Single crystals of KH{sub 2}PO{sub 4} (KDP) and (D{sub x}H{sub 1-x}){sub 2}PO{sub 4} (DKDP) will be used for frequency conversion and as part of a large aperture optical switch in the proposed National Ignition Facility (NIF) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). These crystals must have good optical properties and high laser damage thresholds. Currently these crystals have a lower laser damage threshold than other optical materials in the laser chain which has forced designers to limit the output fluence of the NIF in order to avoid damaging the crystals. Furthermore, while more efficient frequency conversion schemes are being explored both theoretically and experimentally, the advantages of these schemes can not be fully realized unless the damage thresholds of the conversion crystals are increased. Over the past decade, LLNL has generated an extensive data base on the laser damage in KDP and DKDP crystals both at the first and third harmonics of Nd-YAG. While the damage thresholds of these crystals have increased over this time period due, in part, to better filtration of the growth solution, the damage thresholds of the best crystals are still far below what is expected from theoretical limits calculated from the band structure of …

The Genome Radio Project (GRP) core staff are now all in place and the office infrastructure has been set up. The project logo, stationery, and letterhead have all been approved. The name of the series has been identified: The DNA Files. Weekly staff planning meetings and work plans have been initiated; the research component has been launched; interviews of potential production personnel are being conducted. The first three months of the GRP were principally devoted to the further development of the entire two-year project, specifically by pursuing full funding for this project from sources other than DOE. The principal purpose of this planning grant includes the following: produce a pilot documentary which can be used to strengthen the marketing strategy of the overall project; create concrete strategies for best engaging the talents and energies of the project`s advisors; and identify concrete collaborations that maximize the efficacy of a well-designed set of ancillary materials. During this period, GRP collaborated with the Exploratorium in San Francisco to record their series of evening lectures on the social implications of genetic research and its applications. Project staff also attended Lawrence Berkeley Lab.`s Genome Educators Workshops, and the Public Radio Conference.

Ammonium perchlorate (AP) showed previously unreported phase behavior when studied in a diamond anvil cell (DAC) at high temperature (to 693 K) and high pressure (to {approximately}26 GPa). Liquid droplets, observed above the known 513 K orthorhombic-to-cubic phase transition, are interpreted as the onset to melting. The melting point decreased with increasing pressure. Mid-infrared FTIR spectra of the residue showed only AP. The AP melt may contribute to shock insensitivity of AP-based propellants. Gas formation was seen at higher temperatures. A phase diagram was constructed using the appearance of liquid and gas as solid-liquid and liquid-gas transitions. Preliminary pressurized differential scanning calorimetry data showed a weak pressure dependence (to {approximately}6.9 MPa) for the orthorhombic-to-cubic phase transition.

This report is in response to the request to provide a recommendation for the prevention of possible microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) for the RHLWE (Replacement High-Level Waste Evaporator) flush water (FW) system. The recent occurrences of MIC at DWPF prompted HLWE to evaluate the possibility of MIC occurring in this 304L stainless steel RHLWE flush water system. Concern was heightened by the fact that the well water used and the other conditions at H-Tank Farm are similar to those at DWPF. However, only one known leak has occurred in the existing 304L evaporator flush water systems in either tank farm (in 1H system), and no MIC Corrosion has been confirmed in the tank farm area. The design of the RHLWE flush water system (completed long before the occurrence of MIC at DWPF) was modeled after the existing evaporator flush water systems and did not specifically include MIC prevention considerations. Therefore, MIC prevention was not specifically considered during the design phase of this flush water system. The system is presently being installed. After an extensive evaluation, a task team concluded that the best biocide to prevent the occurrence of MIC would be NaOH at fairly low concentration. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is …