Development studies to date indicate that the HTGR fuel blocks can be effectively crushed with two stages of eccentric jaw crushing, followed by a double-roll crusher, a screener and an eccentrically mounted single-roll crusher for oversize particles. Burner development results indicate successful long-term operation of both the primary and secondary fluidized-bed combustion systems can be performed with the equipment developed in this program. Aqueous separation development activities have centered on adapting known Acid-Thorex processing technology to the HTGR reprocessing task. Significant progress has been made on dissolution of burner ash, solvent extraction feed preparation, slurry transfer, solids drying and solvent extraction equipment and flowsheet requirements.

The following aspects of HTGR reprocessing technology are discussed: characteristics of HTGR fuels, criteria for a fuel reprocessing flowsheet; selection of a reference reprocessing flowsheet, and waste treatment. (LK)

Experiences of Aerojet Nuclear Company (ANC), in the development and implementation of a system safety program for ANC and for the Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) are discussed. Aerojet Nuclear is the prime operating contractor for ERDA, formerly AEC, at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. The ERDA sponsored ''MORT'' system safety program is described along with the process whereby formal system safety methods are incorporated into a stable organization. Specifically, a discussion is given of initial development of MORT; pilot program trials conducted at ANC; implementation methodology; and reaction of the ANC organization. (auth)

In August, 1968, President Johnson announced that the people of Bikini Atoll would be able to return to their homeland. Thereafter, similar approval was given for the return of the peoples of Enewetak. These two regions, which comprised the Pacific Nuclear Testing Areas from 1946 to 1958, will probably be repopulated by the original inhabitants and their families within the next year. As part of its continuing responsibility to insure the public health and safety in connection with the nuclear programs under its sponsorship, ERDA (formerly AEC) has contracted Brookhaven National Laboratory to establish radiological safety and environmental monitoring programs for the returning Bikini and Enewetak peoples. These programs are described in the following paper. They are designed to define the external radiation environment, assess radiation doses from internal emitters in the human food chain, make long range predictions of total doses and dose commitments to individuals and to each population group, and to suggest actions which will minimize doses via the more significant pathways. (auth)

A unified Hamiltonian approach to the theory of nonlinear interactions among waves and particles is discussed. The unifying feature of the approach is a generalization of the concept of pondermotive force. The usual method of time averaging is replaced by a canonical transformation. The transformation is designed to eliminate the terms in the Hamiltonian of a particle which are linear in the wave potentials, replacing them with bilinear terms at combination frequencies. An oscillation center approach is illustrated by deriving a compact general formula for the three-wave coupling coefficient in collisionless plasma. (MOW)

Acoustic emission monitoring was used in hydrostatic experiments on flawed pressure vessels and thermal shock experiments on flawed cylindrical specimens. The results of the experiments are discussed.

The LPTR (Livermore Pool Type Reactor) safety system had several undesirable features in its original equipment (vintage 1956). A single trip bus, electron tube construction, and trip failure in the case of a shorted magnet actuator, are some of the problems encountered in the original equipment. The continued use of this old equipment resulted in high maintenance costs, excessive magnet actuator replacement, difficult set-up procedures for operations, and the requirement that the reactor be shut down to make safety level trip tests. This paper describes the solution of the stated problems.

The equilibrium constant, K/sub HDO/, for the reaction H/sub 2/O + D/sub 2/O = 2HDO can be expressed as an intensity ratio, I, measured mass spectrometrically, times a sensitivity ratio, S, measured in mass spectrometric calibration experiments. The latter is difficult to measure and previously was assumed to be unity. The 2.4 percent discrepancy between K's from theoretical calculations and direct mass spectrometric measurements might be explained by another value of S. An indirect measurement of S using a pulsed-molecular beam quadrupole mass filter that has a unique three-chamber, three-leak gas inlet system is reported. The results show the sensitivities are probably equal and therefore S = 1. Systematic errors were found in the procedure, however, which precluded an unambiguous test of the theory.

The absolute sensitivity for several different types of radiation detectors has been measured using x-rays in the energy range of 280 eV to 100 keV. The photons in this energy range are produced using three separate x-ray-generating facilities. The detectors include a silicon semiconductor, two photoelectric diode detectors employing aluminum and gold photocathodes, and three detectors incorporating plastic scintillators and photodiodes. The plastic scintillators were MEL-150C, Pilot B, and NE102.

