Topics are covered on the connection of field theory and hadron physics. The renormalization group and infrared and ultraviolet limits of field theory, in particular quantum chromodynamics, spontaneous mass generation, color confinement, instantons, and the vacuum state in quantum chromodynamics are treated. 21 references. (JFP)

The MACK computer program calculates energy pointwise and multigroup nuclear response functions from basic nuclear data in ENDF/B format. The new version of the program MACK-IV, incorporates major developments and improvements aimed at maximizing the utilization of available nuclear data and ensuring energy conservation in nuclear heating calculations. A new library, MACKLIB-IV, of nuclear response functions was generated in the CTR energy group structure of 171 neutron groups and 36 gamma groups. The library was prepared using MACK-IV and ENDF/B-IV and is suitable for fusion, fusion-fission hydrids, and fission applications.

PL/I is a large and powerful multipurpose programming language, designed for use in business and in scientific applications as well as in systems programming applications such as writing operating systems. The data types, declarations, expressions, type conversion, and assignment, storage types, procedures, scopes, and environments, on-units and on-statements, other statements affecting flow of control, files and record input--output, and stream input--output are set forth. 9 references. (JFP)

In view of the importance of obtaining unsteady local void fraction and interface velocities in liquid-vapor two-phase flows, an optical probe with a controlled tip geometry was developed and is described. In order to minimize the disturbances caused to the flow field by the presence of the probe, its dimensions have been miniaturized. The electronic and hydrodynamic response of the probe were investigated experimentally. The probe was found to be sensitive to both the interface velocities and the phase present at the probe tip. A possible explanation for the behavior of the probe is presented. Within the velocity range checked and with proper calibration, the optical probe developed can be used to determine both local void fractions and interface velocities.

Advanced fuel cell research and development activities in Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) during the period October to December 1977 are described. This work has been aimed at understanding and improving the performance of fuel cells having molten alkali-carbonate mixtures as electrolytes; the fuel cells operate at temperatures near 925/sup 0/K. The largest part of this effort has been directed toward development of methods for fabricating and evaluating electrolyte structures for these cells. Cell performance, life, and cost are the criteria of optimization. During this quarter, the desirable physical characteristics of LiAlO/sub 2/ particles, which act to retain the molten carbonates in the electrolyte structure of the cell, have been more clearly defined; a low temperature synthesis of the stable ..gamma..-allotrope of LiAlO/sub 2/ has been devised; an extensive study of LiAlO/sub 2/ stability has begun; and analytical methods have been refined for separating LiAlO/sub 2/, in unaltered form, from carbonates. Testing of various electrolyte structures and other components in 7-cm-dia round cells has provided a means for evaluating new electrolyte developments and verifying a previously developed method for protecting the wet-seal areas of a cell from corrosion.

This data record report summarizes the first five sodium oxide aerosol tests conducted in the Nuclear Safety Pilot Plant (NSPP) project at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The goal of the project is to establish the validity (or level of conservatism) of the aerosol behavioral code, HAARM-2, and follow-on codes under development at the Battelle Columbus Laboratories for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Included in the report are descriptions of the five tests together with graphs and tables summarizing the results.

A forced reconnection problem was modeled by two infinite wires that are embedded in a plasma which carry parallel currents. They are brought together at a specified rate. The distance between the wires is taken as 2a(1-e/sup ..omega..t/). For small displacements, the hydromagnetic equations can be linearized and solved asymptotically. For larger displacements, the plasma behavior can be estimated by use of scaling arguments. We determine a local velocity of magnetic reconnection and show that it is essentially equal to the maximum possible reconnection velocity (that of the corresponding vacuum case) up to the time when this velocity approaches the local Alfven speed. We compare the details of our solution with the Sweet-Parker and Petschek reconnection theories.

