Results of recently concluded investigations of infrared laser induced photoionization of very high lying even parity levels in atomic uranium are presented. Behavior of both Rydberg and valence states is described.

The fabrication steps are examined for a complex glass target which is designated as a Ball-in-Plate or Saturn target. The Ball-in-Plate target consists of a hollow, D-T filled glass sphere mounted in a thin glass plate. The glass plate is coplaner with a diametral plane of the sphere.

High resolution (less than or equal to .5 cm/sup -1/) autoionization spectra of atomic uranium has been observed from newly identified odd parity levels between 32,660 and 34,165 cm/sup -1/. Photoionization cross sections are presented.

Over 100 new odd parity levels useful for isotope separation of U(I) were observed between 32,660--34,165 cm/sup -1/ using multistep photoionization. A tabulation of typical cross sections and radiative lifetimes for these states is given. The extension of this technique to mapping the spectra of other heavy atoms is discussed. (auth)

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LASNEX calculations with a modified electron conductivity show the existence of a firepolishing stabilization effect. By modifying the thermal conductivity so that K $alpha$ T/sup n//rho/sup m/, one is able to construct a situation in which the electrons deposit their energy in a thin layer at the ablation surface and closely match the zero order solutions assumed earlier. The firepolishing effect appears to require that a significant fraction of the total pressure be due to the ablation process itself rather than the thermal pressure in the corona gas. It also requires KL approximately 1 where L is the scale height for decay of thermal perturbations generated at the ablation surface. For classical electron conductivity, because the thermal flux depends linearly on the grams/cm$sup 2$ necessary to stop the electrons, (1/rho) nabla rho approximately (1/T) nabla T near the ablation surface so that the pressure is nearly constant across the ablation surface. Hence there is no ablation pressure as such and no firepolishing effect for electron-driven implosions. (auth)

An analytic model of the fusion components is used to generate a consistent set of fusion parameters, and component costs as parameters are varied. A model of the blanket, based on neutronic and thermal hydraulics, is then used to analyze the trade-offs of energy production vs plutonium production dictated by blanket type and management. An economic discussion of fuel cost is also given. (MOW)

An experiment was conducted to assess the potential hazard associated with the use of sludge containing plutonium as a soil conditioner for food crops. Conditions were chosen that would maximize exposure to the $sup 239$Pu in the sludge through resuspension and in plant content and thus approximated the maximum potential hazards due to the inhalation and ingestion pathways. The estimated 50-year radiation doses to the pulmonary region of the lung, bone, and liver based on the results of the inhalation experiment are 6 x 10$sup -4$ rem, 1.2 x 10$sup -3$ rem, and 0.55 x 10$sup -4$ rem, respectively. Similarly, the 50- year radiation doses attributable to ingestion of the sludge-grown vegetables were 2.2 x 10$sup -5$ rem to the bone and 1.5 x 10$sup -5$ rem to the liver. Thus, the inhalation pathway is the more critical of the two. The maximum permissible annual doses to the lungs, bone, and the liver for a member of the general public are 1.5, 3.0, and 1.5 rem, respectively. Thus, the maximum credible 50-year lung, bone, and liver dose commitments associated with the use of the $sup 239$Pu-contaminated sludge as a soil conditioner are approximately 4.0 x 10$sup -2$ percent of the …

The results of some experimental measurements of laser implosions are analyzed. Calculations are made of specific target irradiations and compared with experiments. A general description is given of exploding pushers and the physical processes involved are described. (MOW)