The beta spectra of In/sup 114/, P/sup 32/, and Y/sup 90/ were stud ied closely in an intermediate-image beta-ray spectrometer and compared to theoretical predictions in terms of a linear shape factor of the form (1 + aW). The values obtained for a were s for P/sup 32/, and (-0.0047 plus or minus 0.0008)/mc/sup 2/ for Y/sup 90/, all for electron kinetic energies from about 200 kev up to near the maximum beta energies. Tests were made to give indications for spectrometer fidelity. Because of the linearity of the shape-factor plots and the similarity in energy range, the comparative results from In/sup 114/, P/ sup 32/, and Y/sup 90/ are tak en as a definite indication that for at least two of these activities the shape factors have nonzero slopes, irrespective of questions of instrumental fidelity. (auth)

Two types of electron polarization operators are surveyed. A three- vector operator is described that is appropriate for calculations involving plane- wave states. A four-vector operator is described that can be used for taking account of external electromagnetic fields. (T.F.H.)

The effects of several perturbations are investigated. They are: modification of the shape of a pole, error excitation, displacement, and rotation of a pole. The effects are described in terms of changes of multipole coefficients. General relationships between some of these coefficients are described, and formulae are derived that allow their calculation for a model 2N-pole magnet. Numerical values of these coefficients are given for a quadrupole, sextupole, and octupole.

A double-focusing magnetic field for a spectrometer of the flat type which gives radial focusing to roughly the sixth order, and which utilizes azimuthal variation of the field coefficients, has been devised.

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Science is impure in two ways. There is not a 'pure' science. By this I mean that physics impinges on astronomy, on the one hand, and chemistry on biology on the other. And not only does each support its neighbors but derives sustenance from them. The same can be said of chemistry. Biology is, perhaps, the example par excellence today of an 'impure' science. Beyond this, there is no 'pure' science itself divorced from human values. The importance of science to the humanities and the humanities to science in their complementary contribution to the variety of human life grows daily. The need for men familiar with both is imperative. We are faced today with a social decision resulting from our progress in molecular genetics at least equal to, and probably greater than, that required of us twenty years ago with the maturity of nuclear power.

A Planck law relationship between absorption and emission spectra is used to compute the fluorescence spectra of some photosynthetic systems from their absorption spectra. Calculated luminescence spectra of purple bacteria agree well but not perfectly with published experimental spectra. Application of the Planck law relation to published activation spectra for Systems I and II of spinach chloroplast permits independent calculation of the luminescence spectra of the two systems; if the luminescence yield of System I is taken to be one-third the yield of System II, then the combined luminescence spectrum closely fits published experimental measurement. Consideration of the entropy associated with the excited state of the absorbing molecules is used to compute the oxidation-reduction potentials and maximum free-energy storage resulting from light absorption. Spinach chloroplasts under an illumination of 1 kilolux of white light can produce at most a potential difference of 1.32 eV for System I, and 1.36 eV for System II. In the absence of non-radiative losses, the maximum amount of free energy stored is 1.19 eV and 1.23 eV per photon absorbed for Systems I and II, respectively. The bacterium Chromatium under an illumination of 1 milliwatt/cm{sup 2} of Na D radiation can produce at most a …

Recently a T = 1 resonance in the {Lambda}{pi} system called Y*{sub 1} has been observed with a mass of 1385 Mev. Two types of resonances have been predicted that might relate this observation to other elementary-particle interactions: (1) P 3/2 resonances in the {Lambda}{pi} and {Sigma}{pi} systems predicted by global symmetry corresponding to the (3/2, 3/2) resonance of the {pi}N system; (2) a spin-1/2 Y-{pi} resonance resulting from a bound state in the KN system. The position and width of the observed Y*{sub 1} resonance agree with both theories, but since the spin and parity have not yet been determined, it is impossible at present to distinguish between the two theoretical interpretations.

