Quarterly report describing progress on a project to develop and evaluate high-temperature tungsten alloys. This report discusses properties for specific base alloys at room temperature and under high temperatures.

From foreword: This report presents the results of a study on the stability of phosphors under high energy beta radiation.

"Abstract: An evaluation of a modulator flux sensitive playback head to be used with an analog magnetic recorder for nuclear pulse information storage was made. The modulator head was found unsultable. A pulse stretching unit was constructed which takes pulses from a standard linear pulse amplifier and provides an output signal suitable for driving a recording head."

Abstract: A method is given for the rapid and accurate numerical integration of integrals of the form [integral] [superscript infinity] [subscript infinity] f(x) [golden ratio constant] (x) dx, where f(x) is "smooth."

A crystallographic study of the transition element beryllides was undertaken in support of phase diagram work. These beryllides are very high melting, and the use of ordinary methods make it difficult to determine stoichiometry. We have succeeded in establishing the compositions and complete crystal structure description of all of the room temperature stable or metastable compounds of the beryllides of niobium, tantalum, titanium zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, chromium and molybdenum. Since some of the structures found were not previously reported, complete structure determinations had to be done.

Abstract. The peacetime application of nuclear explosives to the conservation and development of our national water resources is, at this time, of sufficient promise to present some of the possibilities publicly. In nuclear explosives man has at his disposal and service, a powerful source of energy - a new tool - that we believe can be utilized safely to excavate channels and lake basins, or to create conduits of broken permeable material and underground reservoirs. In surveying the possible applications of nuclear explosives, the following ideas are among those worthy of serious consideration: (a) the use of nuclear explosives for the economic movement of large volumes of earth in the construction of earth fill dames, (b) the use of nuclear explosives for the diversion of a stream from a river system, whose flow is largely lost to the sea, into another stream channel leading to an arid section or a closed basin, (c) the use of nuclear explosives to create a recharge basin or a conduit to a subsurface aquifer for fresh water recharge, and (d) the use of nuclear explosives to create off-channel reservoirs for the elimination of saline waters through recharge to a mineralized aquifer and by evaporation.

The kinetic energies of pions from radioactive decays in propane have been determined by using the information given by the angles of the secondary particles. This method is independent of any range-energy relation.

Individual Samarkand wildtype D. melanogaster males were permitted to choose between either two white-eyed or two red-eyed females or between a red-eyed and a white-eyed female. Observations of the flies were made over a period of about two hours and premating periods, intermating periods and the durations of copulations were recorded.

Theoretically aqueous hydrazine will react with dissolved oxygen for form only nitrogen and water. Most of the experimental evidence, however, indicates that the reaction proceeds rather slowly in low-temperature systems. Tests are currently being conducted to determine whether or not it is feasible to use activated carbon to catalyze the reaction in filtered water. A system of this type would be useful in high temperature reactors when it becomes necessary to convert to single-pass operation.

Graphs have been made which show the nuclearly safe parameters for uranium rods in light water with uranium enrichments up to five weight percent U-235. These data were to serve as a guide to those persons who may be involved with the maintenance of nuclear safety in handling and processing operations with slightly enriched uranium fuel elements. The data are applicable to fuel element fabrication and processing operations, and in general to those operations involving the handling and storage of fuel elements apart from reactors.

A reliable spline disposal system is necessary for full utilization of the Poison Spline Control System. The spline choppers were not reliable enough so a spline coiler was developed and designed to replace the choppers. A Development Test, IP-306-X (HW-63820), was issued authorizing on-pile testing of the spline coiler at X area. This report closes the Development Test and discusses the use of spline coilers.

Experimental results on the effect of periodic acceleration on a natural circulation, 1000 psia, two-phase flow loop are presented, and related to the topic of marine reactor design. The initial results of this work were given previously in GEAP 3397.

The fabricability, elevated temperature strength, steam corrosion resistance, and hydrogen pickup of various binary, ternary, and quaternary alloys were studied experimentally.