beam. This beam is guided into the beam line of the Van de Graaff accelerator electrostatically, and with the aid of beam steerers it is made to be co-axial with the Van de Graaff generated beam. The angle of incidence becomes hereby a free parameter for the interaction of the mixed beams with a surface. For each beam component, current densities of 650 ..mu..A cm/sup -2/ on target can readily be obtained. In order to reduce carbon contamination of the irradiated targets significantly, stainless steel beam lines have been …

This article presents the similarities in the technology required for high energy accelerators and tokamak fusion devices. The tokamak devices and R and D programs described in the text represent only a fraction of the total fusion program. The technological barriers to producing successful, economical tokamak fusion power plants are as many as the plasma physics problems to be overcome. With the present emphasis on energy problems in this country and elsewhere, it is very likely that fusion technology related R and D programs will vigorously continue; and since high energy accelerator technology has so much in common with fusion technology, more scientists from the accelerator community are likely to be attracted to fusion problems.

Preliminary results on the production of acetic acid from marine algae by anaerobic fermentation indicate that the rate is quite fast. First order rate constants of 0.77 day/sup -1/ were observed. This rate constant gives a half-life of less than one day. In other words, with a properly designed product removal system a five day retention time would yield 98% of theoretical conversion. Determination of the theoretical conversion of marine algae to acetic acid is the subject of much experimentation. The production of one acetic acid molecule (or equivalent in higher organic acids) for each three carbon atoms in the substrate has been achieved; but it is possible that with a mixed culture more than one acetic acid molecule may be produced for each three carbons in the substrate. Work is continuing to improve the yield of acetic acid from marine algae. Marine algae have been found to be rather low in carbon, but the carbon appears to be readily available for fermentation. It, therefore, lends itself to the production of higher value chemicals in relatively expensive equipment, where the rapid conversion rate is particularly cost effective. Fixed packed bed fermenters appear to be desirable for the production of liquid …

The following topics are discussed: update of study plan; collection and review of information on acid mine drainage treatment systems; collection and review of information on the Monongahela River basin; identification of active and inactive mine drainages into the Monongahela River; and evaluation of the format of the data to facilitate ease of using the data.

Thermal-shock damage of nuclear reactor fuel pellets in a simulated reactor environment has been correlated with acoustic-emission data obtained from sensors placed on extensions of the electrical feedthroughs. Ringdown counts, rms output data, and event-location data has been acquired for experiments carried out with single pellets as well as multiple pellet stacks. These tests have shown that acoustic-emission monitoring can provide information indicating the onset and the extent of cracking.

When a metal or alloy forms a hydride, the phase change is usually accompanied by the release of acoustic energy. The density changes that accompany hydride formation may also produce cracking and flaking. The acoustic emission accompanying these processes has been used to follow hydriding reactions and the technique has proven to be sensitive in the detection of boundaries on phase diagrams. Acoustic emission has been used to survey the hydriding properties of a number of alloys and metals (FeTi, LaNi/sub 5/, UAl/sub 2/, and Nb). This technique has proven useful as a method for monitoring particle breakup and for identifying laboratory procedures necessary to activate the hydride.

A gas analyzer was developed to determine the mole fraction of UF/sub 6/ in N/sub 2/. It can be generally applied to any two component gas mixures, but it exhibits high resolution for gases with large differences in molecular weight. The theory of operation, design and performance of this analyzer for two component gas samples of UF/sub 6/ and N/sub 2/ is illustrated.

Acoustic data of boiling stability tests on the THORS (Thermal-Hydraulic Out-of-Reactor Safety) facility were obtained using three sodium-immersible high temperature microphones. The data was analyzed in both the time and frequency domains and provides the following information: (1) the acoustic signal due to sodium boiling was clearly observed; (2) the signal level and the repetition rate of boiling pulses are directly proportional to the applied heat flux; (3) a typical boiling pulse consists of a high frequency signal due mainly to the bubble collapses and a low frequency void oscillation; (4) the frequency spectra of the boiling and background pulses can be mostly assigned to various acoustic resonance frequencies of the THORS loop.

The operation of the Argonne 4-MeV accelerator for the reporting period from September 1, 1976 through August 31, 1977 is described. Some improvements and modifications of the accelerator and associated equipment are reported. Activities on the three research projects and a subsequent modification are summarized. An outline of work to be done in the future is given.

The objective of this program has been to develop faster, more accurate methods for the concentration and determination of actinides at their maximum permissible concentration (MPC) levels in a controlled zone. These analyses are needed to characterize various forms of Hanford high rad waste and to support characterization of products and effluents from new waste management processes. The most acceptable methods developed for the determination of /sup 239/Pu, /sup 238/Pu, /sup 237/Np, /sup 241/Am, and /sup 243/Cm employ solvent extraction with the addition of tracer isotopes. Plutonium and neptunium are extracted from acidified waste solutions into Aliquat-336. Americium and curium are then extracted from the waste solution at the same acidity into dihexyl-N,N-diethylcarbamylmethylenephosphonate (DHDECMP). After back extraction into an aqueous matrix, these actinides are electrodeposited on steel disks for alpha energy analysis. Total uranium and total thorium are also isolated by solvent extraction and determined spectrophotometrically.

Experimental work on the 16 tasks comprising the Actinide Partitioning and Transmutation Program was initiated at the various sites. This work included the development of conceptual material balance flowsheets which define integrated waste systems supporting an LWR fuel reprocessing plant and a mixed (U-Pu) oxide fuel refabrication plant. In addition, waste subsystems were defined for experimental evaluation. Computer analysis of partitioning-transmutation, utilizing an LMFBR for transmutation, was completed for both constant and variable waste actinide generation rates.

An overview of both active and passive solar heating approaches for buildings is presented. Passive solar heating concepts--in which the thermal energy flow is by natural means--are described according to five classifications: direct gain, thermal storage wall, solar greenhouses, roof ponds, and convective loops. Results of simulation analyses are presented for a variety of climates. Active systems utilizing both liquid-heating collectors and air-heating collectors are described. Trends in the recent development of solar heating are discussed.

The Shielding Subcommittee of the Cross Section Evaluation Working Group (CSEWG) was established in 1967 to help ensure that the content of the ENDF/B cross section library was adequate for treating shielding problems. Early work of the subcommittee concentrated on devising formats for gamma-ray interaction and production data, as well as providing programs for testing the clerical and physics consistency of the files. The Radiation Shielding Information Center (RSIC) collaborated directly with evaluators on behalf of the National Neutron Cross Section Center (NNCSC) to begin testing and adding data sets to be fed into the official ENDF/B libraries. These efforts, which were sponsored by AEC-DRDT (now ERDA-DRDD), were augmented greatly through the Defense Nuclear Agency program of establishing a working cross section library in ENDF format. The effort concentrated on evaluation and testing of materials of interest to DNA programs and providing these for inclusion in the ENDF/B library. Shielding data testing efforts, as a part of the CSEWG Data Testing Program, are now also an integral part of the Shielding Subcommittee effort. Procedures for writing and approving the shielding benchmarks were devised by Shielding Subcommittee members. Data testing benchmark experiments have been documented and analyzed, and the most recent …