The total cross sections for resonant charge exchange have been measured as a function of energy in the range from 10 to 500 eV for the Cs{sup +}-Cs, Rb{sup +}-Rb, and K{sup +}-K systems. The agreement with certain data obtained at higher energies for these systems, and with theoretical cross sections of Smirnov is satisfactory.

EARLIER investigations have demonstrated that di-cyandiamide (DCDA), the dimer of cyanamide, can successfully promote the dehydration condensation of: (1) glucose and orthophosphate to give glucose-6-phosphate; (2) adenosine and orthophosphate to give adenosine-5'-monophosphate; (3) orthophosphate to give pyrophosphate; (4) alanine to give alanylalanine and alanylalanylalanine. These reactions were carried out in dilute aqueous solutions in the dark. (It was also demonstrated that the combination of ultra-violet light and dicyandiamide could promote the synthesis of dipeptides. This observation has since been confirmed by other investigators.) These experiments were designed to demonstrate one possible means by which such compounds could have been formed on the prebiotic Earth, thus providing materials needed for the origin of living systems. Dicyandiamide itself could have been, present on the primitive Earth as was demonstrated with the ultra-violet irradiation of cyanide solution.

The viscosity of a liquid plutonium-iron eutectic alloy, which contains 9.5 atom per cent iron and melts at 411 degrees C, was determined up to 808 degrees C at Mound Laboratory by an oscillating cup viscosimeter. This type of apparatus employed a right-circular cylindrical cup containing the liquid under investigation attached to a torsion fiber. The dampening effect of the liquid upon the normal oscillations of the pendululm was a function of the viscosity of the liquid. The amplitudes of the oscillations of the pendulum were measured by a photographic technique. The periods of the oscillations were determined by an automatic timing mechanism. The reliability of the viscosimeter was demonstrated by following the expected function of the viscosity of liquid lead and bismuth over a larger temperature range than was previously reported.

Thermodynamic considerations indicate that sodium should be favorable for the one-step reduction of UF/sub 6/ to uranium metal. A reaction vessel was developed for the continuous reduction of UF/sub 6/ to metal with batch collection of the products, and several experimental tests established the chemical feasibility of this direct and continuous reduction. Up to 93.5% of the uranium content of UF/sub 6/ continuously reduced by sodium in a reaction vessel was recovered as massive uranium metal in the form of a metal button of acceptable purity. A remaining problem is development of compatible materials of construction. (auth)

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Using a theory of electron transfers which takes cognizance of reorganization of the medium outside the inner coordination shell and of changes of bond lengths inside it, relations between electrochemical and related chemical rate constants are deduced and compared with the experimental data. A correlation is found, without the use of arbitrary parameters. Effects of weak complexes with added electrolytes are included under specified conditions. The deductions offer a way of coordinating a variety of data in the two fields, internally as well as with each those in another. For example, the rate of oxidation or reduction of a series of related reactants by one reagent is correlated with that of another and with that of the corresponding electrochemical oxidation-reduction reaction, under certain specified conditions. These correlations may also provide a test for distinguishing an electron from an atom transfer mechanism. (auth)

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The magnitude of the K{sup 0}{sub S} - K{sup 0}{sub L} mass difference has been measured by monitoring the time dependence of the strangeness of neutral K's produced in hydrogen and deuterium in the LRL 25 '' hydrogen bubble chamber. The particles originate as K-bar{sup 0} in K{sup -} change-exchange scatters at .85 to 1.15 Bev/c; the signature for an S = -1 reaction is the production of a hyperon. Seventy- seven events were found, obtaining {Delta}{omega} = 0.50 =- 0.15, measured in units of inverse K{sup 0}{sub S} lifetime. This and two other recent measurements using the same method are consistent with one another and with measurements of {Delta}{omega} by other means. A combined ''world average'' of nine reasonably consistent measurements gives {Delta}{omega} = 0.60 +- 0.06.

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