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Following stimulation by three nuclear explosives, the field rate of production of ''Reservoir A'', U.S.S.R., increased very significantly. The potential profitability of projects such as Reservoir A and some of the possible causes for the increased rate of production are reviewed.

The windstorm of January 11 caused a minor amount of damage to the Hanford Reservation and Hanford vicinity. Damage sustained to Hanford Reservation structures (roofing, flashing, fences, windows) was approximately $20,000. One building did receive structural damage to roof members. Evidence that wind pressures did not reach 30 lb/ft{sup 2} during the January 11 windstorm was provided in the fact that specially designed exterior wall panels did not fail. These panels were designed and carefully proof-tested to insure that they would fail at a loading of 30 lb/ft{sup 2} as a requirement of structural safety in the original design-construction program in 1952-1954. There was one power outage on the Hanford Reservation due to the January 11 windstorm (Rattlesnake Mountain Observatory). Damage to power lines and electrical facilities amounted to about $1600. Damage to structures in the Hanford vicinity (excluding the Hanford Reservation) from the January 11 windstorm was estimated to cost $13,000. This does not include damage to private residences, etc., which has been estimated by others to be near $250,000. Power line damage in the Hanford vicinity amounted to about $80,000, of which $60,000 was accounted for in the loss of four transmission towers in the tie-line between Priest …

A novel design concept for a "flashlight-type" in-core thermionic reactor is described. This concept, called the "double-sheath" design in contrast to the previously considered "wet-sheath" and "dry-sheath" concepts, permits the build-up of high reactor output voltages, without the danger of cesium breakdown and shorts-to-ground. In addition to a description of the design and its functional components, a brief discussion of suggested fuel element fabrication and reactor assembly techniques is presented. The proposed design offers the potential of high reliability because only insulators at very low potentials (e.g.<3 volts) are in contact with cesium vapor; because there are no ceramic or cermet seals within the reactor (all are outside, beyond the reflectors); and because all vacuum-tight joints in the reactor are between ductile niobium components.

A method for electronically temperature-flattening a "flashlight-type" thermionic reactor with both axial and radial heat generation nonuniformities is described. The method, which makes use of compensating electron cooling variation while satisfying the voltage- and current-matching constraints on the in-core series-parallel diode network, results in substantially uniform emitter temperatures throughout the reactor. Novel analytical techniques for temperature-flattening a nonuniform reactor are described and used to generate specific illustrative designs. It is shown that, even with severe nonuniformities, the temperature-flattened reactor exhibits almost as high a power density and conversion efficiency as a reactor using fuel-zoning for full power flattening. By eliminating the need for fuel-zoning, the concept described here reduces the critical size and system weight, and permits the use of thicker emitter walls for enhanced reliability.

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We propose to study diffractive phenomena caused by 100 BeV pions, using a new technique, which consists in associating with the high energy interaction, the detection of photons resulting from the de-excitation of nuclear levels. Knowledge of the quantum numbers both for the ground state and the nuclear levels of the nuclei used, adds information as to the type of interaction. In particular, the use of the 4.4 MeV level of Carbon guarantees that the exchange quantum has isotopic spin 0. In addition, evidence resulting from our tests at Berkeley seems to further encourage the notion that this level selects to a good extent phenomena of the diffractive type. We ask for 150 hours of running on a 100 BeV/c pion beam.

One of the unique features of NAL that cannot be duplicated elsewhere (i.e. at CERN-ISR) is the ability to make high energy neutrino beams and high energy meson beams, It appears that meson-proton interactions may have given us some insight into hadron structure because the asymmetry (2 quarks on 3) which one observes in them cannot be seen in proton-proton (3 quarks on 3) interactions. Although the asymmetry can be observed in {pi} p collisions, it is likely that more can be learned if the role played by a single quark or parton can be identified, In K{sup +}p interactions this becomes a possibility because one quark in the K{sup +} meson carries a strangeness quantum number which has potential for identification after the interaction by means of the K{sup o} decay signature.

In a simple counter experiment requiring about 40 hours of data taking time we propose to study the detailed shape of the multiplicity distribution for larger values of n and the average charged particle multiplicity in hadron-nucleus collisions at 100 and 200 Gev. The results of the experiment should be a valuable input for ccmparison with theoretical models, in particular they should provide a sensitive test ot whether multipartlcle production in hadron-nucleon collisions proceeds through a one or two step process.

A study of antineutrino interactions in the 15-ft bubble chamber filled with a neon-hydrogen mixture is proposed. This mixture provides good detection efficiency for a neutral component and lepton identification. We request a total flux of {approx} 10{sup 19} interacting protons at the highest available energy for the proposed program. Our program includes the measurement of total cross sections of antineutrino interactions, inclusive and exclusive reactions, which can be described by either charged or neutral currents, pure lepton interactions and searches for new particles and new phenomena. As a first step, we ask for 200,000 photographs at the earliest possible date with a mixture of the order of 30 atomic percent neon in the bubble chamber.

Mixed (uranium-plutonium) oxide standards were prepared and utilized to qualify available nondestructive assay equipment (gamma spectrometers, neutron counters, and calorimeters). Equipment was evaluated during normal operation in a plutonium facility. Measured material balances were calculated for two separate fabrication campaigns. Plutonium material unaccounted for values of less than 0.5% based on the total throughput was obtained in the final balance. A special test was undertaken to compare the plutonium content of single pellets determined by available nondestructive assay methods with controlled potential coulometric values. The implications of both programs on safeguards are summarized. (auth)

The beryllium reflector control system development for SNAP reactors is documented, from the initial SNAP 10A System through the current 5-kW(e) Thermoelectric System. Described are the various reflector concepts used in these systems for shadowshielded and 4 pi -shielded nuclear systems. The development of the key components, such as the actuators, bearings, and drive mechanisms for these systems, is also traced from the SNAP 10A concept through to the current system. Developmental test results are outlined, showing the performance capability improvements made throughout the life of the SNAP programs. Component development was highly successful, as proven by a number of reactor systems tests, including the launch and operation of the SNAP 10A flight. 46 references. (auth)

The method of defining detection limits which has been adopted by the 222-S Analytical Laboratory counting room is described. The system for reporting limits defines two levels of detection limits: the critical level (L/sub c/) which must be exceeded before a sample can be said to contain any material above the background level and a detection limit (L/sub D/) at which we can be 95% sure that we will detect material. The common method of using twice the standard deviation of the background as a lower detection limit was found to lead to erroneous results. Equations relating L/sub c/ and L/sub D/ to the magnitude and standard deviation of the background were derived. Two examples illustrate the use of these levels. (auth)

Data are summarized on the radioactivity in environmental samples collected from various locations within the Hanford plant boundaries during 1970. Data are included on the content of /sup 90/Sr, /sup 32/P, /sup 46/Sc, /sup 51/ Cr, /sup 65/Zn, /sup 131/I, /sup 2 4/Na and tritium in samples of water from the Columbia River; the total BETA activity in samples of drinking water; the total alpha and BETA activity in samples of surface waters; the radioactivity in tissue samples from waterfowl, game birds, deer, and small mammals feeding on the area; the total BETA activity and /sup 131/I content in samples of surface air; and the total alpha , BETA , and gamma activity in samples of air filters from various locations. (CH)

Although most of the development work on fast breeder reactors has been devoted to the use of liquid metal cooling, interest has been expressed for a number of years in alternative breeder concepts using other coolants. One of a number of concepts in which interest has been retained is the Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor (GCFR). As presently envisioned, it would operate on the uranium-plutonium mixed oxide fuel cycle, similar to that used in the Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor (LMFBR), and would use helium gas as the coolant.

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