Article discussing the early admission to college programs, including the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science.

VIM is a continuous energy Monte Carlo code first developed around 1970 for the analysis of plate-type, fast-neutron, zero-power critical assemblies. In most respects, VIM is functionally equivalent to the MCNP code but it has two features that make uniquely suited to the analysis of fast reactor critical experiments: (1) the plate lattice geometry option, which allows efficient description of and neutron tracking in the assembly geometry, and (2) a statistical treatment of neutron cross section data in the unresolved resonance range. Since its inception, VIM`s capabilities have expanded to include numerous features, such as thermal neutron cross sections, photon cross sections, and combinatorial and other geometry options, that have allowed its use in a wide range of neutral-particle transport problems. The earliest validation work at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) focused on the validation of VIM itself. This work showed that, in order for VIM to be a ``rigorous`` tool, extreme detail in the pointwise Monte Carlo libraries was needed, and the required detail was added. The emphasis soon shifted to validating models, methods, data and codes against VIM. Most of this work was done in the context of analyzing critical experiments in zero power reactor (ZPR) assemblies. The purpose …

The Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider RHIC will collide polarized proton beams up to a maximum beam energy of 250 GeV [1]. The invariant spin field in a high energy ring can vary substantially across the beam. This decreases the amount of polarization provided to experiments and makes the polarization strongly dependent on the position in phase space. This paper describes a method to compute the invariant spin field by adiabatically blowing up the beam with an rf dipole. This method will also allow measuring the invariant spin field in RHIC.

Adsorption and film formation are key processes associated with the passivation and inhibition of metallic corrosion. New experimental approaches are needed to advance our knowledge in these areas. We have developed the technique of Synchrotron Far Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (SFIRS) for in situ investigations of the structure and composition of surface films and adsorbed layers on metals. We demonstrate its application to the determination of the nature of surface films on copper in aqueous solutions and the adsorption of anions on gold. The anodic corrosion films on copper in alkaline solution were found to consist of Cu{sub 2}O in the passive region at about {minus}0.05 V vs SCE and CUO, together with CU(OH){sub 2}, at 0.30 V. We have also observed for the first time the adsorption of anions at monolayer coverage on the surface of a gold electrode in perchloric acid solution. Halides (Cl-, Br-), nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate have been studied. When two different anions are present in solution, the more strongly adsorbed species determines the corrosion behavior of the metal. This is illustrated in the competitive adsorption of bromide and phosphate on gold.

In order to collide polarized protons, the RHIC project will have two snakes in each ring and four rotators around each of two interaction regions. Two snakes on opposite sides of each ring can minimize depolarization during acceleration by keeping the spin tune at a half. Since the spin direction is normally along the vertical direction in a flat ring, spin rotators must be used around an interaction point to have longitudinal polarization in a collider experiment. Each snake or rotator will be composed of four helical dipoles to provide the required rotation of spin with minimal transverse orbit excursions in a compact length of 10m. The basic helical dipole is a superconducting magnet producing a transverse dipole field which is twisted about the magnet axis through 360{degree} in a length of 2.4 m. The design and construction of the magnets is described in this paper.

While Magnetic X-ray Circular Dichroism (MXCD) has been applied extensively to the extraction of elemental magnetic moments in various magnetic multilayers, the configuration of actual devices imposes certain constraints on the application of MXCD to devices. Using a set of real, thin-film spin valve devices with varying Cu spacer layer thicknesses, we demonstrate the correlation between MXCD and R-H measurements on those devices as well as the restrictions on the interpretation of MXCD data imposed by both the device topology and the formulation of realistic error estimates.

This work addresses specification and design of reliable safety-critical systems, such as nuclear reactor control systems. Reliability concerns are addressed in complimentary fashion by different fields. Reliability engineers build software reliability models, etc. Safety engineers focus on prevention of potential harmful effects of systems on environment. Software/hardware correctness engineers focus on production of reliable systems on the basis of mathematical proofs. The authors think that correctness may be a crucial guiding issue in the development of reliable safety-critical systems. However, purely formal approaches are not adequate for the task, because they neglect the connection with the informal customer requirements. They alleviate that as follows. First, on the basis of the requirements, they build a model of the system interactions with the environment, where the system is viewed as a black box. They will provide foundations for automated tools which will (a) demonstrate to the customer that all of the scenarios of system behavior are presented in the model, (b) uncover scenarios not present in the requirements, and (c) uncover inconsistent scenarios. The developers will work with the customer until the black box model will not possess scenarios (b) and (c) above. Second, the authors will build a chain of several …

