This report contains a review of this work conducted by the Electrodeposition Group for the last six months. Pictures and a discussion of the method used to convert production solutions to postum to hydrofluoride acid solutions of postum are given. Attempts to plate postum in an inert atmosphere by remote control have been made. As yet no successful runs have been completed. Standardization of normal calomel electrodes by comparison to silver-silver chloride electrodes and to hydrogen electrodes is described.

A revised and expanded version of NNES-DC-1. The liquid thermal diffusion method for the separation of isotopes is described. The discussion includes the experimental aspects of the method, description of equipment, and the theoretical aspects of the process as applied to the design, development, and performance criteria. A short history of the liquid thermal diffusion method from 1940 to 1945 is preserted along; with a survey of relevant literature prior to 1940. The remainder of the report is concerned with theoretical aspects. (J.R.D.)

This report is a memorandum sent on January 27, 1943 concerning the quality of the water of Columbia River. Topics included: ph value, water temperatures, hardness, and dissolved carbon dioxide contents.

In continuing studies to characterize and identify fission product activities formed in the piles and appearing in plant dissolver solutions work was done to determine whether or not long-lived isotopes of certain elements were present. Two of the elements in this category were iodine and arsenic. The iodine isotope of particular interest was I{sup 129}. Its tellurium parent has been identified but no daughter activity attributable to iodine has been observed. The arsenic activities of interest were the long-lived isotopes (16 days and 90 days) which have been produced artificially by several different nuclear reactions.

The following is a report of a trip to the Simonds Saw & Steel Company, Lockport, New York, on May 3, 1949. The purpose of the visit was to observe the various operations involved in the rolling of uranium rods at this plant and health problems associated with the rolling operations.

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Metal Hydrides Incorporated was a pioneer in the production of uranium metal on a commercial scale and supplied it to all the laboratories interested in the original research, before other methods for its production were developed. Metal Hydrides Inc. supplied the major part of the metal for the construction of the first experimental pile which, on December 2, 1942, demonstrated the feasibility of the self-sustaining chain reaction and the release of atomic energy.

Records show that difficulty has been encountered with the discharge of two tubes in B Pile, twelve in the D Pile, and fifteen in the F Pile during the period from initial start-up until March 15, 1948. In sixteen cases the tubes have been replaced, six of the tubes which were in the fringe have been made air tubes, four did not warrant replacement, and three are to be replaced in the future. General statistics for these twenty-nine tubes are presented with additional details in this report.

Long-time tests have been made on the effect of various types of radiation on the corrosion of 2S aluminum in simulated W water. In no case was any acceleration of corrosion by the radiation observed; the effect of radiation, if any, appeared to be a protective one. Deuteron irradiation did accelerate the corrosion of mild steel at low flow rates in hot water of pH 6 to 7, but no appreciable effect was observed with copper, stainless steel, or tuballoy. The general theory of the effect of radiation on corrosion is discussed, with the conclusion that no acceleration of corrosion by radiation is to be expected in most cases of practical interest. (auth)

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The decay scheme of a 4.2 second neutron emitter has been investigated in detail. Chemical and physical evidence shows that it is N{sup 17}, which emits beta rays to a broad excited state of O{sup 17}, which then breaks up into a neutron plus O{sup 16}. The energy spectrum of the neutrons is determined by measuring the energies of the O{sup 16} recoils in a proportional counter. The neutrons have a most probable energy of 0.9 Mev, a 'half width' of less than .5 Mev, and an upper limit of about 2 Mev. {beta}-recoil coincidences are observed, as predicted by the Bohr-Wheeler theory, and the {beta}-ray energy is measured by absorption. The beta rays in coincidence with neutrons have an upper limit of 3.7 {+-} 0.2 Mev. Beta-rays directly to the ground stat of O{sup 17} are not observed because of high background effects, but should have an energy of 8.7 Mev. Some evidence is presented to show that energy is conserved in the {beta}-n transition through the broad excited state in O{sup 17}.