During 1977 Pantex Plant conducted a monitoring program to determine the concentration of specific radioactive and non-radioactive species in the local environment. Although the plant activities involve the handling of significant quantities of uranium, plutonium, and tritium, only small releases of uranium (depleted in the isotope /sup 235/U) and tritium occurred which could have affected the local environment. Monitoring data indicate that concentrations of these nuclides in the environment are below established criteria for air and water and therefore should not present a health hazard either to employees or to the public. Nonradioactive emissions were also well below prescribed standards and constituted no health hazard.

Extraction, or reverse-phase partition chromatography, as used mostly for analytical separations, employs an organic solvent extractant as a stationary phase on an inert support material. This technique has the advantage of utilizing the versatility of solvent extraction systems with the less expensive operation of ion exchange equipment. Bayer AG Lewatit OC-1023, a tributyl phosphate impregnated sorbent developed for extraction chromatography, was evaluated for the separation of uranium and plutonium from mixed actinide residues at Rocky Flats. Uranium breakthrough capacity and eluion behavior were determined for the OC-1023. Uranium breakthrough capacity results show that the support has a high capacity for uranium from 10 g/l uranium and 25 g/l plutonium-2.5 g/l uranium feeds. The total uranium capacity of the support under these conditions was determined to range from about 53 to 65% of the theoretical TBP capacity. The uranium elution results show that the uranium can be eluted with a minimum of eluant.

The development of the processes was performed in the Hanford facilities of the United States Department of Energy at Richland, WA by the Pacific Northwest Laboratories which are operated by Battelle Memorial Institute. The impetus for the work was the desire to increase the life of rapid fire weapon barrels in order to decrease the overall systems cost. Loss of accuracy is the primary measure of gun barrel failure, which in turn is caused by barrel droop or whip, and loss of bore configuration or dimensions.

In a previous paper Peterson presented measurements on the /sup 41/Ar emitted continuously into the atmosphere from a reactor at the Brookhaven National Laboratory. Here, calculated results obtained with the Monte Carlo atmospheric transport model of Watson and Barr are presented and compared with the experimental data. The measured quantities with which comparisons are made are: the position north of Brookhaven where the maximum /sup 41/Ar concentration occurred for specific values of x (east of Brookhaven) and t, time; the standard deviation, sigma/sub y/, of the /sup 41/Ar concentration about the position of maximum concentration for specific values of x and t; and a quantity that is proportional to the maximum /sup 41/Ar concentration for specific values of x and t. The calculated results are in moderately good agreement with the experimental data at most distances (less than or equal to 300 km) and most times for which data are available.

Separate abstracts were prepared for 28 papers presented at the conference. Author and subject indexes are included. (HLW)

The use of heat pumps for the utilization of solar energy is studied. Two requirements for a cost-effective system are identified: (1) a special heat pump whose coefficient of performance continues to rise with source temperature over the entire range appropriate for solar assist, and (2) a low-cost collection and storage subsystem able to supply solar energy to the heat pump efficiently at low temperatures. Programs leading to the development of these components are discussed. A solar assisted heat pump system using these components is simulated via a computer, and the results of the simulation are used as the basis for a cost comparison of the proposed system with other solar and conventional systems.

A time-dependent method for estimating the fuel body, circulating, plateout, and filter inventory of a high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) during normal operation is discussed. The primary coolant model accounts for the source, buildup, decay, and cleanup of isotopes that are gas borne inside the prestressed concrete reactor vessel (PCRV). This method has been implemented in the SUVIUS computer program that is described in detail.

Two series of atmospheric tracer experiments were conducted in complex terrain situations in and around the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. Fluorescent particle tracers were used to investigate nighttime drainage flow in Los Alamos Canyon and daytime flow across the local canyon-mesa complex. This report describes the details of these experiments and presents a summary of the data collected. A subsequent report will discuss the analysis of these data.

