A new method of introducing predetermined quantities of hydrogen into zirconium was developed and evaluated. The procedure is simple, effective, and inherently good in preverting oxygen and nitrogen contamination. Zirconium samples containing four levels of dissolved hydrogenated to 100, 300, 3500, and 7700 ppm hydrogen. Dissolved oxygen was found to decrease hydrogen absorption in both the alpha and beta modifications of zirconium. The effect of hydrogen on density, hardness, and microstructure was determined. X-ray-diffraction measurements were also obtained. (auth)

Somewhere in the future lies the possibility that the existing HAPO reactors will no longer be required for the production of weapons grade plutonium. This could come about either through advances in technology or through changes in the requirements for this particular fissionable isotope as a weapons material. In any event, should these reactors no longer be utilized for plutonium production, it would be appropriate to consider the possibility of their conversion to other uses, notably that of electrical power production. Accordingly, this study has been made with the objective of investigating the economic and technological feasibility of such conversion. However, it must be recognized that the results presented herein are based on present day technology and economic philosophy and that within the next five years we may experience considerable renovation of these criteria which could alter the conclusions of the study appreciably. The primary benefit to be gained from this preliminary study is to narrow the area of future and more detailed investigation as much as possible so that if and when such a conversion appears likely, a significant fraction of the almost infinite number of combinations of reactor and power plant parameters may be rejected at the outset.

The study of interactions and decay of K mesons continued, using the 10- inch liquid hydrogen bubble chamber and emulsions. Four emulsion stacks were exposed for two internal groups and twenty-three stacks were exposed for seventeen groups from outside the Laboratory. Interactions of pi /sup -/ mesons were observed with a 30-inch propane bubble chamber and with emulsions. Ten emulsion stacks were exposed to neutral-particle beams and one stack to the internal 6.2-Bev proton beam. The 30-inch propane bubble chamber and emulsions were used to study the interactions of antiprotons. Eighteen target bombardments in the internal proton beam were made for the chemistry group. Successful tests were completed of two static-electromagnetic velocity spectrometers for the separation of highenergy particles. One was of coaxial construction, the other of parallel-plate construction. (For preceding period see UCRL-6114.) (auth)