Recent developments in high reliability components for linear induction accelerators (LIA) make possible the use of these devices as economical power drives for very high gradient linear colliders. A particularly attractive realization of this ''two-beam accelerator'' approach is to configure the LIA as a monolithic relativistic klystron operating at 10 to 12 GHz with induction cells providing periodic reacceleration of the high current beam. Based upon a recent engineering design of a state-of-the-art, 10- to 20-MeV LIA at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, this paper presents an algorithm for scaling the cost of the relativistic klystron to the parameter regime of interest for the next generation high energy physics machines. The algorithm allows optimization of the collider luminosity with respect to cost by varying the characteristics (pulse length, drive current, repetition rate, etc.) of the klystron. It also allows us to explore cost sensitivities as a guide to research strategies for developing advanced accelerator technologies.

Thermal-barrier experiments have been carried out in the Tandem Mirror Experiment-Upgrade (TMX-U). Measurements of nonambipolar and ambipolar radial transport show that these transport processes, as well as end losses, can be controlled at modest densities and durations. Central-cell heating methods using ion-cyclotron heating (ICH) and neutral-beam injection have been demonstrated. Potential mesurements with recently developed methods indicate that deep thermal barriers can be established.

Thermal-barrier experiments have been carried out in the Tandem Mirror Experiment-Upgrade (TMX-U). Measurements of nonambipolar and ambipolar radial transport show that these transport processes, as well as end losses, can be controlled at modest densities and durations. Central-cell heating methods using ion-cyclotron heating (ICH) and neutral-beam injection have been demonstrated. Potential measurements with recently developed methods indicate that deep thermal barriers can be established.

Results are reported for an ongoing effort to optimize D/sup +/ beam production by the MATS-III ion source used at the RTNS-II. The oxide cathode assembly originally designed for lower power operation has been modified and redesigned for higher electron current yield, longer life and serviceability. A factor of 2.5 has been gained in cathode lifetime due to these changes. The details of the changes and results and benefits in operation and performance are given. In addition, the technique used for manufacture of the filament is described.

Some elementary facts about holomorphic line bundles are discussed along with some applications to string theory.

Reports are reported for an ongoing effort to optimize D+ beam production by the MATS-III ion source used at RTNS-II. The three seven-aperture electrodes, originally consisting of water-cooled copper, have now been tested using uncooled molybdenum and with water cooling on the second (decel) electrode only. Details of the change, the results of the testing, and the benefits in operation, performance and cost are given.

The stability of the lightest superpartner is a crucial aspect of many experimental searches for supersymmetry and of supersymmetric dark matter candidates. It is shown that R parity may occur in operators of dimension four or less as an accidental consequence of an exact Z/sub N/ symmetry. In this case the lightest superpartner can decay via higher dimension operators. The lifetime depends on the scale of the new physics responsible for the non-renormalizable operators; it could be anywhere in the region 10/sup -20/ seconds to 10/sup +20/ seconds. Explicit examples are given. 12 refs.

We review two classes of plasma diagnostic techniques used in thermal-barrier tandem-mirror fusion experiments. The emphasis of the first class is to study mirror-trapped electrons at the thermal-barrier location. The focus of the second class is to measure the spatial and temporal behavior of the plasma space potential at various axial locations. The design and operation of the instruments in these two categories are discussed and data that are representative of their performance is presented.

Recent developments in accelerator physics and technology have led to lower cost estimates for a heavy-ion induction linac driver. Studies show that the cost of electricity produced using such a driver are competitive with other fusion systems at a plant capacity of 1.2 GW/sub e/ and are competitive with projected fission power costs at less than 4 GW/sub e/.

The TIBER-II machine is a minimum-size steady-state tokamak with sufficient fusion power, wall flux, and fluence to be used for undertaking a nuclear test mission. Although the machine is envisioned as an engineering device, it will demonstrate reactor-relevant physics. To achieve the small size and high performance goals of TIBER II, the engineered systems must be based on aggressive assumptions. In addition, the machine must be designed for ease of maintenance to ensure reaching the fluence goal of 5 MW yr/m/sup 2/ in a design lifetime of 13 years. This paper concentrates on the configuration and structural issues of designing a small, high-field, and high-flux device.

No-scale supergravity theories with the minimal low-energy particle content are shown to become untenable for a top quark mass m/sub T/ much less than 40 GeV. For m/sub T/ < 55 GeV, a stringent upper bound operates on the mass of the lowest-lying Higgs scalar. Further, the Higgs pseudoscalar is constrained to be nearly a quarter as massive as the gluino.

The Advent of laser-ion-guiding in the Advanced test Accelerator along with the development of accelerator cavities optimized with respect to beam breakup coupling impedence now make it possible to consider a new class of high current, high emergy linear induction accelerators. The control of the beam breakup and other instabilities by laser guiding and by various magnetic focusing schemes will be discussed along with the scaling laws for the design of such machines to minimize the growth of the beam breakup instability. Many linacs, particularly induction linacs are limited in performance by the beam breakup (BBU) instability. The instability is found in two forms. In the first form the accelerating cavities communicate with one another through interaction with the beam and through propagation of cavity fields through the accelerator structure. In the second form which is the more virulent of the two, the cavities couple to each other only through their interactions with the beam. It is this second form of PPU that will be discussed in this paper.

Triton induced reactions, such as the (t,p) reaction, can be used for in-beam gamma-ray and conversion-electron studies of nuclei that are somewhat neutron rich. We have developed systems for both conversion-electron and gamma-ray spectroscopy in coincidence with the outgoing energetic proton to identify the (t,p) reaction channel. Data from the /sup 142/Nd(t,p..gamma..) reaction illustrate several of the characteristics of this reaction for studying nuclear structure. Preliminary results from the study of /sup 96/Zr by conversion-electron spectroscopy, and /sup 240/U by gamma-ray spectroscopy, are reported. 4 refs., 4 figs.