For this reactor a reference case conceptual design was developed in some detail. The parameters of the design result partly from somewhat arbitrary physics assumptions and partly from optimization procedures. Two of the assumptions--that only 10% of the alpha-particle energy is deposited in the plasma and that particle confinement scales with the ion-ion collision time--may prove to be overly conservative. A number of possible start-up scenarios for the field-reversed plasmas were considered, but the choice of a specific start-up method for the conceptual design was deferred, pending experimental demonstration of one or more of the schemes in a mirror machine. Basic to our plasma model is the assumption that, once created, the plasma can be stably maintained by injection of a neutral-beam current sufficient to balance the particle-loss rate. The reference design is a multicell configuration with 11 field-reversed toroidal plasma layers arranged along the horizontal axis of a long-superconducting solenoid. Each plasma layer requires the injection of 3.6 MW of 200-keV deuterium and tritium, and produces 20 MW of fusion power. The reactor has a net electric output of 74 MWe. The preliminary estimate for the direct capital cost of the reference design is $1200/kWe. A balance-of-plant study is …

Laser induced fusion is the forerunner of a class of inertial confinement schemes in which hydrogen isotopes are heated to thermonuclear conditions in a very short period. The process is characterized by such short time scales that fuel confinement is achieved through its' own finite mass and expansion velocity, approaching 1 ..mu..m/psec for ignition temperatures of order 10 keV (10/sup 8/ /sup 0/K). With current laser powers limited to several terrawatts one readily estimates, on the basis of energy conservation, target mass, and expansion velocity, that target size and laser pulse duration are on the order of 100 ..mu..m and 100 psec, respectively. Within these constraints, targets have been heated and confined to the point where thermonuclear conditions have been achieved. This paper describes a sampling of diagnostic techniques with requisite resolution (microns and picoseconds) to accurately describe the dynamics of a laser driven compression. As discussed in each case cited, these in turn provide insight to and quantitative measure of, the physical processes dominating the implosion. The success of the inertial confinement fusion program is strongly dependent on the continued development of such diagnostics and the understanding they provide.

Machining of the A106B GTA and EB welded specimens was completed. Laser welding of the AISI 304L and ASTM A106B materials is continuing. Tensile testing of the ASTM A106B EB welded specimens was initiated and completed. Testing of the ASTM A106B EB welded material indicated generally lower ductility than the parent material. Low-cycle fatigue testing of the ASTM A106B material in 13.8 MPa hydrogen indicates reductions in mean life of approximately 50 and 27% due to the GTA and EB welding respectively. (LK)

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We have carried out conceptual design studies of fusion reactors based on the three current mirror confinement concepts: the standard mirror, the tandem mirror, and the field-reversed mirror. Recent studies of the standard mirror have emphasized its potential as a fusion-fission hybrid reactor, designed to produce fission fuel for fission reactors. We have designed a large commercial hybrid based on standard mirror confinement, and also a small pilot plant hybrid. Tandem mirror designs include a commercial 1000 MWe fusion power plant and a nearer term tandem mirror hybrid. Field-reversed mirror designs include a multicell commercial reactor producing 75 MWe and a single cell pilot plant.

A large, new Mirror Fusion Test Facility is under construction at LLL. Begun in FY78 it will be completed at the end of FY78 at a cost of $94.2M. This facility gives the mirror program the flexibility to explore mirror confinement principles at a signficant scale and advances the technology of large reactor-like devices. The role of MFTF in the LLL program is described here.

A weekly publication, the Texas Register serves as the journal of state agency rulemaking for Texas. Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents such as requests for proposals. After adoption, these rulemaking actions are codified into the Texas Administrative Code.

Laser plasma experiments at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory have progressed very rapidly and have achieved new milestones in both the implosion and DT gain in laser fusion targets. New diagnostic methods were also developed for determining the state of the compressed fuel and the plasma processes which are occurring in the absorption and scattering of the laser light incident on the laser fusion pellets. A review of the program is given. (MOW)

A multiple contact adhesion model has been derived to explain the charge observed on silica dust. This model has good agreement with the observed adhesion of microspheres and microballoons. From theoretical arguments, it appeared feasible that surface acoustic waves could be used to overcome the electrostatic adhesion between a particle and surface, and be used to move the particle along the surface in a controllable fashion. In an inverted geometry, evidence for resonance in the hollow microballoons was found. Two distinct modes were observed. These were the breathing mode and the Lamb wave mode associated with resonance of the walls. The measured Lamb wave velocity was 6.15 x 10/sup 5/ cm/sec.