Heavy ion beam transport through the containment chamber plays a crucial role in all heavy ion fusion (HIF) scenarios. Here, several parameters are used to characterize the operating space for HIF beams; transport modes are assessed in relation to evolving target/accelerator requirements; results of recent relevant experiments and simulations of HIF transport are summarized; and relevant instabilities are reviewed. All transport options still exist, including (1) vacuum ballistic transport, (2) neutralized ballistic transport, and (3) channel-like transport. Presently, the European HIF program favors vacuum ballistic transport, while the US HIF program favors neutralized ballistic transport with channel-like transport as an alternate approach. Further transport research is needed to clearly guide selection of the most attractive, integrated HIF system.

The structural properties, energetics, and dynamics of Ca{sup 2+} and Mn{sup 2+} substituents in KTaO{sub 3} are investigated from first principles. It is found that Ca substitutes for both K and Ta ions. Oxygen vacancies bind to isolated Ca ions residing at Ta-sites, causing off-center Ca displacement and forming large dipoles. There is also evidence that oppositely charged defects may cluster together. The calculations predict that the activation energy for dipole reorientation via oxygen vacancy hopping within the first neighbor shell of Ta-substituting Ca or Mn exceeds 2 eV. On the other hand, Mn{sup 2+} substituting at the K-site displaces off center along the (100) direction, also forming a dipole. This dipole can reorient via Mn hopping motion with an activation energy of {approximately} 0.18 eV, in reasonable agreement with experiments. The authors argue that, in general, metal ion hopping at the A-site, not oxygen vacancy hopping, is responsible for the small activation energies found in experiments.

Disruptive technologies are scientific discoveries that break through the usual product technology capabilities and provide a basis for a new competitive paradigm as described by Anderson and Tushman [1990], Tushman and Rosenkopf [1992], and Bower and Christensen [1995]. Discontinuous innovations are products/processes/services that provide exponential improvements in the value received by the customer much in the same vein as Walsh [1996], Lynn, Morone and Paulson [1996], and Veryzer [1998]. For more on definitions of disruptive technologies and discontinuous innovations, see Walsh and Linton [1999] who provide a number of definitions for disruptive technologies and discontinuous innovations. Disruptive technologies and discontinuous innovations present a unique challenge and opportunity for R and D organizations seeking to build their commercialization efforts and to reinvent the corporation. These technologies do not have a proven path from scientific discovery to mass production and therefore require novel approaches. These critically important technologies are the wellspring of wealth creation and new competency generation but are not readily accepted by the corporate community. They are alternatively embraced and eschewed by the commercial community. They are finally accepted when the technology has already affected the industry or when the technological horse has already flown out of the hanger. Many …

Some recent theoretical work on inclusive B decays relevant for the model independent determination of {vert_bar}V{sub ub}{vert_bar} and {vert_bar}V{sub cb}{vert_bar} is summarized. The theoretical predictions and their reliability for several differential decay distributions in {anti B}{yields}X{sub c,u}e{anti {nu}} and {anti B}{yields}X{sub s}{gamma} are reviewed. These can be used to determine certain important HQET matrix elements. The upsilon expansion and ways of testing it are discussed.

This is a period of ever-tightening defense budgets and continuing pressure on the public sector to be more commercial-like, Property policies, practices, and regulations are increasingly being challenged and changed. In these times, we must be leaders in understanding and defining the value of our profession from a commercial standpoint so that we can provide the right services to our customers and explain and defend the value of those services. To do so, we must step outside current property management practices, regulations, and oversight. We must learn to think and speak in the language of those who fund us--a financial language of risk, cost, and benefit. Regardless of regulation and oversight, our bosses are demanding that we demonstrate (financially) the benefits of current practice, or else. This article is intended to be the beginning of an effort to understand and define our profession in terms of risk, cost, and benefit so that we can meet these new challenges. The first step in this effort must be defining and measuring risk, cost, and benefit. Our costs, although sometimes difficult to capture, are easy to understand: they are almost exclusively the effort, both within and without the property management organization, involved in …

The Sandia ACRR (a Hazard Category 2 Nuclear Reactor Facility) was defueled in June 1997 to modify the reactor core and control system to produce medical radioisotopes for the Department of Energy (DOE) Isotope Production Program. The DOE determined that an Operational Readiness Review (ORR) was required to confirm readiness to begin operations within the revised safety basis. This paper addresses the ORR Process, lessons learned from the Sandia and DOE ORRS of the ACRR, and the use of the ORR to confirm authorization basis implementation.

