Activities during the last two months are described. A significant portion of time was spent reviewing the literature on the Cs/sub 2/O-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/-SiO/sub 2/ system, on the use of clays and zeolites for Cs-fixation of aqueous wastes, and on silicate-phosphate apatite structure crystal chemistry. The results from the latest group of compatibility studies (CS-runs) were used to modify the first demonstration supercalcine formulation so that it is more in line with the actual crystalline phase formation. Supercalcine formuation 75-2 is described.

The minimum possible rotational period of pulsars, which are interpreted as rotating neutron stars, is determined by applying a representative collection of realistic nuclear equations of state. It is found that none of the selected equations of state allows for neutron star rotation at periods below 0.8--0.9 ms. Thus, this work strongly supports the suggestion that if pulsars with shorter rotational periods were found, these are likely to be strange-quark-matter stars. The conclusion that the confined hadronic phase of nucleons and nuclei is only metastable would then be almost inescapable, and the plausible ground-state in that event is the deconfined phase of (3-flavor) strange-quark-matter.

Results on the dynamics and stability of thin films are summarized on the following topics: forced dryout, film instabilities on a horizontal plane and on inclined planes, instrumentation, coating flows, and droplet spreading. (DLC)

The objective of this investigation is to determine the upper limits on the thermal yield of a 1 kt source detonated at shallow depths. Three problems were computed for the depths of burial of 0.5, 1.5, and 3 m. The source is an iron bubble with 30 cm radius and 25 kg of mass. The computation was done on the CEL code. The results show that the relative thermal yield is no more than 6 percent, and that it vanishes at DOB of about 4 m. The computed blast strength is plotted against the range. The results are consistent with the measurements on ''Johnnie Boy'' and ''Jangle-U'', and in good agreement with the RAD9 calculations and the HULL calculations.

This manual describes the use and structure of the June 30, 1976 version of the Four-D propagation code for high energy laser beams. It provides selected sample output from a typical run and from several debug runs. The Four-D code now includes the important noncoplanar scenario feature. Many problems that required excessive computer time can now be meaningfully simulated as steady-state noncoplanar problems with short run times.

This document describes the Westinghouse Savannah River Company's (WSRC) Quality Assurance Program for Defense Waste Processing at the Savannah River Site (SRS). It identifies and describes the planned activities that constitute the required Quality Assurance Program. The work to which the Quality Assurance Program applies includes both the qualification and production of high-level waste forms. The end result of the program is to provide confidence that these high-level waste forms may be safely and acceptably used to dispose of the radioactive waste that results from activities at SRS in support of national defense.

The report discusses and evaluates the adequacy of buyer specifications for snubbers. Technical specifications for snubbers (hydraulic and mechanical) were studied in detail in an effort to define the ''fundamental needs'' of the industry with respect to characteristics of snubbers during operation. In the course of this study, it was determined that there is insufficient consensus among users to make such a definition. Authorities in the fields of structural dynamics, structural systems design, and snubber design were also consulted for additional information. Information from these sources is incorporated to identify the fundamental areas of concern, areas where consensus is lacking, and problems to be resolved in order to establish meaningful standards for this equipment.

A small, secondary treatment plant for processing sanitary wastes was upgraded by the addition of tertiary treatment (chemical treatment and final clarification) and mixed-media filtration. Operational data showed that the tertiary treatment significantly reduced pollutants. Filtration further reduced suspended solids significantly and removed some additional phosphorus; however, no additional reduction in total oxygen demand or in nitrogen was noted. Detailed analyses of costs for construction and routine operations showed the cost of tertiary treatment was small compared to costs associated with mixed-media filtration.

Available data on distribution coefficients for the biologically important radionuclides present in high-level waste were used to estimate retardation factors (K/sub f/) for a mass transport hydrologic model. The radionuclides were divided into 3 groups: fission products with no sorption (K/sub f/ = 1), fission products with sorption (K/sub f/ = 10/sup 2/), and the actinides and their daughter products (K/sub f/ = 10/sup 4/). Minimum and maximum values were assigned the latter two groups. Uncertainties as a function of time were estimated at +- an order of magnitude. 39 references, 5 tables.

This paper presents a circuit model and an electrostatic field analysis with an approximate model of the SDM170HK MOS turn-off thyristor (MTO) fabricated by Silicon Power Corporation. The circuit model consists of five cells, each containing two bipolar junction transistors and three resistors. The turn-off feature of the MTO was simulated by inserting an array of 21 Fairchild FDS6670A MOSFET importable sub-circuit components between the cathode and the turn-on gate. The model was then used to create a four-terminal sub-circuit component representing the MTO that can be readily imported into computer-aided circuit design programs such as PSPICE and Micro-Cap. The generated static I-V characteristics and simulated switching waveforms are shown. The electrostatic field analysis was done for the maximum operating voltage of 4.5 kV using the Ansoft Maxwell 3D field simulator. Electrostatic field magnitudes that exceed the nominal air breakdown threshold of 30 kV/cm were observed surrounding the simulated turn-off gate wire, the turn-off gate ring contact, and the cathode ring contact. The resulting areas of high fields are a concern, as arc track marks have been found on the inner surface of the ceramic insulator near the internal gate connections of a failed device.

