Measurement of the gravitational constant with a torsion balance

We present results of ten years of measurements of the gravitational constant made using an evacuated torsion balance. We obtained the valueG=(6.6729±0.0005)·10⁻¹¹ N·m²·kg⁻². We have determined the major destabilizing factors accompanying the measurement process and have estimated the contribution from different sources of error. Translated from Izmeritel'naya Tekhnika, No. 10, pp. 3–9, October, 1996.     

自支撑同位素钐靶的制备

一、引言联邦德国重离子研究所的物理实验需要~(154)Sm和~(144)Sm靶,具体要求是:(1)自支撑金属靶,(2)厚度范围为90—110 μg/cm~2,(3)靶厚测量误差为±10%,(4)靶的尺寸是φ15 mm,(5)靶的数量为4—5块。用滚轧法、电镀法和重离子溅射法制备这样薄的自支撑靶都十分困难,因此采用真空蒸发试制同位素钐靶。     

Dewatering of liwuid radioactive wastes in thin-film rotary evaporators

Translated from Atomnaya Énergiya, Vol. 67, No. 1, pp. 11–15, July, 1989.     

Role of pH and Ionic Strength on Water Relationships in Washed Minced Chicken-breast Muscle Gels

ABSTRACT The relationship between pH, ionic strength, and water balance of chicken-breast muscle gels was investigated. An increase in gel pH (pH 6.4 to 7.4) without added NaCl led to dramatic increases in water-holding capacity and water uptake (P < 0.05). Gels at 150 mM NaCl exhibited less ability to adsorb water than salt-free gels (P < 0.05 at pH 6.8 to 7.4) and had lower water-holding capacities (P < 0.05) and fold scores at and below pH 7. Varying salt concentration of the gel-bathing solutions had dramatic effect on the water uptake of the gels. The results show that strong water-absorbing gels can be produced at low ionic strengths and suggest that the negative charge of the muscle proteins is the driving force for water uptake and retention.     

Substantiation of the Radiochemical Characteristics of Liquid Radioactive Wastes That Determine Safe Operation of Deep Waste Disposal Sites

The qualitative and quantitative radiochemical composition of liquid wastes is substantiated. This makes possible further safe operation of deep waste disposal sites at the Mining-Chemical Plant and the Siberian Chemical Plant. The toxicity and temperature in a formation with the wastes removed are used as the assessment criteria, satisfaction of which guarantees that the wastes will remain localized within the assigned boundaries of the waste-disposal formation site. It is concluded that the standard limit should be imposed on the specific activity of the long-lived group of radionuclides – ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs – rather than on the total specific activity of the wastes placed in deep disposal sites. For maximum specific activity of ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs of 37 GBq/dm³ and total specific activity not exceeding 185 GBq/dm³ for buried wastes with radionuclide composition characteristic of modern radiochemical production operations, it is impossible for potentially dangerous radiation and thermochemical processes to occur in the waste-disposal formation site. The recommended limit permits reducing substantially the volume of buried wastes and therefore the region over which the wastes propagate in the deep disposal site.     

EBSD investigation of SiC for HTR fuel particles

Electron back-scattering diffraction (EBSD) can be successfully performed on SiC coatings for HTR fuel particles. EBSD grain maps obtained from thick and thin unirradiated samples are presented, along with pole figures showing textures and a chart showing the distribution of grain aspect ratios. This information is of great interest, and contributes to improving the process parameters and ensuring the reproducibility of coatings.     

2-kW Average Power CW Phase-Conjugate Solid-State Laser

We have demonstrated stable operation of a 2-kW Yb:YAG phase-conjugate master oscillator power amplifier (PC-MOPA) laser system with a loop phase-conjugate mirror (LPCM). This is the first demonstration of a continuous wave (CW)-input LPCM MOPA operating at a power greater than 1 kW with a nearly diffraction-limited output beam. The single-pass beam quality incident on the LPCM varied with the specific operating conditions, but it was typically _~20 times diffraction-limited (XDL). The measured beam quality with an MOPA output power of 1.65 kW was 1.3 XDL.