From introduction: In the struggle to attain the goal of economically competitive nuclear power it is necessary at frequent intervals to take time out and evaluate progress. This report is just such an evaluation.

From introduction: "This investigation was undertaken with the general objective of determining whether uranium core could be sheathed with aluminum by an extrusion-cladding process. The ultimate objective of this work was to determine the feasibility of extrusion cladding flat plates of uranium."

Abstract: "The possibility of transient temperature variations during the self-heating of a plasma by thermonuclear reactions was investigated. Calculations were performed on an IBM Card Program Calculator. Estimates of the time scale for self-heating were obtained. It was concluded that it would be unsafe to assume that the nuclear temperature is always equal to or greater than the electron temperature in a discussion of plasma instabilities for a plasma with 10 percent or greater tritium concentration."

Abstract: "Two parallel wires close together with an arc between them form a hairpin-type of current configuration which should magnetically propel the plasma of the arc. By the time-of-flight measurements with probes it has been demonstrated that directed translational energies of 290 ev can be imparted to deuterons in a plasma produced by a high-current pulsed arc at the tips of two titanium wires loaded with deuterium. It is believed that three deuterons are actually magnetically propelled."

Abstract: This proposal describes a parallel-plate capacitor and the discharge tube with which it is hoped that implosion energies of 1000 eV can be given to deuterons by the pinch effect. The discharge tube is to be arranged so that no external series switch is required.

Abstract: "The deuterium plasma which is ejected by a 6000-ampere pulsed current through a rail-type spark source has a yield in the forward direction which is a factor of 5 to 10 greater than that in the perpendicular direction. This effect is believed to be due to the magnetic propulsion of the plasma."

Abstract: An investigation of ionization by shock waves in hydrogen has been initiated. The shock waves are produced in a 1-inch diameter glass pipe by a high-voltage spark at one end. Variables which will influence attainment of the maximum degree of ionization and ion temperature are described. Spectroscopic methods of measuring ion density and temperature are outlined, and improvements in the design of the shock tube are discussed.

From introduction: "The objective of this report is to present the results and describe the tests of both the 2-in. D and 6-in. D contractors using mill pulp feeds. Work on determining resign attrition is also reported. ORNL-CF-52-12-101 described the results of preliminary tests using synthetic ore pulps."

The Lindemann assumption of direct contact of neighboring atoms at fusion is replaced by the criterion that melting occurs when the root-mean-square amplitude of thermal vibration reaches a critical fraction ρ, presumed the same for all isotropic monatomic solids, of the distance of separation of nearest-neighbor atoms. The Debye-Waller theory of the temperature dependence of the intensity of Bragg reflection of x-rays is used, without further assumptions, to derive a generalized Lindemann law. In contrast to the Lindemann form, all physical quantities involved in this formulation are evaluated at the fusion point, and departure of the average energy of an atomic oscillation from the equipartition value is taken into account by the quantization factor of the Debye-Waller theory. If the Grüneisen constant γm of the solid at fusion is evaluated by its definition from the Debye frequency of the solid, use of the generalized Lindemann law and Clapeyron's equation permits one to express γm in terms of the bulk modulus of the solid at melting and the latent heat and volume change of fusion. By means of Grüneisen's law applied to the solid at fusion, γm can be expressed likewise in terms of the corresponding bulk modulus, thermal expansion, volume, …

This paper discusses the forbidden and allowed harmonics of a hollow cylinder of barium titanate vibrating in the radial mode.

As an aid in forecasting possible blast damage in areas distant from a bomb burst point, a special-purpose electronic analog computer has been developed. Sound ray paths (orthogonal trajectories to sound wave front) are computed as a function of meteorological conditions.