Scene-Based Wave Front Sensing uses the correlation between successive subimages to determine phase aberrations which blur digital images. Adaptive Optics technology uses deformable mirrors to correct for these phase aberrations and make the images clearer. The correlation between temporal subimages gives tip-tilt information. If these images do not have identical image content, tip-tilt estimations may be incorrect. Motion detection is necessary to help avoid errors initiated by dynamic subimage content. In this document, I will discuss why edge detection fails as a motion detection method on low resolution images and how thresholding the normalized variance of individual pixels is successful for motion detection.

A study was conducted to assess the ability of phased-array ultrasonic techniques to detect and accurately determine the size of flaws from the far-side of wrought austenitic piping welds. Far-side inspections of these welds are currently performed on a “best effort” basis and do not conform to ASME Code Section XI Appendix VIII performance demonstration requirements. For this study, four circumferential welds in 610mm diameter, 36mm thick ASTM A-358, Grade 304 vintage austenitic stainless steel pipe were examined. The welds were fabricated with varied welding parameters; both horizontal and vertical pipe orientations were used, with air and water backing, to simulate field welding conditions. A series of saw cuts, electro-discharge machined (EDM) notches, and implanted fatigue cracks were placed into the heat affected zones of the welds. The saw cuts and notches range in depth from 7.5% to 28.4% through-wall. The implanted cracks ranged in depth from 5% through wall to 64% through wall. The welds were examined with two phased-array probes, a 2.0 MHz transmit-receive longitudinal wave array and a 2.0 MHz transmit-receive shear wave array. These examinations showed that both phased-array transducers were able to detect and accurately length-size, but not depth size, all of the notches and …

Dimensional changes related to temperature cycling of the beta and delta polymorphs of HMX (octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine) are important for a variety of applications. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the beta and delta phases are measured and reported in this work over a temperature range of -20 C to 215 C. In addition, dimensional changes associated with the phase transition were measured, both through the transition and back down. Initially, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to investigate back conversion of the delta phase to the beta phase polymorph. The most successful approach was first to measure the amount of the beta to delta conversion, then after a given cooling period a repeat analysis, to measure the heat consumed by a second pass through the beta to delta phase transition. In addition, TMA is used to measure the dimensional change of a 0.20-gram sample of HMX during its initial heating and then three days later during a 2nd heating. This HMX shows the beta to delta phase transition a second time, thereby confirming the back conversion from delta to beta phase HMX.

Extensive plastic deformation during wire drawing is commonly used to produce steel wires with very high strengths. Typically these steels are eutectoid and hypereutectoid steels and drawing strains up to 4 are used during processing. The resulting materials can have tensile strengths in excess of 4000 MPa. The evolution of microstructure and the strengthening mechanisms resulting from wire drawing have been studied for eutectoid and hypereutectoid steels. Strength has been shown to be a function of pearlite colony size, interlamellar spacing and the size of the stable dislocation cells that are produced during wire drawing. The results have been used to model the evolution of strength during wire drawing. Model predictions for the evolution of tensile strength with drawing strain show excellent agreement with data derived from a number of eutectoid and hyperectectoid steels as a function of drawing strain.

Peptide p-nitroanilides are useful compounds for studying protease activity, however the poor nucleophilicity of p-nitroaniline makes their preparation difficult. We describe a new efficient approach for the Fmoc-based synthesis of peptide p-nitroanilides using an aryl hydrazine resin. Mild oxidation of the peptide hydrazide resin yields a highly reactive acyl diazene, which efficiently reacts with weak nucleophiles. We have prepared several peptide p-nitroanilides, including substrates for the Lethal Factor protease from B. anthracis.

This document describes the Project Plan for the development and manufacture of a Vertical Lift Machine. It is assumed by this project plan that the Vertical Lift Machine will be developed, designed, manufactured, and tested by a qualified vendor. LLNL will retain review and approval authority for each step given in this project plan. The Vertical Lift Machine is a single linear axis positioning device capable of lifting objects vertically at controlled rates and positioning them repeatedly at predetermined heights, in relation to other objects suspended from above, for high neutron multiplication experiments. Operation of the machine during the experiments is done remotely. The lift mechanism shall accommodate various platforms (tables) that support the objects to be raised. A frame will support additional subassemblies from above such that the lower subassembly can be raised close to and/or interface with those above. The structure must be stiff and motion of the table linear such that radial alignment is maintained (e.g. concentricity). The safe position for the Vertical Lift Machine is the lift mechanism fully retracted with the subassemblies fully separated. The machine shall reside in this position when not in use. It must return to this safe condition from any position …

Contrary to the behavior of swelling of f.c.c. Fe-15Cr-16Ni and Fe-15Cr-16Ni-0.25Ti alloys irradiated together in the same FFTF-MOTA experiment, Fe-15Cr-16Ti-0.25Ti-0.05C does not exhibit a dependence of swelling on dpa rate at {approx}400 C. The transient regime of swelling is prolonged by carbon addition, however. Addition of boron to the carbon-doped alloy decreases the swelling somewhat but does not restore the sensitivity to dpa rate. It appears that the primary influence of boron is chemical in nature, probably associated with boron's impact on the behavior of carbon. Boron's role as a source of helium is thought to be secondary.

