Abstract. Various effects of spheroidal nuclear distortion on the alpha decay process are considered theoretically. Differential equations governing alpha decay in the region beyond the maximum nuclear radius are derived. They consist of ordinary radial Schrodinger equations for alpha decay to various nuclear states with the addition of quadrupole interaction terms coupling the various equations. The significance of wave amplitudes of various angular momentum alpha groups as Fourier components of the total wave function is pointed out, and experimental alpha decay rate data for even-even nuclei are discussed in these terms.

The motivation for the measurement of the angular distribution of elastic scattering of medium energy protons and neutrons has been clearly presented by others. They have also listed the results obtained prior to their experiments at 31.5 Mev. This is a report on some results obtained with 30.6 Mev protons scattered from Be, C, and Al.

Quarterly report on the metabolic properties of various materials, biological studies of radiation effects, health chemistry, health physics.

Consider an orthogonal series [formula] where [formula] is an arbitrary orthonormal system for the interval (a, b) and [formula] is a sequence of real numbers. This report is a collection of theorems which give sufficient conditions for the convergence almost everywhere in (a, b) and summability a. e. in (a, b) of the above series.

A set of 69 pile yield curves for the production of plutonium, americium, and curium isotopes in a neutron flux of 5 x 10<sup>14 cm<sup>-2 sec<sup>-1 is given. The differential analyzer of the University of California Radiation Laboratory was used in obtaining the curves. The curves are given also on log-log plots for comparison.

There is an active principle in heparinized plasma that may be studied in vitro with a prescribed lipoprotein-containing medium. To this end the interaction of this active principle or factor was studied with lipoprotein species isolated from egg yolk.

Quarterly updates on nuclear chemistry, bio-organic chemistry, general chemistry, chemical engineering (process chemistry).

Our aerosol program employing monkeys has been initiated. A plutonium oxilate solution was introduced into the trachea. Preliminary results of the fecal and urinary determinations appear here.

Progress report on biological studies of radiation effects, metabolic properties of various materials, health chemistry, health physics.

Certain isotopes in the region of the heaviest elements have been produced by cyclotron and pile bombardment techniques, and their nuclear decay properties have been investigated. The orbital electron capture decay of At210, At211, Np234, Np235, Pu234, Pu237, and Am242m has been studied and decay schemes have been proposed. In addition, the alpha spectra of Po211, At210, and At211 have been observed.

One of the oldest properties of electrons is their emission of x-rays (discrete and continuous spectra) when impinging on matter. Cloud-chamber tracks show light ionization, and considerable multiple scattering, except for fast electrons. Tracks are long and range indefinite.

Diffusion equations for a cascade shower which include an energy cutoff and energy parameters for each particle have not previously been studied. In this paper it is found that an inclusion of both permits collision loss to be represented as a discrete process by modifying the differential radiation cross section.

An empirical relation is presented which represents a boundary between no vacuum sparking and possible vacuum sparking. Metal electrodes and r.f. or d.c. voltages are used. The criterion fits several orders of surface gradient, voltage, gap, and frequency. Current due to field emission is considered necessary for sparking but in addition, energetic particles are required to initiate a cascade process which increases the field emission currents to the point of sparking. An elementary cascade process is outlined, but the data upon which it is based is not fully stated.

The purpose of this report is to describe a method of obtaining deuterons from the 184-inch cyclotron of higher energy than can be achieved from direct acceleration.

Progress report on programs in target research and in accelerator research.

A preliminary study of positive pion production from proton-nucleus collisions revealed that positive pion production cross sections agree more favorably with a Z 2/3 variation than with a variation proportional to the atomic number. A similar study on negative pion production has shown that negative pion yields from proton-nucleus collisions tend to vary in proportion to the number of neutrons in the nucleus. As a result an experiment was performed to investigate if there is a significant change in positive pion production with changing atomic number at two lower pion energies.

Recent studies on the separation of cobalt and nickel and on the behavior of iron in hydrochloric acid on Dowex-1 resin in relation to the selective adsorption of chloride complexes of these elements have suggested the use of resin for the separation of iron and cobalt.

A calculation method has been developed in order to correlate continuous-flow extraction results in mixer-settlers with rate data for batch experiments. This correlation utilizes dynamic extraction coefficients (E's) that are calculated from the rate data and the equilibrium extraction coefficients. The dynamic coefficients may then be used in stage-by-stage calculations, or their average values used in equations derived herein from the overall performance of center-fed columns.

A "particle" of charge Ze moves with velocity v, mass M, energy [formula], through a "substance" of atomic number Zo, density N atoms/cm3. We have to consider the process of slowing down, and the nature of the trail of ions produced. Very slow particles are of little interest, as their range is very short. If Z is large, or if the particle is an electron, there are complications which we postpone. Thus, our considerations will apply particularly to protons, deuterons, o< -particles, and mesons.

The previous calculation of the energy spectrum of the high energy deuteron beam from the stripping of He3 (UCRL-2150) was thought to be in error, especially as regards the low energy tail, on the basis of some experiments with the neutron time-of-flight detector, which indicated a considerably narrower spectrum than that calculated in UCRL-2150. Since the value used for the attenuation cross section of deuterons in uranium is considerably lower than that presently considered correct a new calculation was made using this latter cross section. Since the equations used in this new calculation differ somewhat from those used in the previous report a brief derivation is given here.

We have preliminarily reported the interpretation of our experimental results that the intensity of the spectrum at the maximum energy was zero. But, as reported in the second paper UCRL-1261 we found that the results may also be fitted to a different spectrum with finite intensity at the maximum energy. Quite recently, however, the most probable value for the mass of the p-meson has been revised by two independent groups based on two different experiments.

The root locus method of the treatment of stability problems in the field of servomechanisms is briefly summarized. A simple mechanical instrument of the analogue type (a summing device) containing no gear mechanisms, and designed to do most of the numerical work of the root locus method, is also described.

Statistical methods were employed to measure relative values of electron loading and spark-over voltage for a large number of unoutgassed electrode materials. Test voltages up to 110 KV were employed in vacuum of the order of 10<sup>-7 mm Hg. All metals showed a square root dependence between spark-over voltage and spacing.

At high excitation energies, competition of proton and c-particle emission with neutron emission becomes important. For low excitation, the competition between Y-emission, neutron emission, and fission should be taken into account. To aid in the evaluation of this competition an experiment has been performed to measure the number and energy spectrum of the protons and c-particles emitted in the high energy bombardment of uranium with protons, deuterons, and c-particles.