Most of the procedures and techniques described were developed over the past three years. Starting in late 1976, development began on high-accuracy computer codes for electromagnetic field and force analysis. This effort resulted in completion of a family of computer programs called MAGIC (MAGnetic Integration Calcaultion). Included in this group of programs is a post-processor called POSTMAGIC that links MAGIC to GDSAP (General Dynamics Structural Analysis Program) by automatically transferring force data. Integrating these computer programs afforded us the capability to readily analyze several different conditions that are anticipated to occur during tokamak operation. During 1977 we initiated the development of the CONVERT program that effectively links our THERMAL ANALYZER program to GDSAP by automatically transferring temperature data. The CONVERT program allowed us the capability to readily predict thermal stresses at several different time phases during the computer-simulated cooldown and warmup cycle. This feature aided us in determining the most crucial time phases and to adjust recommended operating procedure to minimize risk.

Soil accumulation has been the most significant factor in the degradation of the output of photovoltaic modules used in experimental solar power generating systems. One method of measuring dirt accumulation and the subsequent power loss is to return photovoltaic modules to the laboratory for thorough examination. The use of a Glossmeter as a practical alternative to laboratory examination in making quantitative measurements of dirt accumulation on PV modules is described. Of particular value for in-situ measurements, this instrument has been used successfully to monitor dirt build-up on the front surfaces of several types of modules before and after cleaning. Surface gloss has been correlated with peak power and short-circuit current. It has also been used as an indication of the extent of dirt accumulation and the effectiveness of a cleaning process. Data obtained from Glossmeter readings taken on photovoltaic modules with over a year's exposure at photovoltaic field test sites in Nebraska; New York City; and MIT, Cambridge, are presented.

The natures of compressional (P) waves that originate in the crust, propagate in the crust and upper mantle, and are observed as Pg, Pn, and anti P waves at regional distances are examined. The discussion includes the observed variations of amplitude with epicentral distance for these waves as well as an estimate of values for the specific dissipation function Q/sub ..cap alpha../ in different regions. Studies were made on theoretical source and propagation functions for direct, reflected, and head waves as approximations for the observed Pg, anti P, and Pn, respectively. It was concluded that the classical (critically refracted) head wave is not very significant in regional observations, and that the related interference head wave and diving wave are more likely observed as Pn. Using an assumed seismic noise spectrum and the constant Q/sub ..cap alpha../ model for seismic attenuation, relations were derived for the frequencies corresponding to maximum signal-to-noise ratio for the classical and interference head waves and for the direct, reflected, and diving waves. The relations among seismic frequency, epicentral distance, anelastic attenuation, and explosion yield are illustrated for a simple source and propagation model.

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This article describes a MACSYMA program to compute symbolically a canonical linear transformation between coordinate systems. The difficulties in implementation of this canonical small physics problem are also discussed, along with the implications that may be drawn from such difficulties about widespread MACSYMA usage by the community of computational/theoretical physicists.

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The objective of this program is to design, construct, and test a 1 m diameter solenoid using multifilamentary Nb/sub 3/Sn internally cooled superconductors. Brief discussions on each objective are given. (MOW)

A strategy of actinide burnup in fast reactor systems has been investigated as an approach for reducing the long term hazards and storage requirements of the actinide waste elements and their decay daughters. The actinide recycle studies also included plutonium burnup studies in the event that plutonium is no longer required as a fuel. Particular emphasis was placed upon the timing of the recycle program, the requirements for separability of the waste materials, and the impact of the actinides on the reactor operations and performance. It is concluded that actinide recycle and plutonium burnout are attractive alternative waste management concepts. 25 refs., 14 figs., 34 tabs.

A microcomputer-based x-ray image analysis system to select and measure laser fusion targets is described. This system positions a photographic plate in x and y, focuses a microscope image, digitizes and extracts measurements within seconds.

