We report the development and on-vehicle testing of an engineering prototype zinc/air battery. The battery is refueled by periodic exchange of spent electrolyte for zinc particles entrained in fresh electrolyte. The technology is intended to provide a capability for nearly continuous vehicle operation, using the fleet s home base for 10 minute refuelings and zinc recycling instead of commercial infrastructure. In the battery, the zinc fuel particles are stored in hoppers, from which they are gravity fed into individual cells and completely consumed during discharge. A six-celled (7V) engineering prototype battery was combined with a 6 V lead/acid battery to form a parallel hybrid unit, which was tested in series with the 216 V battery of an electric shuttle bus over a 75 mile circuit. The battery has an energy density of 140 Wh/kg and a mass density of 1.5 kg/L. Cost, energy efficiency, and alternative hybrid configurations are discussed.

This paper defines a few basic principles that are central to the regulation of natural gas distribution by local distribution companies in Maryland.

The scrape-off layer (SOL) and divertor plasma in the DEEI-D tokamak has been modeled using the 2-D fluid code UEDGE. The resulting simulated plasmas are compared in detail with the numerous diagnostics available on the device. Good agreement is obtained between the experimental measurements and the simulations when relatively small values of the assumed anomalous perpendicular transport coefficients are used. We use a purely diffusive model for perpendicular transport, with transport coefficients which are constant in space. The value of each of these transport coefficients is varied in the simulation to match the measured upstream density and temperature profiles. The resulting plasma parameters are then compared with all other diagnostics which measure parameters at various poloidal locations in the SOL.

This paper describes the use of Fourier techniques to characterize the wavefront of optical components, specifically, the use of the power spectral density, (PSD), function. The PSDs of several precision optical components will be shown. Many of the optical components of interest to us have square, rectangular or irregularly shaped apertures with major dimensions up-to 800 mm. The wavefronts of components with non-circular apertures cannot be analyzed with Zernicke polynomials since these functions are an orthogonal set for circular apertures only. Furthermore, Zernicke analysis is limited to treating low frequency wavefront aberrations; mid-spatial scale and high frequency error are expressed only as ``residuals.`` A more complete and powerful representation of the optical wavefront can be obtained by Fourier analysis in 1 or 2 dimensions. The PSD is obtained from the amplitude of frequency components present in the Fourier spectrum. The PSD corresponds to the scattered intensity as a function of scattering angle in the wavefront and can be used to describe the intensity distribution at focus. The shape of a resultant wavefront or the focal spot of a complex multi-component laser system can be calculated and optimized using the PSDs of individual optical components which comprise it.

This report presents progress made on a technique for {sup 14}C dating pictographs. A low-temperature oxygen plasma is used coupled with high-vacuum technologies to selectively remove C-containing material in the paints without contamination from inorganic carbon from rock substrates or accretions.

Article on enzymes of b-ring-deoxy flavonoid biosynthesis in elicited cell cultures of "Old Man" cactus (Cephalocereus senilis).

The Tokamak Physics Experiment (TPX) is designed to demonstrate features of an economically attractive steady state tokamak reactor. In this paper we present recent results from numerical studies of the proposed TPX divertor design (1), focusing on particle control and on radiative divertor scenarios for reducing the peak divertor heat flux. The configuration is an up/down symmetric double-null with a deep re-entrant slot geometry for the outer divertor legs.

We describe the role for the next-generation ``superlasers`` in the study of matter under extremely high energy density conditions, in comparison to previous uses of nuclear explosives for this purpose. As examples, we focus on three important areas of physics that have unresolved issues which must be addressed by experiment: Equations of state, hydrodynamic mixing, and the transport of radiation. We will describe the advantages the large lasers will have in a comprehensive experimental program.

We report results of x-ray topographic and optical measurements on KH{sub 2}PO{sub 4} crystals grown at rates of 5 to 30mm/day. We show that optical distortion in these crystals is caused primarily by 3 sources: dislocations, differences in composition between adjacent growth sectors of the crystal, and differences in composition between adjacent sectors of vicinal growth hillocks within a single growth sector of the crystal. We find that the compositional heterogeneities cause spatial variations in the refractive index and induced distortion of the transmitted wave front while large groups of dislocations are responsible for strain induced birefringence which leads to beam depolarization.

Several challenges existed in creating a system that would be valuable for training operators: the robustness and accuracy of the process model, the operator interface to the process, and the communication between the operator interface and the process models. Cost and implementation time were also important factors. Two possible implementation plans were examined. The first option was to develop a computer tool through which the operator could operate the process through interaction with the mouse and keyboard. The entire panel board system could be created in computer graphics and a process model attached. The second option was to construct a complete replica of the control room panelboard in a training environment. Operations personnel expressed a strong preference for creating the panel board replica. Concerns were expressed about the comfort level of the operators training on a computer tool, and the value of the operators becoming thoroughly familiar with the physical location of the equipment in the panelboard was believed to be high. It was therefore decided to create a replica of the control room panelboard.