Interest in the critical dynamics of superfluid <SUP>4</SUP> He in microgravity conditions has motivated the development of new high resolution thermometry technol- ogy for use in space experiments near 2K. The current material commonly used as the temperature sensing element for high resolution thermometers (HRTs) is copper ammonium bromide [Cu(NH<SUB>4</SUB>)<SUB>2</SUB>Br<SUB>4</SUB>2H<SUB>2</SUB>0) or "CAB", which undergoes a ferromagnetic phase transition at 1.8K1. HRTs made from CAB have demonstrated low drift (< 10fK/s) and a temperature resolu- tion of O.lnK. Unfortunately, paramagnetic salts such as CAB are difficult to prepare and handle, corrosive to most metals, and become dehydrated if kept, under vacuum conditions at room temperature. We have developed a magnetic thermometer using dilute magnetic alloys of Mn or Fe dissolved in a pure Pd matrix. These metallic thermometers are easy to fabricate, chemically inert, and mechanically robust. Unlike salts, they may be directly soldered to the stage to be measured. Also, the Curie temperature can be varied by changing the concentration of Fe or Mn, making them available for use in a wide temperature range. Susceptibility measurements, as well as preliminary noise and drifl measurements, show them, to have sub-nK resolution, with a drift of less than 10<SUP>-13</SUP> K/s.

Trapped protons and electrons in the Earth's radiation belts and cosmic rays present significant challenges for electronics that must operate reliably in the natural space environment. Single event effects (SEE) can lead to sudden device or system failure, and total dose effects can reduce the lifetime of a telecommmiications system with significant space assets. One of the greatest sources of uncertainty in developing radiation requirements for a space system is accounting for the small but finite probability that the system will be exposed to a massive solar particle event. Once specifications are decided, standard laboratory tests are available to predict the total dose response of MOS and bipolar components in space, but SEE testing of components can be more challenging. Prospects are discussed for device modeling and for the use of standard commercial electronics in space.

This paper describes a procedure to assess the bursting capacity of containment vessels used to transport radioactive materials. These vessels can be susceptible to an internal deflagration or detonation due to the ignition of hydrogen gas evolved by radiolysis. The maximum pressure capacity of a containment vessel can be established by determining the maximum primary vessel stresses at the maximum normal operating pressure and linearly extrapolating this pressure to stresses equal to the tensile yield or ultimate strength of the vessel's structural material. This leads to a maximum pressure to yield or burst the vessel. Comparison of data obtained with this procedure with experimental data or calculations that estimate the maximum deflagration or detonation pressure can provide a reasonable estimate of the capability of the containment vessel to safely contain the gases.

In order to enhance Fermilab hadron research program and to provide a proton source to a future muon storage ring or a muon collider, the study of a new high intensity proton ma-chine called the Proton Driver is being pursued at Fermilab. It would replace the present linac and 8 GeV Booster and produce 20 times the proton intensity as the Booster. This paper gives a status report on a number of design issues of this machine.

HgBa{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub 6+{delta}} (Hg-1212) thin films were fabricated by exchanging the TI cations in TlBa{sub 2}CaCu{sub 2}O{sub 7-{delta}} (Tl-1212) thin films with Hg cations, causing a 30-K increase in Tc. To determine how this exchange effects such a Tc increase, the irreversibility lines, temperature dependence of critical current density, and temperature dependence of Hall angle of Hg-1212 and T1-1212 thin films were measured and then compared. The results strongly suggest that the Tc shift is caused by a doubling of charge carrier density.

