This report surveys the need for large computers in analyzing the properties of magnetically confined plasmas and simulating the characteristics of fusion reactors. The major conclusion of the report is that, to meet the program schedule developed by Magnetic Confinement Systems, it would be necessary to immediately scale up the CTR (controlled thermonuclear research) computerized effort to a level of two Class IV computers by FY 1975. Based on this report, and in an attempt to best meet this need, it was decided to establish the National CTR Computer Center at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.

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During the period from December 19, 1972 to January 7, 1973 an extensive program of measurements of the fringe field of the 30-inch HBC magnet at NAL was carried out. Measurements of two components of the field were made at approximately 1900 points in the fringe field down-stream from the bubble chamber at each of two magnet currents (nominal currents were 18,000 and 16,000 amps). An additional 800 measurements were made to determine the effects on the field of iron phototube shields used with a dE/dx counter installed in the downstream magnet slot as part of experiment 2B. Measurements were also made at about 180 points in the fringe field upstream from the bubble chamber in the region traversed by incident beams of particles. In addition about 200 measurements were made in the visible volume of the chamber to check the calibration of the field, the accuracy of existing field maps, and the variation of the central field with magnet current. This report describes the equipment used in the acquisition of the data and provides estimates of the precision with which the measurements of field and of position could be made. The reduction of the raw data to a form …

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A description is given of an out-of-pile experiment which simulated fission-gas release in current-design uranium-oxide fuel subassemblies of liquid- metal-cooled fast breeder reactors (LMFBR's) and which was performed to evaluate the potential for pin-to-pin failure propagation due to thermal transients induced in adjacent fuel pins. A sodium-cooled test section containing three electrically heated pins was used. Gas (angon or xenon), injected as a jet through a needle protruding into the flow cross-sectional area of the test section, was made to impinge on one of the heater pins. Data are presented regarding the measured cladding-temperature rise and the calculated local heat- transfer coefficient in the impingement area, with the following parameters: gas type, needle internal diameter, heat flux, coolant flow rate, gas-plenum pressure and temperature, and axial location with respect to the gas jet. The cladding- temperature rises measured represent upper values, since the conditions under which they were obtained are conservative. There are two reasons for this: (a) The gasrelease rates correspond to those that would prevail if the internal resistance to the flow of gas, between the gas plenum and the point of release of the fuel pin, were negligibly small; (b) the tests were performed under steady- state …

The United Aircraft Research Laboratories are engaged in a program to investigate the use of a dense, mirror-confined, laser-produced plasma as the target for a neutral-injection beam and to examine this technique for establishing and maintaining a high-temperature, high-density, steady-state, mirrorconfined fusion plasma. The program is a direct extension of the current UARL investigations of the capture and confinement of laser-produced plasmas in a minimum-B mirror field. The overall program plan of the UARL Laser-Initiated Target Experiment involves four parts. The first of these is the laser heating of a solid particle positioned within the experiment chamber by an ultrahigh- vacuum suspension system to create a filly ionized plasma of ~10/sup 16/ to 10/ sup 17/ ions and electrons at a temperature of 0.5 to 1 keV. The second part of the program is the capture and confinement of the high-temperature laser-produced plasma to form a stable, high-density (>10/sup13/ cm/sup -3/), mirror-confined target plasma which fills an appreciable fraction of the mirror field volume. Heating of the confined-target plasma to ~10 keV by charge-exchange interaction with an injected energetic neutral beam comprises the third part of the program, and the fourth is the creation of a collisional, steady-state, mirror-confined plasma …

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This report describes a Direct Numerical Control (DNC) System proposed for use in the LLL Mechanical Shops. The DNC system includes a small digital computer that will provide the capability to store, manipulate, and distribute parts programs to the various machine tool stations. The system will also provide editing capabilities for parts program development and optimization. Diagnostic routines will be included to provide preventive maintenance. Logging of machine on'' time can be instituted to provide data for improved scheduling and machine tool usage. (auth)

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From conference on reactor operating experience; Myrtle Beach. South Carolina, USA (5 Aug 1973). The Peach Bottom Reactor has operated very reliably with the Core 2 loading since startup in July 1970. High temperature operation of test elements containing fuel for larger HTGR plants has been an important part of Peach Bottom operation. Details of the Core 2 and test element performance are presented. (14 references) (auth)