This paper discusses a group of high-speed switching circuits using the basic current-switching mode of operation. The first part of the paper presents a dynamic analysis of the basic current-switching mode and the second part is the dynamic and steady-state analysis of a current-switching flip-flop.

Figures 1 and 2 summarize total decay energies for the four radioactive series. The alpha-decay energy obtained by measuring the energy of the alpha particle leading to the ground state includes the energy of the recoil nucleus. The curve shown in figure 3 defines in broad outline the conditions and regions of alpha instability. A great deal more is to be learned from a more detailed examination of the region where alpha radioactivity is prominent. Of great value to the experimentalist is that he is able to predict alpha energies, and the agreement between predicted and measured values often serves as a criterion for isotopic assignment. A number of systems for correlating alpha decay energies have been employed, and that perhaps most widely used is illustrated in figure 4. Here the isotopes of each element on a mass number vs. energy plot are joined, resulting in a family of curves which over a wide region comprise a series of nearly parallel lines.

Molecular sieves are synthetic zeolites which, when dehydrated, contain a network of empty pores and cavities that constitute almost 50% of the total volume of the crystals. They have the unique property of adsorbing within these cavities only those molecules that are small enough to pass through the pores of the crystals, Molecular sieves have a very strong affinity for water and other polar molecules. It is this selective property plus their stability and reasonable cost that make them of interest for the application described herein.

The increasing popularity of liquid-hydrogen targets in physics research has emphasized the need for containers with maximum beam transparency (i.e., thin walls and low Z) and suitable strength at cryogenic temperatures. Fabrication of a Mylar container satisfying these requirements is described here.

A need for a small vertical cylinder-type furnace arises frequently in the Chemistry Department at the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory (LRL). Adequate heat is the major requirement; close control or calibration is not usually necessary. A heating unit of this type can either be used for quickly concentrating solutions in centrifuge cones or, by the addition of a refractory pedestal--can be made into a crucible furnace for size 0 and 00 crucibles. Because much of the chemistry done at LRL is with radioisotopes, disposal of contaminated equipment is an important consideration. In general, furnaces are difficult to decontaminate, hence there was a need for a disposable type. Because nothing meeting the requirements seemed to be commercially available, the Health Chemistry Department made up a simple furnace that has proved useful.

The final r.f. characteristics of A-12 are shown. The mechanical features are available in UCRL-1859. If A-12 were to be changed to 24.2 mm rather than 12.1 mm, keeping the same length and the same constant average coil gradient of 0.375 MV/ft., the characteristics of such an A-24 can be obtained from the attached curves.

The previous calculation of the energy spectrum of the high energy deuteron beam from the stripping of He3 (UCRL-2150) was thought to be in error, especially as regards the low energy tail, on the basis of some experiments with the neutron time-of-flight detector, which indicated a considerably narrower spectrum than that calculated in UCRL-2150. Since the value used for the attenuation cross section of deuterons in uranium is considerably lower than that presently considered correct a new calculation was made using this latter cross section. Since the equations used in this new calculation differ somewhat from those used in the previous report a brief derivation is given here.

Diffusion equations for a cascade shower which include an energy cutoff and energy parameters for each particle have not previously been studied. In this paper it is found that an inclusion of both permits collision loss to be represented as a discrete process by modifying the differential radiation cross section.