Environmental problems consist of the release of noncondensable gases and vapors, disposal of saline fluids, possible land subsidence and enhanced seismicity, noise, accidents such as well blowouts, and socioeconomic impacts. The most important issue related to human health is believed to be the emission of noncondensable gases, including hydrogen sulfide, mercury, and radon. Based upon data at The Geysers, California, Power Plant, emissions of mercury and radon are not large enough to result in concerns for human health. Hydrogen sulfide emissions, however, have resulted in complaints of odor annoyance and health impairment. These complaints have been caused by exposure to levels of up to approximately 0.1 ppmv in ambient air. This is above the California standard of 0.03 ppmv. Achievement of this standard may not eliminate annoyance complaints, as the odor detection threshold is lognormally distributed and about 20% of the population can detect hydrogen sulfide at levels of 0.002 ppmv. Abatement systems for hydrogen sulfide have been utilized at The Geysers since 1975. This has resulted in an increase of occupational illness caused by exposure to the abatement chemicals and wastes. More effective, and hopefully safer, abatement systems are now being tested. Occupational hazards are evaluated; the more significant …

This paper summarizes results obtained from and work in progress on those experiments which have contributed significantly toward the confinement in single-cell magnetic mirror systems of plasmas close to thermonuclear conditions. Because the mirror confinement of such high-energy, high-density plasmas has been studied most extensively in the 2XIIB experiment, discussion of 2XIIB results forms a major portion of this paper. In these experiments, injection of low-energy plasma has been shown to suppress microinstabilities to sufficiently low levels that high-beta (..beta.. approx. = 1) plasmas could be achieved and sustained by cross-field injection of beams of neutral particles. Plasma confinement was found to improve with ion energy, electron temperature, and plasma size. Based on these results, a larger Mirror Fusion Test Facility (MFTF) was designed to pursue confinement scaling to higher energies and larger plasma dimensions. MFTF design parameters and construction status are briefly reviewed.

Long-term behavior of filament-wound pressure vessels were tested, Kevlar 49 epoxy strands were studied in stress-rupture for more than a year. Because the strands are the smallest structural unit in filament winding, their behavior directly controls the performance of vessels. Five different stress levels were studied: 86, 80, 74, 68, and 50% of the mean ultimate tensile strength (UTS). At each stress level, approximately one-hundred strands were hung in a room maintained at 22 to 24/sup 0/C and below 20% relative humidity. Failure times were automatically recorded by a data acquisition system. Lifetimes were analyzed statistically using a two-parameter Weibull distribution. The maximum-likelihood method was used to estimate the parameters. The shape parameter, which is a measure of scatter and failure-rate change, increased with decreasing stress level. Less scatter and increasing failure rates were observed at lower stresses. There was no sign of an endurance limit down to 68% UTS. At 50% UTS no failure had yet occurred after 9000 h. The strand data were compared with data on lifetimes of pressure vessels wound with the same fiber and epoxy. The strands had slightly longer characteristic lifetimes, except at 86% UTS, and slightly less scatter, except at 68% UTS. The …

This paper is largely devoted to tandem mirror and field-reversed mirror experiments at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory (LLL), and briefly summarizes results of experiments in which field-reversal has been achieved. In the tandem experiment, high-energy, high-density plasmas (nearly identical to 2XIIB plasmas) are located at each end of a solenoid where plasma ions are electrostatically confined by the high positive poentials arising in the end plug plasma. End plug ions are magnetically confined, and electrons are electrostatically confined by the overall positive potential of the system. The field-reversed mirror reactor consists of several small field-reversed mirror plasmas linked together for economic reasons. In the LLL Beta II experiment, generation of a field-reversed plasma ring will be investigated using a high-energy plasma gun with a transverse radial magnetic field. This plasma will be further heated and sustained by injection of intense, high-energy neutral beams.

The hazard potential of cooling water leakage into the crucible of molten uranium in the MARS laser isotope separation experiment was investigated. A vapor-phase explosion is highly unlikely in any of the scenarios defined for MARS. For the operating basis accident, the gas pressure transient experienced by the vessel wall is 544 psia peak with a duration of 200 ..mu..s, and the peak hoop stress is about 20,000 psi in a 0.5-in. wall. Design and procedural recommendations are given for reducing the hazard. (DLC)