N{sup 12} is shown to have a half life of 12.5 {+-} 1 milliseconds, and a positron upper limit of 16.6 {+-} 0.2 Mev. It is produced by the reaction C{sup 12}(p,n)N{sup 12}, and has a threshold proton energy of 20.0 Mev. This indicates that N{sup 12} is within about 200 Kev of being unstable against proton emission. The mass of N{sup 12} is 12.0228 {+-} 0.00015, and the beta transition is allowed.

The experiment outlined in this proposal has the possibility of giving an answer to the important question, 'Does the neutrino exist'? It is unfortunate that at the present time, there is no convincing experimental that neutrinos exist. Two recent articles review the status of various experiments which could give information about neutrinos. In general, these experiments give results in agreement with the predictions of beta decay theory. But actually, if even the most complete of the 'recoil type' experiments could be performed satisfactorily, all that could be concluded would be the following: the energy and momentum relationships in beta decay are consistent with the theory that the known energy deficit is carried away by a single particle. But to emphasize the fact that this would not constitute a proof of the real existence of that particle, the following quotations from the review articles should be noted. Crane says, 'All of the evidence about the neutrino is, as already pointed out, indirect in character since neutrinos have not yet been caught after leaving the nucleus. It can, of course, be argued on very general grounds that, if energy is not conserved between nucleus and electron, momentum should not be expected to …

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Performance curves and test results on a half scale model of the radio frequency system designed to accelerate protons in the Berkeley 184-inch cyclotron are presented. This report is a sequel to K. R. Mackenzie's report on the three quarter wave radio frequency system for frequency modulated cyclotrons.

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A detailed description of the processing of pitchblende ores used at the Port Hope, Canada, refinery is given including both the recovery and purification of U and Fu. The health hazards present in the processing are discussed, and recommendations are made which will insure adequate health protection. (L.T.W.)

Samples of pile graphite, irradiated in a test-hole at Hanford for 15 months, have been assayed for radioactive C{sup14}, yielding 0.38 ± 0.04 microcuries per gram. At this level of activity, the pile graphite contains very valuable amounts of C{sup14}. The relation between the above assay and the probable average assay of pile graphite is discussed, and it is concluded that the latter is almost certainly above 0.3 uc/ gram. Controlled oxidation of this graphite, either with oxygen at ~ 750°C, or with chromic acid "cleaning solution" at room temperature, yields early fractions which are highly enriched in C{sup14}. Concentrations of 5-fold with oxygen, and 50-fold with CRO{sub3}, have been observed. The relation between the observed enrichment and the Wigner effect is discussed, and a mechanism accounting for the observations put forward. According to this, about 25% of the stable carbon atoms in the lattice have been displaced by Wigner effect, a large fraction of which have healed the migrating to crystal edges. All the C{sup14} atoms have been displaced, and the same fraction of these migrate to the edges. The enrichment then results from surface oxidation, in the oxygen case. Predictions are made on the basis of this hypothesis. …

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The participation of phosphorus in biological oxidation-reduction reactions of the type found in glycolysis ADP + PO{sub 4}H{sup -} + 3-phosphoglyceraldehyde + DPN{sup +} = 3-phosphoglycerate{sup -} + 2H{sup +} + DPNH + ATP has suggested theories in which similar reactions are proposed for photosynthesis. In these theories the reducing power of photosynthesis is utilized not only for reduction of carbon dioxide but also, by means of coupled oxidations, for the generation of high-energy phosphate bonds, or in the last reference directly for the generation of high-energy phosphate. Since in these theories acyl phosphate is formed from inorganic phosphate, they are amenable to proof without isolation of particular intermediates, by means of radioactive phosphorus. It would be expected that the rate of conversion of inorganic phosphate to organic phosphate would be greater in light than in the dark. They have investigated this possibility under a variety of conditions and are unable to substantiate the theories.