Understanding of the long-term dissolution of waste forms in groundwater is required for the safe disposal of high level nuclear waste in a geologic repository, because waste-form radionuclides could be released by dissolution and transported in groundwater. The dissolution of the uranium dioxide (UO{sub 2}) matrix in spent nuclear fuel is considered the rate-limiting step for release of radioactive fission products. The intrinsic UO{sub 2} dissolution rate sets an upper limit on the aqueous radionuclide release rate. Unsaturated spent fuel tests have shown that pH`s of leachates have decreased to a range of 4 to 6, presumably due to air radiolysis that oxidizes nitrogen, producing nitric acid. Dissolution rates under such acidic conditions may be different than those previously reported for alkaline groundwater conditions. No dissolution rate measurements of UO{sub 2} or spent fuel have been reported for acidic conditions possibly relevant to a geologic repository. The purpose of our work has been to measure the intrinsic dissolution rates of uranium dioxide under acidic conditions that are relevant to a repository and allow for modeling. Experiments have been completed at room-temperature and 75 C, pH`s of 4 and 6, and air and oxygen saturated aqueous solutions. These are compared with …

We have developed a laser system that incoroprates a vector phase conjugate mirror that corrects for both spatial and polarization distortions. The fractional output coupling can be varied mechanically from 0 to 100%.

It is pointed out that creation of a critical assembly by implantation of Pu239 inside an asteroid or comet could produce a substantial force on the asteroid or comet due to either explosive ejection or asymmetric sublimation of material off the surface of the asteroid or comet. This would allow one to make substantial changes in an asteroid`s or comet`s orbital elements using existing launch vehicles and spacecraft technology. It is particularly intriguing that recurrent sublimation induced by plutonium implantation could over a few months time deflect even kilometer-sized earth intersecting objects enough to avoid the earth. For the more distant future, nuclear-powered pulse jets might be a cost-effective way of altering the trajectories of asteroids and comets.

Recent and proposed improvements in spatial resolution, temporal resolution, contrast, and detection efficiency for x-ray framing cameras are discussed in light of present and future laser-plasma diagnostic needs. In particular, improvements in image contrast above hard x-ray background levels is demonstrated by using high aspect ratio tapered pinholes.

We propose a genetic algorithm that evolves families of rules from a set of examples. Inputs and outputs of the problem are discrete and nominal values which makes it difficult to use alternative learning methods that implicitly regard a metric space. A way how to encode sets of rules is presented together with special variants of genetic operators suitable for this encoding. The solution found by means of this process can be used as a core of a rule-based expert system.

The modalities of speech and gesture have different strengths and weaknesses, but combined they create synergy where each modality corrects the weaknesses of the other. We believe that a multimodal system such a one interwining speech and gesture must start from a different foundation than ones which are based solely on pen input. In order to provide a basis for the design of a speech and gesture system, we have examined the research in other disciplines such as anthropology and linguistics. The result of this investigation was a taxonomy that gave us material for the incorporation of gestures whose meanings are largely transparent to the users. This study describes the taxonomy and gives examples of applications to pen input systems.

A compact filter/mask/window assembly has been designed for undulator beamline commissioning activity at the Advanced Photon Source beamlines. The assembly consists of one 300-{mu}m graphite filter, one 127-{mu}m CVD diamond filter and two 250-{mu}m beryllium windows. A water-cooled Glidcop fixed mask with a 4.5-mm {times} 4.5-mm output optical aperture and a 0.96-mrad {times} 1.6-mrad beam missteering acceptance is a major part in the assembly. The CVD diamond filter which is mounted on the downstream side of the fixed mask is designed to also function as a transmitting x-ray beam position monitor. The sum signal from the latter can be used to monitor the physical condition of the graphite filter and prevent any possible chain reaction damage to the beryllium windows downstream. In this paper, the design concept as well as the detailed structural design of the commissioning window are presented. Further applications of the commissioning window commissioning window components are also discussed.

Closed orbit feedback for the Advanced Photon Source (APS) storage ring employs unified global an local feedback systems for stabilization of particle and photon beams based on digital signal processing (DSP). Hardware and software aspects of the system will be described. In particular, we will discuss global and local orbit feedback algorithms, PID (proportional, integral, and derivative) control algorithm. application of digital signal processing to compensate for vacuum chamber eddy current effects, resolution of the interaction between global and local systems through decoupling, self-correction of the local bump closure error, user interface through the APS control system, and system performance in the frequency and time domains. The system hardware, including the DSPS, is distributed in 20 VNE crates around the ring, and the entire feedback system runs synchronously at 4-kHz sampling frequency in order to achieve a correction bandwidth exceeding 100 Hz. The required data sharing between the global and local feedback systems is facilitated via the use of fiber-optically-networked reflective memories.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, as a super-user, supercomputer, and super-application site, is anticipating the future bandwidth and protocol requirements necessary to connect to other such sites as well as to connect to remote-sited control centers and experiments. In this paper the authors discuss their vision of the future of Wide Area Networking, describe the plans for a wavelength division multiplexed link connecting Livermore with the University of California at Berkeley and describe plans for a transparent, {approx} 10 Gb/s ring around San Francisco Bay.