This paper presents a new formulation of a class of nonlinear optimal control problems in which the system's signals are noisy and some system parameters are changing arbitrarily with time. The methodology is validated with an application to a nonlinear nuclear reactor model. A variational technique based on Pontryagin's Maximum Principle is used to filter the noisy signals, estimate the time-varying parameters, and calculate the optimal controls. The reformulation of the variational technique as an initial value problem allows this microprocessor-based algorithm to perform on-line filtering, parameter tracking, and control.

This paper presents the results of an impact study using the computer program SCANS (Shipping Cask ANalysis System), which was developed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) for the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Department of Energy (DOE) for structural analysis of transportation packages of radioactive materials. The program operates on IBM PC and compatible microcomputers. It has capabilities for other analysis such as heat transfer, pressure and thermal stress analysis. However, this study uses only the impact analysis capability, which includes a quasi-static and a dynamic analysis option. It is shown that the program produces reasonable results for a wide range of impact conditions. The results are in agreement with existing information on impact analysis and phenomenon. In view of its simplicity in modelling and convenience in usage, the SCANS program can be effectively used for confirmatory analysis, preliminary design study, and quick assessment of the need for detailed impact analysis. 2 refs., 7 figs., 2 tabs.

A first order phase transition between the quark-gluon plasma and the hadron gas can have important consequences for cosmology. These consequences result from the generation of isothermal baryon number density fluctuations as the universe passes through the phase transition. Calculations based upon simple models for the statistical mechanics of the two phases indicate that these fluctuations have large amplitude. The fluctuations persist after completion of the phase transition, being slowly damped by diffusion of baryon number. Upon decoupling of neutrons and protons at temperature T /approximately/ 1 MeV, the neutrons begin to diffuse rapidly out of the dense regions and substantial segregation of the neutrons and protons results. Light element nucleosynthesis then occurs at T /approximately/ 0.1 MeV. It is possible to reconcile the observed abundances of the light elements with model universes in which all of the matter is composed of baryons, the cosmological constant is zero, and the geometry is flat. 12 refs., 2 figs.

In this paper we discuss the striking evidence for the g/sub T/(2010), g/sub T//prime/(2300) and g/sub T//prime//prime/(2340) I/sup G/J/sup PC/ = O/sup +/2/sup ++/ resonances which comprise virtually all of the /pi//sup /minus//p /yields/ /phi//phi/n. The complete breakdown of the expected OZI suppression, and the striking differences of these states from conventional states and background in other channels have so far only been successfully explained by assuming they are produced by 1-3 2/sup ++/ glueballs. The comparison with J//psi/ radiative decay results is made. The forthcoming search for an exotic J/sup PC/ glueball is discussed. 7 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.