We have developed a fast, sensitive neutron detector for recording the fusion reaction-rate history of inertial-confinement fusion (ICF) experiments. The detector is based on the fast rise-time of a commercial plastic scintillator (BC-422) and has a response < 25 ps FWHM. A thin piece of scintillator material acts as a neutron-to-light converter. A zoom lens images scintillator light to a high-speed (15 ps) optical streak camera for recording. A retractable nose cone positions the scintillator between 1 and 50 cm from a target. A simultaneously recorded optical fiducial pulse allows the streak camera time base to be calibrated relative to the incident laser power. Burn histories have been measured for deuterium-tritium filled targets with yields ranging between 10{sup 8} and 2 {times} 10{sup 13} neutrons.

Alloys of Np have been studied less than those,of the neighboring elements, U and Pu; the higher actinides have received even less attention. Recent interest in {sup 237}Np, {sup 241}Am and other actinide isotopes as significant, long-lived and highly radiotoxic nuclear waste components, and particularly the roles of metallic materials new handling/separations and remediation technologies, demands that this paucity of information concerning alloy behaviors be addressed. An additional interest in these arises from the possibility of revealing fundamental properties and bonding interactions, which would further characterize the unique electronic structures (e.g., 5f electrons) of the actinide elements. The small empirical knowledge basis presently available for understanding and modeling the alloying behavior of Np is summarized here, with emphasis on our recent results for the Np-Am, Np-Zr and Np-Fe phase diag rams. In view of the limited experimental data base for neptunium and the transplutonium metals, the value of semi-empirical intermetallic bonding models for predicting actinide alloy thermodynamics is evaluated.

The Glass Material Oxidation and Dissolution System (CMODS) is a new process for direct conversion of radioactive, mixed, and chemical wastes to glass. The wastes can be in the chemical forms of metals, ceramics, amorphous solids, and organics. GMODS destroys organics and it incorporates heavy metals and radionuclides into a glass. Processable wastes may include miscellaneous spent fuels (SF), SF hulls and hardware, plutonium wastes in different forms, high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, ion-exchange resins, failed equipment, and laboratory wastes. Thermodynamic calculations indicate theoretical feasibility. Small-scale laboratory experiments (< 100 g per test) have demonstrated chemical laboratory feasibility for several metals. Additional work is needed to demonstrate engineering feasibility.

We have developed an off-line facility for very precise characterization of the reflectance and spatial resolution of the grazing incidence Woelter Type 1 x-ray optics used at Nova. The primary component of the facility is a high brightness, ``point`` x-ray source consisting of a focussed DC electron beam incident onto a precision manipulated target/pinhole array. The data are recorded with a selection of detectors. For imaging measurements we use direct exposure x-ray film modules or an x-ray CCD camera. For energy-resolved reflectance measurements, we use lithium drifted silicon detectors and a proportional counter. An in situ laser alignment system allows precise location and rapid periodic alignment verification of the x-ray point source, the statically mounted Woelter optic, and the chosen detector.

Progress during the second quarter of a three-year study was made in two areas: Coal selection and characterization, combustor modifications and preliminary testing. Potential sources for coal have been identified and an attempt will be made to use the same coals as a similar doe study. Advances have continued in our SEM-based analytical techniques. Modifications to an existing reactor system have been initiated. A new coal feeder has been installed and tested. Finally, specific tasks for the next quarter have been identified and reported.

This report summarizes the progress made from 9-1-93 to 5-1-94 on this DOE grant. As participants in the subsurface science program, the authors are assessing the influence of environmental conditions on the distribution and evolution of subsurface microorganisms employing molecular techniques. The approach utilizes 16S rRNA targeted oligonucleotide probes, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of gene sequences, and sequencing techniques. Continued progress towards identifying target sequences for selected microbial types and groups is being made by analysis of rRNA sequence data for subsurface microorganisms and other microorganisms in the rRNA databases. Hybridization probes for these target sequences are being produced and used to classify isolated strains of subsurface microbes into focus clades useful for testing origins hypotheses.

The Port Card will be one link in the data acquisition system for the D0 Silicon Vertex Detector. This system consists of the following parts, starting at the detector: Silicon strip detectors are mounted in a spaceframe and wire-bonded to custom bare-die integrated circuits (SVX-II chips) that digitize the charge collected by the strips. The 128-channel chips are mounted on a High-Density Interconnect (HDI) that consists of a small flex circuit that routes control signals and eight data bits for each of three to ten chips onto a common data bus. A cable then routes this bus approximately thirty feet out from the detector to the Port Card. The Port Card houses a commercial chipset that serializes the data in real time and converts the signal into laser light impulses that are then transmitted through a multi-mode optical fiber about 150 feet to a Silicon Acquisition & Readout board (SAR). Here, the data is transformed back to parallel electrical signals that are stored in one of several banks of FIFO memories. The FIFOs place their data onto the VME backplane to a VME Buffer Driver (VBD) which stores the event data in buffers for eventual readout over a thirty-two signal …

Compilation of monthly reports from departments in the city of San Antonio, Texas providing statistics, project updates, and other information about services and activities.

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Dan Morales, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether the Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators continues to exist following the abolition of the Teachers’ Professional Practices Commission, and related questions (RQ-645)

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Dan Morales, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether a Kleberg County grand jury is authorized to return an indictment for an offense that was committed in Kenedy County (RQ-626)

Document issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Dan Morales, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification: Whether the Texas Board of Health is authorized under the Medical Radiological Technologist Certification Act, article 4512m, V.T.C.S., to promulgate rules discontinuing general certification of medical radiologic technologists, and implementing a system of specialty certification in diagnostic radiography, nuclear medicine, and radiation therapy.

Letter opinion issued by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas in Austin, Texas, providing an interpretation of Texas law. It provides the opinion of the Texas Attorney General, Dan Morales, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification; Extent to which a county that has accepted a municipal utility district's dedication of a road may be responsible for maintenance of a storm sewer system that lies within the right of way of the road and that was constructed by the district, or purchased by the district from the developer, before the district's dedication of the road (RD-586)

A new x-ray technique for recording the relative arrival times of multiple laser beams at a common target with better than {+-} 10 ps accuracy has been implemented at the Nova laser facility. 100 ps, 3{omega} Nova beam are focused to separate locations on a gold ribbon target viewed from the side. The measurement consists of using well characterized re-entrant x-ray streak cameras for 1-dimensional streaked imaging of the > 3 keV x-rays emanating from these isolated laser plasmas. After making the necessary correction for the differential laser, x-ray and electron transit times involved, timing offsets as low as {+-} 7 ps are resolved, and on subsequent shots, corrected for, verified and independently checked. This level of synchronization proved critical in meeting the power balance requirements for indirectly-driven pulse-shaped Nova implosions.