The conditions and the reactions that lead to the realization of chemical equilibrium at interfaces and thus to chemical bonding is discussed with specific attention to the platinum/glass and gold/glass systems. Wetting of the solid by the liquid and formation of an interface are part of the problem. Sessile drop experiments and their interpretation are included. 10 figs, 12 refs. (GHT)

The absolute sensitivity for several different types of radiation detectors has been measured using x-rays in the energy range of 280 eV to 100 keV. The photons in this energy range are produced using three separate x-ray-generating facilities. The detectors include a silicon semiconductor, two photoelectric diode detectors employing aluminum and gold photocathodes, and three detectors incorporating plastic scintillators and photodiodes. The plastic scintillators were MEL-150C, Pilot B, and NE102.

A program of making ''global'' fits to the large amount of experimental equation-of-state data on monatomic metals that has become available in recent years is described. The fits are made within the framework of a phenomenological scaling theory for metallic liquids which incorporates recently discovered general theoretical properties of the EOS of liquids. The theory is expected to be applicable to monatomic metals up to high temperatures (approximately 10 to 100 times the melting temperature, T/sub m/) and at all densities, so long as the metallic bonding does not change character. (GHT)

Temporally and spectrally resolved x-ray emission is an important diagnostic tool for the study of target heating and compression induced by sub-nanosecond laser pulses. The use of the Livermore 15 psec x-ray streak camera to record x-ray emissions in the 1-10 keV range is described. In particular, significant progress is reported during the past year in defining the camera as a quantitative diagnostic instrument, and its implementation for multi-channel, time resolved K-edge filter measurements. Data will be presented which describe x-ray emission from a laser imploded 87 ..mu..m diameter glass shell. Channels centered at 2.6, 4.0 and 5.3 keV provide temporal information which is related to the absorption and compression phases of laser heating. The relative spectral content is found to be in agreement with standard, time integrated measurements.

Analytic solutions are dervied for plasma flows in a spherical laser target, emphasizing the region which lies between the ablation surface and the critical density surface. Electron thermal conductivity dominates the heat transport in this zone. Both classical electron thermal conduction and flux-limited conduction are treated in which the finite electron thermal velocity provides an upper bound to the heat flux. These analytic solutions are compared with computational results from 1-D hydrodynamics calculations. Finally, the implications of these solutions for growth rates of plasma instabilities in the conduction region are considered.

Current techniques for manufacturing off-axis paraboloids are both expensive and insufficiently accurate. An alternative method, turning the workpiece about its axis on a diamond-turning machine, is presented, and the equations describing the necessary tool movement are derived. A discussion of a particular case suggests that the proposed technique is feasible.

To increase the reliability of the criticality monitoring system in a diagnostic chemistry area and to reduce the number of false alarms, a new monitoring system was built using a fast-neutron detector. This paper outlines the design requirements, describes the plastic scintillation detector system as it was built, and reports on the results of several months of operation. The new monitor has proven much more useful than the gamma-detector system it replaced.

This research demonstrates the feasibility of using homogeneously-generated fission fragments to simulate high-fluence fusion neutron damage in niobium tensile specimens. This technique makes it possible to measure radiation effects on bulk mechanical properties at high damage states, using conveniently short irradiation times. The primary knock-on spectrum for a fusion reactor is very similar to that produced by fission fragments, and nearly the same ratio of gas atoms to displaced atoms is produced in niobium. The damage from fission fragments is compared to that from fusion neutrons and fission reactor neutrons in terms of experimentally measured yield strength increase, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations, and calculated damage energies.

The equilibrium constant, K/sub HDO/, for the reaction H/sub 2/O + D/sub 2/O = 2HDO can be expressed as an intensity ratio, I, measured mass spectrometrically, times a sensitivity ratio, S, measured in mass spectrometric calibration experiments. The latter is difficult to measure and previously was assumed to be unity. The 2.4 percent discrepancy between K's from theoretical calculations and direct mass spectrometric measurements might be explained by another value of S. An indirect measurement of S using a pulsed-molecular beam quadrupole mass filter that has a unique three-chamber, three-leak gas inlet system is reported. The results show the sensitivities are probably equal and therefore S = 1. Systematic errors were found in the procedure, however, which precluded an unambiguous test of the theory.

An apparatus for producing small quantities of glass balloons for use as laser fusion targets is described. To produce precise quantities of the ingredients of one glass balloon, a jet of an aqueous solution of the glass constituents and a blowing agent is metered into uniformly sized drops by Rayleigh breakup. A small fraction of these uniform drops is then passed through an oven where the water is evaporated, the remaining solid material is fused into glass, and the blowing agent decomposes to blow the drop into a balloon. An analysis is made of the heat flow process and photographs of the resulting glass balloons are presented.

It was shown that recently published observations of angle- and polarization-dependent absorption of intense laser light are consistent with computer simulations of resonance absorption in a steepened plasma profile, with the addition assumption of a modestly rippled critical surface. About 10 percent absorption seems to be due to mechanisms not addressed in the simulations.

