The Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory has an unirradiated enriched uranium reprocessing facility. Various types of solutions are generated in this facility, including distillates and raffinates containing ppm of uranium and concentrated solutions with up to 400 grams U/t. In addition to uranyl nitrate and HNO{sub 3}, the solutions may also contain zirconium, niobium, fluoride, and small amounts of many metals. A uranium solution assay system (USAS) has been installed to allow accurate and more timely process control, accountability, and criticality data to be obtained. The USAS assays are made by a variety of techniques that depend upon state-of-the-art high-resolution Ge(Li) gamma-ray spectroscopy integrated with an interactive, user-oriented computer software package. Tight control of the system`s performance is maintained by constantly monitoring the USAS status. Daily measurement control sequences are required, and the user is forced by the software to perform these sequences. Routine assays require 400 or 1000 seconds for a precision of 0.5% over the concentration range of 5--400 g/t. A comparison of the USAS precision and accuracy with that obtained by traditional destructive analytical chemistry techniques (colorimetric and volumetric) is presented.

Significant differences exist between the angular fluctuations experienced at a fixed point, averaged over a disk of rotation, and those felt by a blade element rotating about a horizontal axis. The static and dynamic descriptions of these fluctuations are an important aspect in design considerations and in the development of tracking strategies. Several methods of description and interpretation have been presented here, but further development is clearly required for a comprehensive picture of wind direction fluctuations.

A three-dimensional (3D) volume integral equation was adapted to magnetotelluric (MT) modeling. Incorporating an integro-difference scheme increases the accuracy somewhat. Utilizing the two symmetry planes of a buried prismatic body and a normally incident plane wave source greatly reduces the required computation time and storage. Convergence checks and comparisons with one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) models indicate that the results are valid. Theoretical surface anomalies due to a 3D prismatic conductive body buried in a half-space earth are shown. Impedance tensor and magnetic transfer functions were obtained by imposing two different source polarizations. Manipulation of the impedance tensor and magnetic transfer functions yields the following MT quantities: apparent resistivity and phase, impedance polar diagrams, tipper direction and magnitude, principal directions, skew and ellipticity. With the preliminary analyses of these MT quantities, it was found that three-dimensionality is usually revealed by all of them. Two pairs of complementary parameters were recognized; apparent resistivity and phase, and skew and ellipticity. Because of surface charges at conductivity boundaries, low-frequency 3D responses are much different from 1D and 2D responses. Thus, in many cases, 3D models are required for interpreting MT data.

The site-selection strategy presented here and in the LWH is conservative, partially because utilities are conservative. They should be. The large-scale generation of electricity by wind turbine generators is an unproven technology. It is assumed that wind characteristics at a site will have to be thoroughly documented. This is because the nature of the wind at the site not only governs the energy output of the WECS farm, but also affects the service life of the wind equipment and both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance costs. Perhaps as experience is gained, the site-selection process can be simplified. Certain steps may be found unnecessary, or requirements on the quantity and quality of wind data collected at each step may be relaxed; however, at this stage of wind energy development, a conservative approach seems prudent.

Techniques using meteorological and topographical indicators of wind energy, developed by PNL and applied to the Northwest wind resource assessment, improved the reliability of the analysis of the geographical distribution of wind energy. The identification and application of these indicators led to an improved understanding of the conditions associated with high and low wind energy. Furthermore, these indicators are especially useful in complex terrain and wind-data-sparse areas for obtaining a somewhat realistic estimate of the wind energy resource.

International collaborative efforts in magnetic confinement fusion in which the USA is involved are reviewed. These efforts are carried under the auspices of international agencies and through bilateral agreements.

Convective losses arising from buoyancy driven flow were calculated for a two-dimensional model simulating a solar cavity receiver. The TEMPEST code, capable of fully three-dimensional coupled thermal-hydraulic transient calculations, was used for the simulation. Predicted velocity and temperature results for a 2.59 m deep by 2.88 m high rectangular cavity with an aperture opening of 1.72 m were used to determine convective losses for prescribed interior wall temperatures and cavity orientation. Velocity vector and temperature isotherm plots were used to analyze flow characteristics.

The high energy physics experiments at SLAC require constant monitoring and control of the numerous components contained in the particle detection apparatus. This paper describes a basic hardware configuration and operating system which have been designed and implemented to satisfy the monitoring and control requirements of the many different setups used in these high energy physics experiments. It is based on the LSI-11 microprocessor with up to one million words of RAM and EPROM which are interchangeably mappable into the normal LSI-11 RAM/EPROM address space of 28K words. The entire system is modular in hardware and software so that it can easily be tailored to an individual experiment. The human interface is such that little training is required for effective use of the system.