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Three preprints are presented. The first, entitled ''Glow Discharge Optical Spectroscopy Measurement of Dopant Concentrations in a-Si:H,'' reports significant differences between the ratio of boron to silicon of the films and that of their deposition plasmas. The second, entitled ''Growth Morphology and Defects in Plasma-Deposited a-Si:H Films,'' presents structural studies that show that a major class of defect is an anisotropic density fluctuation. Studies of the hydrogen environment suggest that an inhomogeneous hydrogen distribution is associated with these fluctuations. From considerations of the deposition chemistry and nucleation theory, a model is proposed to describe the film growth process and its relationship to defects. The third, entitled ''Luminescence and ESR Studies of Defects in Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon,'' demonstrates that the two experiments involve identical recombination transitions, and identify two separate processes. One process involves defect states, and from the doping dependence of light induced ESR, it is deduced that the electronically active defects are dangling bonds with positive electronic correlation energy. (LEW)

We have developed processes for mass producing the quality glass microspheres required for current laser fusion experiments. We describe the advances in the methods and materials used in our liquid droplet and dried gel systems.

The High Field Test Facility (HFTF) to be built at Lawrence Livermore Laboratories (LLL) consists of a magnet which will be wound with Nb/sub 3/Sn superconductor. Embossed and electroplated copper strip will be soldered to the two broad sides of a rectangular Nb/sub 3/Sn superconductor 5.4 mm x 11.0 mm x approximately 100 m long. It is the purpose of this project to upgrade existing facilities to emboss the copper stabilizer strip, electroplate the strip with 50 Pb-50 Sn solder, and to solder two such strips to the superconductor. This program has been approached in seven separate tasks which are described in this report.

In comparing the results of extrusions of Nb, it was found that the non-uniformity of the Nb extruded at Teledyne Wah Chang Albany (TWCA) is more severe than the other. This correlates with results of the mechanical properties of Nb. Both specimens were given identical extrusion, cold work, and heat treatments. (FS)

Laser-driven shockwave experiments have been proposed for accurate determination of equation of state data in the multimegabar pressure range. This paper gives a quantitative analysis of the prospects for such experiments. In order to unambiguously interpret shockwave data, one requires a clean shock -- that is, a planar, steady shock wave entering cold material (without significant preheat perturbation). The problems of attaining sufficiently clean shocks at high pressure are examined and scaling relations which relate the pressure achieved to laser intensity, pulse energy, etc, are developed. It is shown that significantly higher pressures can be achieved when structured (layered) targets are used.

Activities performed in the Near Term Hybrid Vehicle (NTHV) program which studied the technical, economic, and fuel conservation aspects of replacing new 1985 full sized passenger cars in the US with automobiles having combination heat engines and electric motor power are summarized. These studies included NTHV design for the body power units, transmission system, and controls; evaluation of alternative strategies; the fuel conservation expected; goals for vehicle performance, safety and reliability; economic analysis, and mathematical models for use in the computer-aided design of the optimum performance NTHV. (LCL)

A Mach-Zehnder interference microscope was automated which quickly characterizes and sorts transparent microspheres. It takes only 12 seconds to measure a 3 micron thick glass microsphere.

An environmental test chamber providing acceleration of uv radiation and precise temperature control (+- 1/sup 0/C) has been designed, constructed and tested. This chamber allows acceleration of solar ultraviolet up to 30 suns while maintaining temperature of the absorbing surface at 30/sup 0/C to 60/sup 0/C). This test chamber utilizes a filtered medium pressure mercury arc as the source of radiation, and a combination of selenium radiometer and silicon radiometer to monitor solar ultraviolet (295 to 340 nm) and total radiant power output, respectively. Details of design and construction and operational procedures are presented along with typical test data. The test chamber was designed for accelerated testing of solar cell modules.

Complete results, from raw data to interpretation to recommendations, of a program to investigate the use of multiblade slurry sawing to produce silicon wafers from ingots are presented. During the course of this program, the commercially available state of the art process was improved by 20% in terms of area of silicon wafers produced from an ingot. The process was improved 34% on an experimental basis. Production of 20 wafers per centimeter length of 100 mm diameter ingot is now possible on a production basis. Economic analyses presented show that further improvements are necessary to approach the desired wafer costs, mostly reduction in expendable materials costs. Tests which indicate that such reduction is possble are included, although demonstration of such reduction was not completed. A new, large capacity saw was designed and tested. Performance comparable with current equipment (in terms of number of wafers/cm) was demonstrated. Improved performance was partially demonstrated, but problems (both mechanical and of unknown origin) precluded full demonstration of improved performance.