It is shown that even normally incident laser light will be resonantly absorbed near the critical density surface when there are self-generated DC magnetic fields. Theoretical estimates for the coupling mechanism, saturation amplitudes, and absorption are given and tested in computer simulations for parameters characteristic of some recent laser-plasma experiments.

The long-term mechanical stability of strongly positive gravity anomalies (mascons) on the moon is evaluated from relevant physical characteristics of these bodies, from paleoselenotherms, and from the flow behavior of the lunar mantle. (auth)

The following switches are briefly discussed: (1) high pressure and vacuum spark gaps, (2) liquid dielectric gaps, (3) solid dielectrics, (4) nonlinear ferromagnetic materials, (5) semiconductors, superconductors, (6) ferroelectric switches, (7) exploding wires, and (8) plasma instabilities. (MOW)

The dynamical properties of three types of RE/sup 3 +/ molecular vapors were considered: (1) rare earth trihalogens, (2) rare earth trihalogens complexed with transition metal trihalogens, and (3) rare earth chelates. Radiative and nonradiative (unimolecular and bimolecular) transition probabilities have been calculated using phenomenological models predicted on the unique electronic structure of the triply ionized RE ion (well shielded ground electronic configuration of equivalent of electrons). Although all the lanthanide ions have been treated in some detail, specific results are presented for the Nd/sup 3 +/ and Tb/sup 3 +/ ions to illustrate the systematics of these vapors as a class of new laser media. Once verified, these phenomenological models will provide a powerful tool for the directed experimental exploration of these systems. Because of the structural similarity to the triply ionized actinides, comments offered here for the lanthanide rare earth series generally apply to gaseous actinide lasers which are also under consideration.

The Lawrence Livermore Laboratory has been appointed by the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration to be the lead laboratory for carrying out a long-term project to acquire complete understanding of the environmental quality in the Imperial Valley of California prior to any major developments. The purpose of this project is to ensure that the development of geothermal resources proceeds on an environmentally sound basis. Consequently, the Imperial Valley Environmental Project (IVP) is committed to an intensive and comprehensive study designed to establish an environmental baseline for the Imperial Valley as well as to develop an understanding of the environmental and other effects associated with development of geothermal resources. The IVP is organized into seven main study sections, which when taken together cover all the significant issues and concerns. The sections are: Air Quality; Water Quality; Ecosystem Quality (Soil, Plants, Animals, etc.); Subsidence and Induced Seismicity; Health Effects; Socio-Economics; and an Integrated Assessment. (auth)

In April 1974, the United States Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) authorized General Atomic Company, General Electric Company, and Westinghouse Astronuclear Laboratory to assess the available technology for producing process heat utilizing a very high temperature nuclear reactor (VHTR). The VHTR is defined as a gas-cooled graphite-moderated reactor. Oak Ridge National Laboratory has been given a lead role in evaluating the VHTR reactor studies and potential applications of the VHTR. Process temperatures up to the 760 to 871/sup 0/C range appear to be achievable with near-term technology. The major development considerations are high temperature materials, the safety questions (especially regarding the need for an intermediate heat exchanger) and the process heat exchanger. The potential advantages of the VHTR over competing fossil energy sources are conservation of fossil fuels and reduced atmospheric impacts. Costs are developed for nuclear process heat supplied from a 3000-MW(th) VHTR. The range of cost in process applications is competitive with current fossil fuel alternatives.

A Material Handling System Simulator (MHSS) program is described that provides specialized functional blocks for modeling and simulation of nuclear material handling systems. Models of nuclear fuel fabrication plants may be built using functional blocks that simulate material receiving, storage, transport, inventory, processing, and shipping operations as well as the control and reporting tasks of operators or on-line computers. Blocks are also provided that allow the user to observe and gather statistical information on the dynamic behavior of simulated plants over single or replicated runs. Although it is currently being developed for the nuclear materials handling application, MHSS can be adapted to other industries in which material accountability is important. In this paper, emphasis is on the simulation methodology of the MHSS program with application to the nuclear material safeguards problem. (auth)

