From foreword: This report presents the preliminary design of a gamma irradiator intended for use as an experimental hospital sterilizer.

The Astron, a thermo-nuclear fusion research machine, requires the injection of high-energy electron at 5 MEV emery level +- 1/2 %, 200 amperes, 60 pulses per second, 0.3 usec pulse width. The accelerator will work by the induction principle with approximately 500 magnetic cores, each 1/2 inch thick lined up on centers. Each core will be pulsed by a single primary turn and the electrons forming the secondary will experience a voltage acceleration equivalent to the primary voltage upon passing by each core. The coupling in this arrangement has been tested and it is very nearly unity.

A flexible foil data processing program is described. Raw data on foil radioactivity are the basic input information required. Output may consists of relative activities, saturated activities, and/or cadmium ratio and flux spectrum data. A statistical analysis of the data is executed with the direct calculation, and errors estimated for the output data.

Abstract: A control system to provide digital printing and to plot an analog trace on an electric operated IBM model 11C Output Writer is described. The Digital mode of operation translates multidigit numbers through a set of commands to print each digit serially, then presents them to the output writer in a time sequence. The Analog mode of operation converts a d.c. input voltage to a digital number and by tab and space bar commands translates the carriage horizontally a distance proportional to this number.

In a recent paper, Bowers and Salpeter described a method for calculating the correlation energy of a classical one-component electron gas. The same problem has been considered by Meeron, Friedman, and Abe, using methods involving the summation of cert infinite classes of diagrams. While the relation between these theories and that of Bowers and Saltpeter is not year clear, it is interesting to note that Abe obtained an equivalent expression by approximating an integral. We have calculated the contribution to the equation of state using Abe's original expression and we found that the equation is valid only for certain values and it gives a correction of the wrong sign. On the other hand, our results are comparable to those which Bowers and Salpeter obtain from higher approximations.

This report is a summary of the aerothermodynamic calculations that have been made during the evaluation of the Tory II-A reactor. A presentation is made of the computational techniques developed, the materials properties utilized, and the calculational results obtained. In addition, relations fundamental to the analysis are discussed

The fabrication, irradiation and evaluation of the first two superheat fuel assemblies is described in detail. Experimental data indicate that, in general, the nuclear superheat fuel elements have performed satisfactorily under the testing conditions used. Certain problem areas which will influence future fuel element designs have been defined.

In January and February, 1960, Lawrence Radiation Laboratory personnel conducted a series of experiments in Phase II of Project Cowboy in which tourmaline crystal transducers, located very close (3 to 50 feet) to tamped high explosive detonations, detected dynamic elasto-plastic stress waves generated in salt. The detonations occurred 110 feet below the 800-foot working level of the Carey Salt Mine, near Winnfield, Louisiana. These experiments were designed to measure dynamic stress conditions resulting from explosion in the earth media, of which little is known at present, and to provide data for comparative calculations on seismic disturbances from tamped explosions and from explosion in large underground cavities. Eleatic stress waves of 1 kilobar magnitude were observed, with velocities of about 15,000 ft/sec. Inelastic stress waves up to 6 kilobars in magnitude were measured. Velocities for these waves were in the range 9000 to 12,000 ft/sec.

In the course of the cratering studies conducted as part of the Plowshare Program, the dependence of crater dimensions on depth of burst and the scaling laws relating crater dimensions to total energy release have been derived for chemical explosions in the desert alluvium of the Nevada Test Site. The desert alluvium is a lightly cemented sand and gravel, which was chosen for study because the first nuclear cratering explosions were fired in the medium and it was of interest to compare the nuclear and chemical explosion in the same medium. Shoemaker of the U.S. Geological Survey recently completed a detailed analysis of the Arizona Meteorite Crater and, through direct comparison with the nuclear explosion results in Nevada, arrived at an effective depth burst for the meteorite. He also reconstructed the original size and shape of the crater, and determined the limit of brecciation.

The wrist badge provides a dosimeter that is useful in estimating the radiation dose to the hands and forearms. Its new shield system gives good gamma and slow neutron dose discrimination with duPont 552 film packets. The film can be evaluated using the present technique and equipment. Several attempts to develop hand dosimeters have been made. Finger rings using film have been used routinely but have not been entirely satisfactory for all situations. The wrist badge was developed to provide improved gamma and slow neutron dose measurement of the upper extremities under certain appropriate conditions. The wrist badge dosimeter is not a substitute or alternate for finger ring dosimeters but is a necessary dosimeter for some extremity exposure situations.

A disposal method is needed for wastes generated from the decontamination of the NPR primary coolant loop. The limitations imposed by facilities design criteria for the disposal of NPR wastes preclude direct river release of the spent cleaning solutions because of the anticipated quantities of radioactive material in these wastes. The soil at a 100-N Area trench or crib should not be relied on for removing radionucleotides by ion exchange or filtration because of the high salt content of the wastes and the presence of solubilizing reagents. Permanent or long term storage of large volume of decontamination wastes would be expensive. A waste treatment is sought for concentrating the radioactive materials to volume suitable for long term storage and which would permit dispersal of the excess liquid to the environs.

Continued operation of F reactor with high water collection rates during the past 12 years has resulted in numerous detrimental effects. In addition to promoting external corrosion tube leaks, water leaks have corroded the Gunbarrel to the biological shield donut assemblies and cast iron thermal shield blocks, thus preventing the majority of tubes in F reactor from unrestrained thermal expansion. Fatigue of the Van Stone flange under the resulting compression loads leads to eventual failure in some cases. In addition, excessive compression loads exerted against the nozzle gasket result in plastic deformation and eventual failures of the gasket.

The preparation of essentially pure dimethyl selenide for the Isotype Separations Group, Chemistry Division, is described. The compound was prepared by warming a mixture of selenium, sodium hydroxide, sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate in aqueous solution for several hours at 50°C and then adding methyl iodide. Dimethyl selenide was removed by distillation.

A helium coolant purification system was designed for the proposed 800 MWT Pebble Bed Reactor. The purification system will operate on a coolant side stream with a flow rate 1% of the total coolant flow and there are provisions for radioactive and non-radioactive contamination removal.