Cultural eutrophication--the process by which human activities increase nutrient input rates to aquatic ecosystems and thereby cause undesirable changes in surface-water quality--is generally thought to have begun with the start of the industrial era. The prehistoric dimension of human impacts on aquatic ecosystems remains relatively undescribed, particularly in North America. Here we present fossil plankton data (diatoms and rotifers), organic and inorganic carbon accumulations, and carbon isotope ratios from a 1000-yr sediment core record from Crawford Lake, Ontario, Canada. The data documents increased nutrient input to Crawford Lake caused by Iroquoian horticultural activity from A.D. 1268 to 1486 and shows how this increased nutrient input elevated lake productivity, caused bottom-water anoxia, and irreversibly altered diatom community structure within just a few years. Iroquoian settlement in the region declined in the fifteenth century, yet diatom communities and lake circulation never recovered to the predisturbance state. A second phase of cultural eutrophication starting in A.D. 1867, initiated by Canadian agricultural disturbance, increased lake productivity but had comparatively less of an impact on diatom assemblages and carbon-storage pathways than the initial Iroquoian disturbance. This study deepens our understanding of the impact of cultural eutrophication on lake systems, highlights the lasting influence of initial …

This data package is a compilation of existing geologic data from the Integrated Disposal Facility Site for use in the 2005 Performance Assessment. The data were compiled from both surface and subsurface geologic sources. The surface mapping has been published previously. The quality and uncertainty of the data are discussed. The 2004 report was modified to include results of studies of the shearwave velocity of sediments at and near the IDF site, which were performed for the Waste Treatment Plant and groundwater monitoring wells 299-E17-26 and 299-E24-24. The conclusions of the original report have not changed with the new data.

This data report discusses the methods and philosophy used to characterize two samples of sludge and one sample of drainable liquid from tank 241-AY-102 at the Hanford Site. Archived samples of sludge and drainable liquid from tank 241-AY-102 were characterized in the laboratory in order to evaluate analytical methods for testing tank waste and determine the composition and leaching characteristics of this material. The tests included physical characterization, quantitative analysis of waste composition, and short-term water leach and acid digestion of the waste material. The water leach tests were conducted over time periods of one day, two weeks, and one month to determine if contact time had an impact on leachability. Comparisons of the results of the water leach tests with the acid digestions allow for an estimation of the water leachable percentage of an element. The average water leachability of Tc-99 was measured at 20% over the one-month time frame of the leach tests. There did not appear to be any temporal change in water leachability by comparing the results of the three sampling intervals. Approximately 24 to 48% of the total Cs-137 in the sludge is water leachable over a time period of one day to one month. …

Even-order Legendre polynomial (PN) expansion approximations of the neutron transport equation have historically seen only limited practical application. Research in the last decade [1] has resolved one of the historical theoretical objections [2] to the use of even-order PN approximations in planar geometry, namely the ambiguity in the prescription of boundary conditions as a result of an odd number of unknowns. This research also demonstrated the P2 approximation to be more accurate than the P1 approximation in planar geometry away from boundary layers and material interfaces. Neither the P1 nor the P2 approximation is convincingly more accurate near material interfaces. This progress motivated the reexamination of the multidimensional simplified P2 (SP2) approximation [3], the development of P2 approximations for planar geometry stochastic transport problems [4], and the examination of the P2 and SP2 approximations as a synthetic acceleration technique for the discrete ordinates equations.

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We explore the feasibility of using Feynman moments as attributes of fissile material in warhead authentication measurements. We present results of computer simulations of neutron correlation measurements to validate and inform the application of the method to measurements in an arms control scenario. We establish the robustness of the method for use in automated measuring equipment that protects classified or sensitive data using an information barrier. Drawing from our results, we define high-level requirements to govern the design process, and guide the construction of a prototype.

The Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) is designed to allow study and intercomparison of multi-model simulations of present-day and future climate. The latter are represented by idealized forcing of compounded 1% per year CO2 increase to the time of CO2 doubling near year 70 in simulations with global coupled models that contain, typically, components representing atmosphere, ocean, sea ice and land surface. Results from CMIP diagnostic subprojects were presented at the Second CMIP Workshop held at the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Hamburg, Germany, in September, 2003. Significant progress in diagnosing and understanding results from global coupled models has been made since the First CMIP Workshop in Melbourne, Australia in 1998. For example, the issue of flux adjustment is slowly fading as more and more models obtain stable multi-century surface climates without them. El Nino variability, usually about half the observed amplitude in the previous generation of coupled models, is now more accurately simulated in the present generation of global coupled models, though there are still biases in simulating the patterns of maximum variability. Typical resolutions of atmospheric component models contained in coupled models is now usually around 2.5 degrees latitude-longitude, with the ocean components often having about twice …