By exposing samples to various irradiance levels from a calibrated thermal radiation source, the ignition responses of blackened alpha-cellulose and cotton cloth with and without fire-retardant additives were compared. Samples treated with retardant compounds which showed the most promise were then isothermally pyrolyzed in air for comparisons between the pyrolysis rates. Alpha-cellulose samples containing a mixture of boric acid, borax, and ammonium di-hydrogen phosphate could not be ignited by irradiances up to 4.0 cal cm/sup -2/ s-1 (16.7 W/cm/sup 2/). At higher irradiances the specimens ignited, but flaming lasted only until the flammable gases were depleted. Cotton cloth containing a polymeric retardant with the designation THPC + MM was found to be ignition-resistant to all irradiances below 7.0 cal cm/sup -2/ s/sup -1/ (29.3 W/cm/sup 2/). Comparison of the pyrolysis rates of the retardant-treated alpha-cellulose and the retardant-treated cotton showed that the retardant mechanism is qualitatively the same. Similar ignition-response measurements were also made with specimens exposed to ionizing radiation. It was observed that gamma radiation results in ignition retardance of cellulose, while irradiation by neutrons does not.

In the study of ductile fracture it is useful to simulate fracture on the computer under plane stress conditions. In general, this is a three dimensional problem. Presented here is a method for adapting a two dimensional elastic-plastic computer program to calculate problems in plane stress as well as plane strain geometry. A simulation of a tension test of a flat aluminum plate pulled to failure is calculated with the modified two dimensional program. The results are compared with a fully three dimensional calculation. Finally a comparison is made with an experiment to demonstrate the effectiveness of the computational methods for studying fracture of work hardening materials.

The design of business data processing applications utilizing minicomputers requires special considerations throughout the development of the systems project. Minicomputer features, capabilities, and limitations must be closely examined prior to the implementation of the design phase. The design requirements of an inventory control minicomputer system currently being installed by the Data Processing Services Department of Lawrence Livermore Laboratory are presented.

Factors which affect product quality can be divided into two major categories: technological and human. Effective control over these factors requires controls at all important stages of production. Facilities selected for machining and processing and for assembly and packaging are an important determinant of the cost and quality. If selected measuring equipment, processes, machines and materials are sufficiently accurate to provide an in-tolerance part, reasonable costs and acceptable quality can be expected. On the other hand, if processing equipment cannot consistently provide an in-tolerance part, high costs, scrap and rework are inevitable outcomes. In a particular situation, a study may dwell on an established process (e.g., a vendor's) or on controllable process variables defining several potential processes. Hence, two general areas of application for statistical methods which are of interest are as follows: (1) determining manufacturing process capability for an established process; and (2) optimizing a product characteristic with respect to controllable process variables. The paper cites a few quality problems within each of these areas, presents examples as illustrations, lists applicable statistical methods and lists the applicable BKC computer routines which BKC has used to facilitate the solution.

X-ray fluorescence (XRE) and neutron activation analysis (NAA) are compared; a periodic table of the elements showing their sensitivity to each method is included. It is proposed to use both methods to make chemical abundances measurements on archaeological samples, including Bichrome Ware and Palestinian samples. The intent is to see if NAA can be replaced by XRF. (DLC)

The effectiveness of soluble nuclear poisons used for control of criticality in processing reactor fuels was investigated. Results of survey calculations for Gd and B and mixtures of these elements indicate that the soluble poison mixtures are more efficient in increasing critical volume than one element alone. It is noted that each system in which soluble poisons are used must be evaluated separately based on poison costs, separation costs, and factors involving criticality. (JRD)

A series of experiments performed regarding the Bell inequality are briefly described. The results indicate that the notion of localized particle-like photons is consistent with experiment, and that such entities evidently do not split, at least with regard to their detectability. (JFP)

Megacurie-amounts of radioactive cesium (/sup 137/Cs and /sup 134/Cs) can be satisfactorily incorporated in a variety of ceramic forms including glass, glass-ceramics, cesium-loaded zeolites, and the mineral pollucite. Glasses which contain up to 45 percent Cs/sub 2/O can be prepared having leach rates in distilled water at 25/sup 0/C in the range 2 x 10/sup -5/ to 3 x 10/sup -3/ g Cs/cm/sup 2//day. Attempts to produce glass ceramics containing pollucite failed to yield a glass that crystallized but did yield several satisfactory glasses. Leach rates of fully loaded zeolites containing 23 percent Cs/sub 2/O decreased from 10/sup -4/ g Cs/cm/sup 2//day to 3 x 10/sup -6/ g Cs/cm/sup 2//day as the firing temperature was increased from 500 to 1100/sup 0/C. Aqueous solutions of cesium chloride mixed with bentonite clay react when dried and fired at 750 to 1000/sup 0/C to form pollucite. A 79 percent yield was found at 1000/sup 0/C. (auth)