Abstract:"The creep resistance of various uranium binary alloys was investigated at 1500 and 1800 F in vacuum. Tests were made on alloys of uranium with beryllium, columbium, molybdenum, tantalum, titanium, and zirconium and on molybdenum-UO2 composites. Of the alloys examined, those of the uranium-molybdenum system exhibited the best creep resistance. At 1500 F, creep rates of about 0.005%/hr were produced in uranium-molybdenum alloys by a stress of 2500 psi and, at 1800 F, similar creep rates were obtained in composites of 90 wt % molybdenum-10 wt % UO2 by a stress of 12,000 psi."

Abstract: "Experimental investigation of aerosol particle capture by evaporating and condensing water drops has shown that capture is a function of the rate of water drop growth and aerosol particle diameter. Capture was found to be proportional to the rate of water vapor condensation and inversely proportional to aerosol particle diameter. The influence of water vapor gradient and particle size on aerosol particle capture during evaporation is insignificant. The experimental results are explained on the basis of particle penetration through the boundary layer of a water drop. An analysis of previous research on radioactivity of dry particulate matter in an urban atmosphere is included."

Abstract: "The objectives of this program are the development of zirconium-base alloys possessing exceptionally good corrosion resistance to 680 F water or 750-900 F system and/or improved strength at elevated temperatures. Approximately 100 binary compositions were prepared and screened by corrosion testing in 680 F water; selected compositions were exposed to 750 F steam. The data obtained indicate promising bases for ternary and quaternary alloys. Related investigations involving zirconium purity and heat treatment for improvement of corrosion properties are proceeding. Hydrogen pickup and mechanical properties will be used as acceptability tests on promising compositions."

The operation of the Fast Reactor is considered in terms of normal equilibrium conditions and normal shut-down. The proposed loading, control rod adjustment and subsequent "floating" operation are discussed. Safety devices and interlocks are described. Temperature and reactivity changes are examined with respect to various system failures, phase changes, and "flashing" of the reactor. Slow changes due to faulty slug cooling are also considered. The calculations were initially based upon 10 kw operation. Performance tests of the mercury system now indicate that 20-kw operation may be feasible.

This report is the third in a series of quarterly reports discussing the concept and progression of an improved method in nuclear measuring than the usage of the scintillation counter. This report indicates that in a chopped double beam system, commutation of the detector current permits selection of optimum response time and size of radioactive sources.

Annual technical report describing the progress and development of improved zirconium alloys for service in superheated water and steam. This report covers the period between February 1, 1961 to February 28, 1962 and was conducted by the United States and the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM).

The following report discusses the development of methods for sealing the ends of metallic-cored fuel rods.

Abstract: "Approximate melting points have been determined for five samples of uranium tetrafluoride representing incompletely converted uranium dioxide and covering the range from about 2 to 20 w/o UO2, using the method of differential thermal analysis. The results indicate the melting temperatures are in the range of 920 to 980 C. No significant correlation between melting point and UO2 content was observed, possibly because of calcite formation. Similar results were obtained on synthetic mistakes of UF4 containing from 10 to 40 w/o UO2."

Abstract: "The critical mass both of an untamped and water-tamped sphere with parabolic radial variation of the intrinsic buckling is calculated by a perturbation method. The result is applied to finding the minimum critical mass of plutonium in water suspension with infinite water temper; the calculations show that the minimum critical mass at constant concentration may be reduced by an amount of the order of 7.6% when the concentration of plutonium is permitted to vary throughout the suspension."

The following report describes the usage of tin-foil to obtain a mechanical joint of low electrical resistance while providing a seal to hold water at a pressure of 300 psi.

The following report describes a gaseous scintillation counting system, including the production and operation of the counter.

The following report examines the trapping of charged particles, fast electrons especially, within the geomagnetic field.

The following document describes the usage and results of sending pulsed beams of electrically charged particles with electrically wide range of pulse lengths and pulse repetition rates.

From introduction: The principal work described below is the development and tests of a slow neutron flux generator based on a generator developed at the University of California (UCRL 8359, W. Patterson, Roger Wallace, "A Method of Calibrating Slow Neutron Detectors"). It is shown that a tolerance flux density of slow neutrons results within a cubical cavity 15 inches on an edge with 4-inch-thick walls of water or paraffin wax when a plutonium-beryllium source emitting about 7 million neutrons per second is placed within the cavity according to a standard procedure. The principle on which the generator is based is that the fast neutrons from the source are slowed to near thermal velocities by scattering from the cavity walls. (Although the principal interest is in the slow flux, a primary fast flux is present at any point depending on the inverse square of the distance from the source.) The variation of slow neutron flux density over the walls of the cavity is unimportant for the calibration of thermal neutron detectors which follow a 1/v or 1/E response law (where v and E are the neutron velocity and energy), so that the detector is sensitive mainly to the slow neutron flux. …

Introduction: "It is the purpose of this note to describe the construction and operation of the plasma injectors used in the magnetic high compression experiments in progress at the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory at Livermore. As the investigations of these injections is still in progress, remarks concerning their operation or the characteristics of the injected plasma are of a tentative nature."

Technical report. Three extractions of a diethyl ether solution of uranyl nitrate with small portions of water are effective in removing rare earths, as is shown by radio-gadolinium and radio-europium tracer experiments. A study of representative ethers, alcohols, ketones, and esters showed that diethyl ether and a mixture of 85% ethyl methyl ketone with 15% xylene are the best solvents for the extraction.

Technical Report: A generalized review of the chemical problems and researches related principally to the heavy water homogeneous pile is presented herewith. The report covers researches performed principally by the Columbia Group who initiated the study. This report contains a chronological outline of the development, a discussion of some special topics whose significance is paramount in any slurry pile discussion, and finally an outline of important research problems remaining, roughly graded in order of their importance. No attempt has been made to be either complete or detailed in the discussion. The emphasis has been principally on furnishing a broad guide to those who may t some future date take up this work.

Technical report abstract. A rapid procedure for the preparation of very pure carrier-free Zr and Nb tracer involves the chloroform extraction of the cupferrides of Zr and Nb activities from process solutions. Zr and Nb form very stable chloroform soluble cupferrides in acid solutions (CK-993) and are separated from other fission elements almost quantitatively to yield pure mixture of Zr and Nb activity. A minimum of operations is required and the method is easily adaptable to remote control.

The second volume of a report documenting the suitability of Illinois for plant locations to produce synthetic liquid fuels, based on raw materials.

Report documenting the suitability of Oregon for plant locations to produce synthetic liquid fuels, based on raw materials, water sources, and local interest.

Abstract. The diffusion length of thermal neutrons in water as a function of the water temperature has been measured. The results are expressed as a linear relation: L = 2.644 + 0.0061T where L is the diffusion length in centimeters and T is the temperature in degrees centigrade.

Abstract. The probability of exceeding assigned values of displacements or forces in simple rod models assembled from slugs picked at random is discussed, and some estimate for the statistical gain resulting from use of shorter slugs is obtained. The probability that a rod with self-warping will touch the top of the tube appears great enough to justify a recommendation of the use of top ribs.

Technical report with short reports from the (A) Crystal Structure Section ; (B) Mass Spectroscopy Section ; and (C) Metallurgy Section.

From introduction: "The discovery of element number 96, curium, was realized by the preparation and identification of the isotope Cm-242 by G. T. Seaborg, R. A. James and A. Ghiorso by cyclotron bombardment of Pu-239 with helium ions."