The authors discuss the structure of the ''forward visible'' (FW) parts of double and skewed distributions related to usual distributions through reduction relations. They use factorized models for double distributions (DDs) {tilde f}(x,{alpha}) in which one factor coincides with the usual (forward) parton distribution and another specifies the profile characterizing the spread of the longitudinal momentum transfer. The model DDs are used to construct skewed parton distributions (SPDs). For small skewedness, the FW parts of SPDs H ({tilde x},{xi}) can be obtained by averaging forward parton densities f({tilde x}-{xi}{alpha}) with the weight {rho}({alpha}) coinciding with the profile function of the double distribution {tilde f}(x, {alpha}) at small x. They show that if the x{sup n} moments {tilde f}{sub n}({alpha}) of DDs have the asymptotic (1-{alpha}{sup 2}){sup n+1} profile, then the {alpha}-profile of {tilde f}(x,{alpha}) for small x is completely determined by small-x behavior of the usual parton distribution. They demonstrate that, for small {xi}, the model with asymptotic profiles for {tilde f}{sub n}({alpha}) is equivalent to that proposed recently by Shuvaev et al., in which the Gegenbauer moments of SPDs do not depend on {xi}. They perform a numerical investigation of the evolution patterns of SPDs and give interpretation of …

The longitudinal profile of an 10 nC electron bunch of a few picoseconds duration will be measured by electro-optic detection of the wakefield. The polarization of a short in-frared probe laser pulse (derived from the photocathode excitation laser) is modulated in a LiTaO3 crystal by the transient electric field of the bunch. The bunch profile is measured by scanning the delay between the laser and the bunch, and is sensitive to head/tail asymmetries. A single-shot extension of the technique is possible using a longer chirped laser pulse.

The authors discuss the difficulties in testing the hadron models by using the N{sup *} parameters extracted from the empirical amplitude analyses of the {pi}N and {gamma}N reaction data. As an alternative or perhaps a more advantageous approach, they present a Hamiltonian formulation that can relate the pion production dynamics and the constituent quark models of N{sup *} structure. The application of the approach in investigating the {Delta} and N{sup *}(S{sub 11}) excitations is reviewed. It is found that while the {Delta} excitation can be described satisfactory, the {pi}N scattering in S{sub 11} channel can not be described by the constituent quark models based on either the one-gluon-exchange or one-meson-exchange mechanisms. A phenomenological quark-quark potential has been constructed to reproduce the S{sub 11} amplitude.

Commercial telemedicine systems are increasingly functional, incorporating video-conferencing capabilities, diagnostic peripherals, medication reminders, and patient education services. However, these systems (1) rarely utilize information architectures which allow them to be easily integrated with existing health information networks and (2) do not always protect patient confidentiality with adequate security mechanisms. Using object-oriented methods and software wrappers, we illustrate the transformation of an existing stand-alone telemedicine system into `plug-and-play' components that function in a distributed medical information environment. We show, through the use of open standards and published component interfaces, that commercial telemedicine offerings which were once incompatible with electronic patient record systems can now share relevant data with clinical information repositories while at the same time hiding the proprietary implementations of the respective systems. Additionally, we illustrate how leading-edge technology can secure this distributed telemedicine environment, maintaining patient confidentiality and the integrity of the associated electronic medical data. Information surety technology also encourages the development of telemedicine systems that have both read and write access to electronic medical records containing patient-identifiable information. The win-win approach to telemedicine information system development preserves investments in legacy software and hardware while promoting security and interoperability in a distributed environment.

The authors have investigated exclusive photoproduction of light vector mesons ({omega}, {rho} and {phi}) on the nucleon at low energies. In order to explore the questions concerning the so-called missing nucleon resonances, they first establish the predictions from a model based on the Pomeron and meson exchange mechanisms. They have also explored the contributions due to the mechanisms involving s- and u-channel intermediate nucleon state. Some discrepancies found at the energies near threshold and large scattering angles suggest a possibility of using this reaction to identify the nucleon resonances.

Several experiments were conducted to develop electrically insulating CaO coatings on a V-4Cr-4Ti alloy for application in an Li environment. The coatings were developed by vapor phase transport external to Li, and also in-situ in an Li-Ca environment at elevated temperature. In the vapor phase study, several geometrical arrangements were examined to obtain a uniform coating of Ca on the specimens, which were typically coupons measuring 5 to 10 x 5 x 1 mm. After Ca deposition from the vapor phase, the specimens were oxidized in a high-purity argon environment at 600 C to convert the deposited metal into oxide. The specimens exhibited insulating characteristics after this oxidation step. Several promising coated specimens were then exposed to high-purity Li at 500 C for 48--68 h to determine coating integrity. Microstructural characteristics of the coatings were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. Electrical resistances of the coatings were measured by a two-probe method between room temperature and 700 C before and after exposure to Li.