This report describes a method used to determine semi-quantitatively the time-varying plasma density in magnetic mirror machines by microwave phase-shift and attenuation measurement.

Studies of ionic entropies in methanol and ammonia have led to the suggestion that ionic entropies in water are abnormally high. An explanation of this hypothesis may be given in terms of entropies of solvation and the high degree of hydrogen bonding in water. When an ion enters water, more disorder is created than when it enters another, less hydrogen-bonded, solvent.

Radioactive decay data are used to calculate the atomic masses of the heavy isotopes, A> 203. The four radioactive families are then connected by means of neutron binding energies known from reactions on various isotopes. Finally all the masses are collectively adjusted for the best fit with mass spectrographic information available in this region. The masses so calculated are presented. Differences between masses of isotopes are estimated to have an of (plus/minus) 0.00020 mas units or about 200 Kev; the position of the masses taken collectively is in doubt by about 1.5 Mev.

Summary of progress on various research projects conducted during January, 1952.

The study was undertaken with the objective of observing the distribution in the rat of organic compounds of phosphorus labelled with the P32 isotope as tracer. The fate of several of these compounds was studied in animals bearing tumors. The distribution of inorganic phosphate in animal tissues is well known but was included in this work for comparison with the organic phosphorus compounds.

The question has arisen of how the beam in A-12 as a long resonant cavity might effect the frequency of operation and the field distribution. This study is published to make available the calculation of the direct beam effect as an illustration of general methods of attacking perturbing effects in resonant cavities.

Abstract: Fifty-four spectral lines of curium are listed together with estimated intensities. A brief description of the manner of taking the spectra and of measuring the lines are given.

The thermal decomposition of the higher oxides of praseodymium and americium have been investigated.

Five isotopes of bismuth occur in nature. Using particle accelerators providing helium ions up to 40 Mev in energy and deuterons up to 20 Mev in energy, it was possible to produce and identify two artificial radioactive isotopes. With the advent of the 184-inch Berkeley syncho-cyclotron and its hundreds of Mev energies, it was possible to form highly neutron-deficient bismuth isotopes extending more than ten mass units below stable Bi(209).

Equations are derived for the rates of heating of objects in induction furnaces and for the maximum temperatures attainable. The equations are primarily useful in designing conducting crucibles, shells, and cylinders so as to increase the power input and decrease heat losses. A very brief treatment is given of the factors which influence the current in the induction coil. The performances of various induction furnaces are compared.

The general method of controlling the radio frequency for the full scale Bevatron will be the same as that used on the 1/4 scale machine. The details of course will be modified to meet the requirements of greater range, higher output voltage and closer tracking tolerances. In addition, there is the added complication introduced by the current ripple.

Calculations presented were done to determine what maximum temperature gradients and stresses would be in typical designs of flat thorium plates, 100 mils thick and coolled on both sides by NaK.

Calculations indicative of the power loss for 75 in.radius gap splitters are given.

Technical report includes three reports of research progress: 1) Range Measurements on 190 Mev Deuterons, M. Stephan; 2) Meson measurements, C. Lattes; and 3) N-P Scattering, R. Christian.