Absolute disintegration rates of specific radioactive products induced by neutron irradition of a sample are determined by spectrometric analysis of gamma-ray emissions. Nuclide identification and quantification is carried out by a complex computer code GAMANAL (described elsewhere). The output of GAMANAL is processed by NADAC, a computer code that converts the data on observed distintegration rates to data on the elemental composition of the original sample. Computations by NADAC are on an absolute basis in that stored nuclear parameters are used rather than the difference between the observed disintegration rate and the rate obtained by concurrent irradiation of elemental standards. The NADAC code provides for the computation of complex cases including those involving interrupted irradiations, parent and daughter decay situations where the daughter may also be produced independently, nuclides with very short half-lives compared to counting interval, and those involving interference by competing neutron-induced reactions. The NADAC output consists of a printed report, which summarizes analytical results, and a card-image file, which can be used as input to another computer code MERGE. The purpose of MERGE is to combine the results of multiple analyses and produce a single final answer, based on all available information, for each element found.

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, John L. Hill, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification; Whether committee appointed by the chairman of Board of Regents to study process for selecting chief administrative officers is subject to the Open Meetings Act.

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, John L. Hill, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification; Status of the offices of Inspector of Hides and Animals, and Public Weigher in Harris County.

The uranium-2 wt percent molybdenum alloy was prepared, processed, and age hardened to meet a minimum 930-MPa yield strength (0.2 percent) with a minimum of 10 percent elongation. These mechanical properties were obtained with a carbon level up to 300 ppM in the alloy. The tensile-test ductility is lowered by the humidity of the laboratory atmosphere. (auth)

Flooding and mass transfer experiments were performed with a CO/sub 2/-air/water system to examine mass transfer characteristics in Goodloe-packed columns of 6.4 and 15.2-cm ID for removal of radioactive Kr from HTGR off-gas. The flooding experiments verified previous correlations for the packing. The plug flow model was selected for calculation of the overall mass transfer coefficient, K/sub L/a. The correlation for K/sub L/a in terms of the molar liquid flow rate, L', is K/sub L/a = 0.359(L')/sup 0.96/ for 7.5 x 10/sup -3/ less than L ' less than 3.4 x 10/sup -2/ in the 6.4-cm column and K/sub L/a = 0.144(L')/sup 0.96/ for 2.7 x 10/sup -3/ less than L' less than 5.5 x 10/sup -2/ in the 15.2-cm column.

A HPGe detector incorporated into a Compton suppression and pair spectrometer yields a continuum suppression factor of over 30. Cryostat housing requirements to obtain such suppression are discussed, sample spectra are presented, and several experiments making use of the HPGe dual system are discussed.

Several new or poorly characterized neutron-rich nuclides were produced and studied at the Brookhaven Medium Energy Intense Neutron facility, MEIN. /sup 190/W decays with T/sub 1/2/ = 30.0 +- 1.5 min, E/sub beta/ = 0.93 +- 0.07 MeV, and ..gamma..'s of 157.6 and 162.1 keV. /sup 196/Os decays with T/sub 1/2/ = 35.0 +- 0.4 min and ..gamma..'s at 126.1, 200.7, 207.0, 257.0, 315.3, 407.6, 522.2, and 628.9 keV. /sup 230/Ra decays with T/sub 1/2/ = 93 +- 2 min to 122 +- 3 sec /sup 230/Ac; ..gamma..-ray energies and intensities are tabulated. A decay scheme is proposed for /sup 190/W, and many of the transitions following the decay of /sup 230/Ac are between known levels in /sup 230/Th.

It is assumed that objects exist, and the consequences and possible tests of these assumptions are examined. Various experiments on particle interactions are considered. (JFP)

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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, John L. Hill, regarding a legal question submitted for clarification; State funds which may be used by the Parks and Wildlife Department for the construction of a headquarters building at McKinney Falls State Park.