Since the earliest days of fusion research it has been hoped that diamagnetic currents flowing in a plasma could be used to help confine the plasma. Recently this hope has been strengthened both by theoretical advances and by experimental results made possible by technological developments. On the theoretical front analytical treatments and computer simulation studies have demonstrated equilibrium solutions existing both in the fluid limit and in the large-orbit limit. Progress has also been made in determining the conditions required for the stability of field-reversed entities. It appears that configurations of the general form of fat doughnuts, possibly elongated to napkin-ring form, represent stable states. Building on previous experimental work, several investigators have been able to create field-reversed states. One method, based on the ASTRON idea of Christofilos, traps an intense relativistic electron beams (REB) to create a field-reversing current ring. Other approaches use either the reversed field theta pinch technique or REB pulses to create field-reversing diamagnetic currents in a long cylindrical plasma. In the former method, millisecond-long field-reversing electron rings have been achieved; in the latter method field-reversed plasma states lasting 30 to 50 microseconds have been achieved. Another approach under investigation is the Field Reversed Mirror (FRM) …

The cavity design for the large ring of the proposed synchrotron light source is being considered. It represents the worst case situation in all respects so that a similar design for the small ring will face no problems. Basic requirements are that the cavity provide a peak gap voltage of up to 500 kV at a frequency of 53.52 MHz. Sufficient tuning range must be provided to allow for the reactive detuning of the beam and also thermal changes. Provisions for phase and amplitude control of two cavities operating together must also be available and attention must be given to possible higher order mode excitation at frequencies which are harmonically related to the operating frequency and also to some degree the 2.23 MHz rotation frequency. There are also space limitations imposed by the chosen magnet lattice and the need for a beam wiggler in the same straight section as the rf cavity. The practical upper limits of cavity diameter and length are about 1.25 m and 1.7 m, respectively.

Along the general run of the vacuum chamber synchrotron radiation strikes the wall at a glancing angle of about 5.6/sup 0/. The heat source is well-approximated by a ribbon of uniform power density having a small vertical height and an infinite azimuthal length. The heat transfer problem reduces to one in two-dimensions and it has been considered in a previous note. At the corner of a beam port the angle of incidence becomes 90/sup 0/, so the temperature rises much higher than elsewhere. Since the power density at the corner is not uniform in its azimuthal dependence, but is strongly peaked at the point of normal incidence, two-dimensional heat flow is not a good approximation. The rectangular 3d problem is considered. This is easily solved and yields a good first estimate of the temperature rise at the corner.

Inconel 600 was irradiated in HFIR to provide a partial simulation of fusion reactor service. Samples were irradiated at 55 to 700/sup 0/C, to investigate swelling and postirradiation tensile properties as a function of irradiation and test temperatures under conditions of concurrent displacement damage and helium production. Helium contents from 600 to 1800 appm and displacement levels of 4 to 9 dpa were achieved, and the results are used to estimate performance in a fusion reactor environment. Tensile property measurements and fractography on the same samples showed strength values increased for irradiation at 55 to 400/sup 0/C but decreased below unirradiated values for irradiations at 600 and 700/sup 0/C.

The MFTF is a large new mirror facility under construction at Livermore for completion in 1981--82. It represents a scaleup, by a factor of 50 in plasma volume, a factor of 5 or more in ion energy, and a factor of 4 in magnetic field intensity over the Livermore 2XIIB experiment. Its magnet, employing superconducting NbTi windings, is of Yin-Yang form and will weigh 200 tons. MFTF will be driven by neutral beams of two levels of current and energy: 1000 amperes of 20 keV (accelerating potential) pulsed beams for plasma startup; 750 amperes of 80 keV beams of 0.5 second duration for temperature buildup and plasma sustainment. Two operating modes for MFTF are envisaged: The first is operation as a conventional mirror cell with n/sup tau/ approximately equal to 10/sup 12/ cm/sup -3/ sec, W/sub i/ = 50 keV, where the emphasis will be on studying the physics of mirror cells, particularly the issues of improved techniques of stabilization against ion cyclotron modes and of maximization of the electron temperature. The second possible mode is the further study of the Field Reversed Mirror idea, using high current neutral beams to sustain the field-reversed state. Anticipating success in the coming …

A critical review of U.S. and foreign literature on the use of a mixture of refrigerants rather than a single one in a refrigeration unit indicates that energy can be conserved in properly arranged systems. An independent analytical study performed under the current contract using a 50% mixture of R-12 and R-114 in a two-evaporator refrigerator typical of domestic refrigerators showed an energy saving of 12%. The cycle explored was a non-optimized one, so greater energy savings are theoretically possible. The application of refrigerant mixtures to domestic refrigerators would not be a panacea, but would require a redesign of the refrigeration circuit and a resizing of the compressor. There would be a number of problems to be explored and solved before a successful application could be achieved, but the prospects look favorable at this time. One of the most useful next steps would be to continue to expand the knowledge base on refrigerant mixtures that would be made available to the manufacturers of refrigerators.

A weekly publication, the Texas Register serves as the journal of state agency rulemaking for Texas. Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents such as requests for proposals. After adoption, these rulemaking actions are codified into the Texas Administrative Code.

This standard establishes the requirements for fabrication, testing, and inspection of control rod assemblies for use in liquid metal fast breeder reactors.

The Morgantown Energy Technology Center (METC) is developing the technology required to recover the deep thin seam Eastern bituminous coal resource by gasification in-situ. The approach is to prove concepts through field tests and to support field testing-with theoretical modeling. METC is currently fielding Pricetown I, the first of two tests scheduled for the Pricetown, West Virginia, underground coal gasification field test. Pricetown I is a small-scale test designed to provide information concerning the in-situ characteristics of the Pittsburgh coal seam; to gain additional experience in the in-situ combustion and gasification of bituminous coal; and to evaluate the functional applicability of the linked vertical concept to recover the Eastern resources. Mound Facility is participating with METC in the design and the implementation of the instrumentation necessary to monitor the surface and subsurface process and product gas stream; and acquire real-time gas analysis and subsurface thermal data. The principal objective of this effort is to provide an integrated instrumentation system that will permit rapid automatic monitoring of subsurface and surface variables and to ensure data storage, retrieval and reduction for process monitoring and results interpretation. Mound also will support METC with the manpower and technical assistance necessary to operate the field …