Detection of99Tc by accelerator mass spectrometry: Preliminary investigations

Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is an established technique for the detection of long-lived radionuclides at environmental levels. At LLNL, planned facility upgrades and advances in detection techniques are allowing us to explore the applicability of AMS to isotopes not previously pursued. One such isotope is⁹⁹Tc. We have performed a number of preliminary tests to examine the technical feasibility of AMS for the detection of⁹⁹Tc. The questions addressed were negative ion production in the cesium sputter source, transport efficiency for the ions through the spectrometer, and detection efficiency for⁹⁹Tc ions after the spectrometer. Based on the positive results of these tests, we have begun to develo measurement protocol.     

Spectral Properties of the Cauchy Operator and Its Product with Bergman's Projection on a Bounded Domain

In this paper exact asymptotic formulae are found for singularvalues of the Cauchy operator and the logarithmic potentialtype operator (on a bounded domain), as well as their productswith Bergman's projection. It is shown that these spectral characteristicsdetect geometric properties of a domain (area and the lengthof the boundary). The hypothesis "can we hear the shape of adrum", from a paper by J.M. Anderson, D. Khavinson, and V. Lomonosov[‘Spectral properties of some integral operators arisingin potential theory’, Quart. J. Math. Oxford (2) 43 (1992)387-407], is correct in the above sense. 1991 Mathematics SubjectClassification: 47B10.     

Lateral patterning of nonlinear frequency conversion with transversely varying quasi-phase-matching gratings

We demonstrate control of the nonlinear conversion across a beam profile by using periodically poled lithium niobate with a laterally nonuniform quasi-phase-matching grating. As a representative experiment, generation of a flat-top second-harmonic beam is demonstrated.     

Ueber Indicatoren bei der Alkalimetrie und Acidimetrie

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Far downstream analysis for the Blasius boundary-layer stability problem

In this paper, we examine the large Reynolds number (Re) asymptoticstructure of the wave number in the Orr–Sommerfeld regionfor the Blasius boundary layer on a semi-infinite flat plategiven by Goldstein (1983, J. Fluid Mech., 127, 59–81).We show that the inclusion of the term which contains the leading-ordernon-parallel effects, at O(Re^{– 1/2}), leads to a non-uniformexpansion. By considering the far downstream form of each termin the asymptotic expansion, we derive a length scale at whichthe non-uniformity appears, and compare this position with theposition seen in plots of the wave number.     

Enrico Fermi shield-plug response to a 1000-Ib TNT accident

The Enrico Fermi Atomic Power Plant—world's largest fast breeder—is a 100,000-kw facility currently nearing completion at Lagoona Beach, Mich. Access to the sodium-cooled core is provided by a 143-ton shield plug. The maximum credible nuclear accident for the Fermi reactor has been postulated not to exceed in violence the detonation of 1000 lb of TNT at the core location. This paper is addressed to predicting the structural response of Fermi to this maximum credible accident. Scaled charges of TNT (cased in molten sodium) were detonated in idealized models of the Fermi reactor. The results of these experiments together with available theory indicate that the accident would be contained in the reactor shielding complex but that the 143-ton shield plug, if unimpeded, might be propelled through the roof of the containment building. In response to the findings of this extensive study, the Fermi reactor will be equipped with an arrester that will prevent a hazardous plug jump in the unlikely event of a nuclear accident.     

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Notices bibliographiques

     

Wrap-around partitioning for block bidiagonal linear systems

A stable vector algorithm for the solution of block diagonallinear systems is obtained by a permutation of the unknownscalled wrap-around partitioning combined with standard QR factorization.Wrap-around partitioning uses blocking and selects the unknownsin the blocks in turns. After a suitable orthogonal eliminationstep one ends up with a reduced system which is again blockbidiagonal and so wrap-around partitioning can be applied again.Using a simple model for vectorization overhead it is shownthat small block sizes give best performance. The minimal blocksize 2, which corresponds to cyclic reduction, is suboptimaldue to memory bank conflicts.