The status of the electroweak gauge theory, also known as quantum asthenodynamics (QAD), is examined. The major result is that the standard WS-GIM model describes the data well, although one should still look for signs of further complexity and better tests of its gauge theory aspect. A second important result is that the measured values of the three basic coupling constants of present-energy physics, g/sub s/, g, and ..sqrt..(5/3)g' of SU(3)/sub c/ x SU(2)/sub 2/ x U(1), are compatible with the idea that these interactions are unified at high energies. Much of the paper deals with open questions, and it takes up the following topics: the status of QAD, the scalar meson spectrum, the fermion spectrum, CP violation, and decay dynamics. 118 references, 20 figures. (RWR)

Separate abstracts have been prepared for individual papers. Each paper is preceded by a project summary sheet describing the project goals, project status, and other pertinent information. (TFD)

For medical accelerators operating above about 10 MeV, there is an unavoidable production of photoneutrons which add to the head leakage. The yield of photoneutrons produced by electron beams incident on thick targets has been calculated and found to increase rapidly with primary electron energy up to approximately 25 MeV, and more slowly thereafter. Dividing the neutron fluence for W (or Pb) by the photon absorbed dose for the same conditions gives the ratio plotted. This ratio, representing the maximum achievable with practical materials, becomes nearly constant above about 25 MeV incident electron energy where its value is about 2.1 x 10/sup 5/ neutrons cm/sup -2/ rad/sup -1/. Measurements that fall significantly below the curve are likely due to photon absorption in components that are not high-Z materials, or measurements made with the moveable jaws open. Points that fall significantly above probably mean there is substantial loss of electron beam elsewhere than the intended target.

The time projection chamber (TPC) is discussed. Its advantage is its ability to collect a great deal of information on multiparticle reactions from high-energy colliding beam experiments. The TPC makes it possible to reconstruct all the charged particles in the reaction, and it can be used for mass identification. (FS)

The first conference on advanced materials for alternative fuel capable directly fired heat engines was held at the Maine Maritime Academy, Castine, Maine. It was sponsored by the US Department of Energy, (Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy) and the Electric Power Research Institute, (Division of Fossil Fuel and Advanced Systems). Forty-four papers from the proceedings have been entered into EDB and ERA and one also into EAPA; three had been entered previously from other sources. The papers are concerned with US DOE research programs in this area, coal gasification, coal liquefaction, gas turbines, fluidized-bed combustion and the materials used in these processes or equipments. The materials papers involve alloys, ceramics, coatings, cladding, etc., and the fabrication and materials listing of such materials and studies involving corrosion, erosion, deposition, etc. (LTN)

Structural design with brittle materials requires that the stress level in the component correspond to a material survival probability that exceeds the minimum survival probability permitted in that application. This can be achieved by developing failure models that fully account for the probability of fracture from defects within the material (including considerations of fracture statistics, fracture mechanics and stress analysis) coupled with non-destructive techniques that determine the size of the large extreme of critical defects. Approaches for obtaining the requisite information are described. The results provide implications for the microstructural design of failure resistant brittle materials by reducing the size of deleterious defects and enhancing the fracture toughness.

Separate abstracts are included for 20 of the 22 papers presented concerning innovative wind turbines which vary in design from the standard horizontal-axis propellor-type wind turbines. Two papers have been previously included in the data base.

The actinide borohydrides of Pa, Np, and Pu have been prepared and some of their physical and optical properties measured. X-ray powder diffraction photographs of Pa(BH/sub 4/)/sub 4/ have shown that it is isostructural to Th(BH/sub 4/)/sub 4/ and U(BH/sub 4/)/sub 4/. Np(BH/sub 4/)/sub 4/ and Pu(BH/sub 4/)/sub 4/ are much more volatile than the borohydrides of Th, Pa, and U and are liquids at room temperature. Results from low-temperature single-crystal x-ray diffraction investigation of Np(BH/sub 4/)/sub 4/ show that its structure is very similar to Zr(BH/sub 4/)/sub 4/. With the data from low-temperature infrared and Raman spectra, a normal coordinate analysis on Np(BH/sub 4/)/sub 4/ and Np(BD/sub 4/)/sub 4/ has been completed. EPR experiments on Np(BH/sub 4/)/sub 4//Zr(BH/sub 4/)/sub 4/ and Np(BD/sub 4/)/sub 4//Zr(BD/sub 4/)/sub 4/ have characterized the ground electronic state. 5 figures.

