We describe the design and construction status of theLow-Energy Ring (LER) of the PEP-II project, a collaboration of SLAC,LBNL, and LLNL. In the past year we have optimized LER parameters andstarted component fabrication. By reusing the original wigglers, we wereable to simplify the design of the distributed wiggler photon dump, whichmust dissipate 260 kW of power. The number of RF stations (eachcomprising a klystron powering two 476-MHz cavities) was reduced from 4to 3. We have begun fabrication of the arc vacuum system based on anextruded Al antechamber configuration with discrete photon stops andTSPs. The design of the straight section vacuum components, to befabricated from stainless steel pipe, is also completed. Quadrupoles anddipoles are provided under a collaborative agreement with IHEP (Beijing);correctors and skew quadrupoles are built domestically and sextupoles arerefurbished from existing PEP magnets. LER commissioning will begin earlyin 1998.

The various power systems for supplying the PEP-II DCmagnets rely exclusively on switch mode conversion, utilizing a varietyof means depending on the requirements. All of the larger power supplies,ranging from 10 to 200 kW, are powered from DC sources utilizingrectified 480 V AC. Choppers can be used for the series connectedstrings, but for smaller groups and individual magnets, inverters drivinghigh-frequency transformers with secondary rectifiers comprise the bestapproach. All of the various systems use a "building block" approach ofmultiple standard-size units connected in series or parallel to mostcost-effectively deal with a great range of voltage and currentrequirements. Utilization of existing infrastructure from PEP-I has beena cost-effective determinant. Equipment is being purchased eitheroff-the-shelf, through performance specification, or by hardware purchasebased on design-through-prototype. The corrector magnet power system,utilizing inexpensive, off-the-shelf four-quadrant switching motorcontrollers, has already proven very reliable: 120 of the total of 900units have been running on the injection system for four months with nofailures.

None

Photograph of a historic property in Texas.

Photograph of a historic property in Texas.

Photograph of a historic property in Texas.

Photograph of a historic property in Texas.

Photograph of a historic property in Texas.

Photograph of a historic property in Texas.

Photograph of a historic property in Texas.

Photograph of the Ordway Hall, Amarillo College (located at 2201 S Washington St) in Amarillo, Texas.

Photograph of a historic property in Texas.

Photograph of a historic property in Texas.

Photograph of a historic property in Texas.

Photograph of a historic property in Texas.

Photograph of a historic property in Texas.

Photograph of a historic property in Texas.

Photograph of a historic property in Texas.

Photograph of a historic property in Texas.

Photograph of a historic property in Texas.

Cathode performance is critical to lithium ion rechargeable battery performance; effects of doping lithium manganese oxide cathode materials on cathode performance are being investigated. In this paper, Li diffusion in Al-doped LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4} was studied and found to be controlled by the quantity of Al dopant. Electrochemical cycling was conducted at 0.5mA/cm{sub 2}; electrochemical impedance spectra were taken at open circuit potential, with impedance being measured at 65 kHz-0.01 Hz. As the Al dopant level was increased, the Li diffusion rate decreased; this was attributed to the decreased lattice parameter of the doped oxide.

Our investigations of InGaAsP/GaAs system have shown that it is in many ways superior to the conventional AlGaAs/GaAs system. Lasers fabricated from InGaAsP/GaAs exhibit low facet overheating, high efficiency, good degradation characteristics, and high catastrophic optical damage (COD) limit. Our postgrowth technology provides stripe- contact lasers having very low series resistance and, therefore, high electrical-to-optical efficiency.

The operation and calibration of the ARM microwave radiometers is summarized. Measured radiometric brightness temperatures are compared with calculations based on the model using co-located radiosondes. Comparisons of perceptible water vapor retrieved from the radiometer with integrated soundings and co-located GPS retrievals are presented. The three water vapor sensing systems are shown to agree to within about 1 mm.

A new method has been developed for characterizing the electrical performance of photovoltaic arrays. The method provides both a ``rating`` at standard reporting conditions and a rigorous yet straightforward model for predicting array performance at all operating conditions. For the first time, the performance model handles the influences of irradiance, module temperature, solar spectrum, solar angle-of-incidence, and temperature coefficients, in a practical way. Validity of the procedure was confirmed during field testing of a 25-kW array recently installed by Arizona Public Service Co. on Carol Spring Mountain (which powers microwave, ceullular phone, and TV communictions equipment). This paper describes the characterization procedure, measured array performance, and the predictive model.