Technical photography, through such means as interferometry, Faraday rotation, and simple shadowgraphs, can provide significant data for understanding the absorption and transport of energy within laser produced plasmas. For plasmas produced by intense, sub-nanosecond Nd laser pulses, one is required to study electron densities in the 10/sup 20/ to 10/sup 21/ e/cc range, with density contour velocities of 10/sup 6/ to 10/sup 7/ cm/sec, and axial scale lengths of 1-20 ..mu..m. The relationship between these plasma parameters and the requisite photographic system is described. It is concluded that the system requires a probe wavelength in the middle ultraviolet, a pulse duration in the 10-100 picosecond regime, and large numerical aperture optics corrected for spherical aberrations. Results obtained at 2660 A with holographic microinterferometry, Faraday rotation, and shadowgraphs are presented.

The low momentum beam described is to be a unique source of antiprotons as well as kaons. The discussion covers (1) choice of production angle; (2) secondary beams; (3) the use of sector dipole magnets for minimizing aberrations; (4) beam bending magnets; (5) beam separators; and (6) beam acceptance. (PMA)

A New Waste Calcining Facility is being built at the Idaho Chemical Processing Plant to replace the existing Waste Calcining Facility which was built to demonstrate fluidized-bed solidification of highly radioactive liquid wastes. The new facility is being designed to provide a higher waste throughput, more corrosion resistant materials of construction, more effective cleanup of effluent streams, and extensive remote maintenance and equipment replacement capability. The facility will also contain extensive decontamination capability should contact maintenance become necessary. The facility is presently in construction and is scheduled for hot operation in 1980.

Efforts devoted to searches for short-lived nuclides in the debris from large thermonuclear explosions are reviewed along with reactor production of Es and Fm. Results of underground tests are discussed along with odd-even yield variations, and future directions for heavy-element synthesis. (JRD)

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.

The plasma closure of spatial filter pinholes is a critical parameter in the performance of high energy glass laser systems. Using 50 to 100 J, 300 psec FWHM laser pulses on the Janus laser, an investigation has been made on closure effects in 300 ..mu..m to 500 ..mu..m diameter pinholes of various materials and thicknesses. Calorimetry measurements have yielded data on pinhole transmission and intensity loading on the periphery of the pinhole. Ultrafast streak photography measurements indicate effective closure velocities of 2 x 10/sup 7/ cm/sec to 5 x 10/sup 7/ cm/sec. Scattered light measurements have shown the transmission loss through a typical spatial filter configuration to be primarily refractive in nature.

As indicated by tests on several cameras, the dynamic range of the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory streak-camera system appears to be about two orders of magnitude greater than those reported for other systems for 10- to 200-ps pulses. The lack of a fine mesh grid in the RCA streak tube used in these cameras probably contributes to a lower system dynamic noise and therefore raises the dynamic range. A developmental tube with a mesh grid was tested and supports this conjecture. Order-of-magnitude variations in input slit width do not affect the spot size on the phosphor or the dynamic range of the RCA tube.

Performance models for a two-phase turbine were developed to verify the understanding of the loss mechanisms and to extrapolate from the single-nozzle test condition to a full-admission turbine. The numerical models for predicting the performance of the nozzle and the combined nozzle and rotor are described. Results from two-phase, static cascade tests and disk-friction and windage experiments are used to calibrate the performance model(s). Model predictions are compared with single-nozzle prototype-turbine test results, and extrapolations are made to a full-admission design. The modeling also provides predictions of performance for turbines with various blade geometries, inlet conditions, and droplet sizes. Thus the modeling provides insight into design improvements.

A modified wire drawing die for spatial filtering techniques is described. It was designed for use in high power laser systems. The diamond aperture is capable of enduring high intensity laser frequency without damaging the laser beam profile. The diamond is mounted at the beam focus in a vacuum of 1 x 10/sup -5/ Torr. The vacuum prevents plasma forming at the diamond aperture, thus enabling the beam to pass through without damaging the holder or aperture. The spatial filters are fitted with a manipulator that has three electronic stepping motors, can position the aperture in three orthogonal directions, and is capable of 3.2 ..mu..m resolution. Shiva laser system is using 105 diamond apertures for shaping the High Energy Laser Beam.

In order to obtain access to a computer from ordinary NDT instruments, a special interface was made which acts as the buffer between the computer, and the real world. The special purpose interface, which was designed and built by Group M-1 of the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory is described. This interface was primarily built for use with various ultrasonic equipment, but is actually a general purpose system that can perform data acquisition and control for other tests.

Results of isobaric expansion measurements for platinum are presented, including simultaneous values for enthalpy, specific volume, temperature and electrical resistivity in tabular form as well as numerical fits up to 7500 K. The specific heat for the liquid is C/sub p/ = 5.85 +- 0.30 R and is essentially constant up to 7500 K. The bulk thermal expansion coefficient increases from approx. 7.5 x 10/sup -5/K/sup -1/ at melt to approx. 1.03 x 10/sup -4/K/sup -1/ at 7500 K. The heat of fusion observed is ..delta..h = 0.14 +- 0.03 MJ/kg and the melting point slope with pressure is estimated to be dT/sub m//dp =31 +- 10 K/GPa. The estimated critical parameters are T/sub c/ = 9285 K, P/sub c/ = 0.9492 GPa, v/sub c/ = 2.120 x 10/sup -4/ m/sup 3//kg, and z/sub c/ = 0.5085. Preliminary results of a new sound velocity technique are discussed for lead. This technique will allow determination of specific heat c/sub v/, isothermal compressibility K/sub T/ and the constant temperature volume derivatives of entropy and internal energy, as well as the Gruneisen parameter ..gamma../sub G/.

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 …

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.