Radiation from high-power Q-switched lasers has been used recently in semiconductor research to anneal the lattice damage caused by ion implantation, diffuse surface-deposited dopant films, recrystallize doped amorphous films deposited on substrates, and remove precipitates present after conventional high-temperature dopant diffusion. All of these processes can be understood in terms of models based on macroscopic diffusion equations for heat and mass transport, cast in a finite-difference form to allow for the temperature- and spatial-dependence of the thermal conductivity, absorption coefficient, reflectivity, and other quantities. Results of calculations on silicon with the models show that the near-surface region of a sample can melt and stay molten for times of the order of 100 nsec during which dopant diffusion in the liquid state and nonequilibrium segregation during ultrarapid recrystallization are sufficient to explain the major features of the experimental results. Brief descriptions of the physical and mathematical models and some of the results obtained with them are given, with particular emphasis on segregation effects.

If spatially-averaged values of the beta ratio can reach 5 to 10% in tokamaks, as now seems likely, resistive toroidal-field coils may be advantageous for use in reactors intended for fusion-neutron applications. The present investigation has parameterized the design of steady-state water-cooled copper coils of rectangular cross section in order to maximize figures of merit such as the ratio of fusion neutron wall loading to coil power dissipation. Four design variations distinguished by different ohmic-heating coil configurations have been examined. For a wall loading of 0.5 MW/m/sub 2/, minimum TF-coil lifetime costs (including capital and electricity costs) are found to occur with coil masses in the range 2400 to 4400 tons, giving 200 to 250 MW of resistive dissipation, which is comparable with the total power drain of the other reactor subsystems.

The materials investigated consisted of thin films of Nb-Ge, V-Si, Nb-N, Nb-C-N and Nb-Ir prepared by evaporation, sputtering or CVD onto substrates of alumina, sapphire or polycrystalline Hastelloy B. Single crystals of Nb/sub 3/Ir, NbN, V/sub 3/Si and V/sub 3/Ge were also studied and some laser annealing results will be presented. Laser annealing was performed in air using a Q-switched, (15 x 10/sup -9/ sec duration), Ruby laser with energy densities ranging from 0.1 to 10 J/cm/sup 2/. Single, sometimes overlapping, pulses were used. The texture, microstructure and phase composition of the films were examined by x-ray diffraction. Ion scattering and nuclear reaction analysis were used to determine stoichiometries versus depth in the films. Near-surface melting was monitored from ion scattering measurements of the depth profiles of an ion implanted marker species before and after laser annealing. Surface topography was monitored with optical microscopy and SEM. Ion channeling analysis was utilized to determine lattice defect configurations and damage effects to the single crystal samples. These various analyses were correlated to measurements of superconducting transition temperatures, T/sub c/, before and after laser annealing.

The potential of various energy sources and technology options in meeting national economic and social development goals in developing countries is assessed. The resource options that are of interest are the development of indigenous resources. In general, two categories of options can be considered: those which correspond to the accelerated implementation of existing elements of the energy system and those which correspond to the introduction of a new technology, such as solar electricity. The various resource and technology options that must be analyzed with respect to a number of criteria or payoff functions are: total demand and fuel mix; reduction of oil consumption; national social goals; total energy costs; and environmental quality. First, a view is constructed of the energy implications of current national economic development plans. A consistent description of the future energy system of the country, under the assumption of current trends and policies is constructed for certain reference years in the future. The values of the payoff functions selected are then calculated for that reference case. The major resource and technology options are identified and the rates at which they can be implemented are determined. Finally, the impact on the various payoff functions of the implementation of …

The relevance of studies of light-particle emission associated with damped nuclear reactions for investigating properties of the reaction mechanism, in particular of the energy dissipation mechanism, is discussed. Processes of instantaneous particle emission are reviewed, as related to heavy-ion reactions. Methods are outlined concerning information on the conditions of the intermediate nuclear system at scission revealed in the processes of statistical particle evaporation from the reaction fragments. They are employed in studies of neutron emission in the damped reactions /sup 165/Ho+/sup 56/Fe and /sup 165/Ho+/sup 136/Xe, yielding evidence for a rapid thermalization and a relaxation of the mass-to-charge asymmetry of the system. Progress is reported for attempts to achieve a unified description of energy dissipation, nucleon exchange, and particle emission in damped nuclear reactions. 19 figures, 1 table.

In order to take advantage of the known volatility of actinide borohydride complexes, attempts were made to prepare half-sandwich borohydrides (RCOT)M(BH/sub 4/)/sub 2/, where COT is cyclooctatetraene and M is Th or U. The borohydrides were formed as complexes with THF solvent. Spectra and chemical reactions of these compounds were investigated. (DLC)

Experimental and theoretical aspects of heavy leptons are reviewed.

Recent events by OPEC have sharply increased interest in the United States for synfuels, and there are plans for several types of synfuel demonstration plants. The early timing of these plants will probably preclude their use of a nuclear heat source, but their operation will be a necessary step to the eventual integration of a nuclear heat source. The applications using coal liquids that are considered active candidates for nuclear process heat, the reference heat source design, and nuclear and non-nuclear methods for coal liquefaction are described.