The progress during January, 1978 of the major government sponsored endeavors undertaken to increase gas production from the low permeability gas sands of the western United States is summarized. A core program meeting was held on January 25, 1978 at the CER Corporation office in Las Vegas, Nevada. The core tasks to be performed on the available core supply were enumerated and each participant at the meeting expressed the interest and capabilities of his organization for the execution of specific analyses. A log file and project file, which contain raw data and published reports from each Western Gas Sands Project contractor are being established. The USGS is continuing geological and geophysical studies in the four major western basins to characterize the resource base. Petrographic examination, cross section construction and other studies are continuing in the Uinta and Piceance Basins. El Paso Natural Gas Company has supplied the USGS with additional well data from Pinedale Unit, Wyoming wells, and discussions have been held with Jerry McCutchin Jr. of Dallas on a recent Shannon (Eagle) discovery in South Dakota. The National Laboratories, funded by DOE, are continuing their work in the area of research and development. The emphasis is on the development …

Separate abstracts were prepared for the ten sections of this report. Appendices giving publications, professional activities, and organization charts are also included. (HLW)

The objective of this research program is to find an electrolyte for direct or indirect oxidation of carbonaceous fuels in a fuel cell in which the electro-oxidation rates of hydrogen or the carbonaceous fuel are greater than when 85% H/sub 3/PO/sub 4/ is used as the electrolyte. The main tasks include: (1) measurements of electrical resistivity of the electrolytes at various temperatures; (2) measurement of vapor pressure at various temperatures; and (3) measurements of fuel oxidation and oxygen reduction rates at rotating disk electrodes and gas diffusion electrodes in the selected electrolytes at various temperatures. The following electrolytes were evaluated and their performance was compared to that of 85% H/sub 3/PO/sub 4/ at 135/sup 0/C: pentafluoropropanoic acid, trichloroacetic acid, chlorodifluoroacetic acid, methane disulfonic acid (50 wt % aqueous solution), methane sulfonic acid, benzoic acid, and benzene sulfonic acid. Many of these acids performed very poorly; the only one that proved to be superior to 85% H/sub 3/PO/sub 4/ is the methane sulfonic acid.

None

Experiments are being conducted on critical configurations of clusters of fuel rods, mocking up LWR-type fuel elements in close proximity water storage. Spacings between fuel clusters and the intervening material are being varied to provide a variety of benchmark loadings. (DLC)

A description is presented of a general algorithm for locating the extremum of a multi-dimensional constrained function. The algorithm employs a series of techniques dominated by random shrinkage, steepest descent, and adaptive creeping. A discussion follows of the algorithm's application to a ''real world'' problem, namely the optimization of the price of electricity, P/sub eh/, from a hybrid fusion-fission reactor. Upon the basis of comparisons with other optimization schemes of a survey nature, the algorithm is concluded to yield a good approximation to the location of a function's optimum.

Activities covered by the report are the preparation of reports on endangered and threatened plant species of central-southern Nevada; status of review of Camissonia heterochroma complex in western United States; gift of plant collections to the United States Museum of Natural History; and preparation of shrub data manuscript, and significant conclusions from the data.

This report summarizes field work over two summers (1976 and 1977) to relocate, monument and reinventory permanent vegetation plots in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These plots were first established by the senior author and R.H. Whittaker in 1959-62. The inventory results are discussed in terms of vegetation changes in high-altitudinal forest ecosystems, in particular the spruce-fir forests, and the factors, climate shift and biotic and abiotic agents, bringing about vegetation change. A second aspect of the report summarizes experience and offers recommendations for establishment of permanent vegetation plots for the purpose of providing a monitoring tool with which to measure long-term ecological change.

It is generally agreed that solar energy is an appropriate technology. It is further agreed that its use ought to be subsidized by appropriate governmental action. There is not, however, a consensus as to just why solar energy is desirable, or what constitutes appropriate action. In this paper some arguments are considered for a subsidy and are related to a specific proposal. First, some of the arguments that have been advanced in favor of subsidizing solar energy are reviewed. Next, an additional argument, which seems to offer a strong rationale for a subsidy of a somewhat unconventional sort--a government-backed service warranty--is proposed. Then the argument for the warranty is presented, along with an argument for a subsidy to overcome high front-end costs. Finally, some estimates of the budget costs of a warranty program are presented.