ORNL Budget Review for Fiscal Year 1949 - 1950

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BUDGET REVIEW FOR FISCAL YELa3 1949 - 1950 7 i 4697 The following is a review of the previous justification for our original budget submission, in the program since our previous submission will be covered. The LaboraIt is intended that only tho major changes tory ' s program is beginning t o devolop into definite objectives and will be further developed over a pcriod of tho as tho contemplated construction It is thousht worthy t o mention at this time that the development curate program budgct for thc Laboratory is difficult to estabevicu covcrs work assocletcd with t h c regular Laboratory program, usly approvcd by the Atomic %orgy Comtnission, and the add it id h has bccn rcqucstcd of tho Laboratory by thc Atomic Encrgy n for UC or othcr govcrnmantal in sk lln t ions, This additional . ' &IC Laboratory, it is assumcd that additional funds Kill bc provided; % funds a r c allottcd. If theso nd&itiond projects aro Lmdcrtakcn by conscquontly, tho cstimatcd c o s t s of porforming tho work havc bccn in= cludcd inthc computction of this budgct. Tho ? ro jc ct s comprising this - additional work arc covcrod at t scussion. Also Y c=r includcd i n this budget rcviow .c t h o AEC rrnd thc vrtrious "book-trc?nsr"efltcosts which m o accomplished at

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Almg wlth the develapment Dfa def lnlte, well cox d lna ted research program for the Oak Rldge N atl mal Iabwatorjr, considerable pr3gee ela bel% made in reorganlzlng the verhua edmtnlstzatlve and service dLvfslm6 819 a means b f reduclng the coat of Laboratory overhead. Thls is being accxn?llahed by providing mly the services essen tls l f3r the eff lc lent reductfm In overhead the amunt 3fr eae er ch w mk accomplished La increased The dlecueslon 2 f the var i wsdl vlei on al budgets fDllovs in the mme sequence a8 was submltted In the originel budget.

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Tho Opcrations Division, rcsponsiblc for thc o?cm.tion of thc pilc, i s cxpcricncing r\ stcady zrowth i n the production &andshipmcnt of rcdiofiftccn forcign countries. Inthc past ycar thc amount of rcdiophosphorus 2is tri but cd has in tr cat ing yolycythcmia and lculcmia. Othcr ncwcr apylicc?tions which arc bcing dcvclopcd a r c thc dizgnosis of surfccc 2nd ncm-surfncc tumors, It has bccn found t h a t r&-o?hosuhom oftcntincs is absorbcd sclcctivcly Radioiodine Cistribution has incrxscc? i n tho pcst ' ycar by onc hundrcd fifty-ninc pcrccnt ovcr 1947. This isotopc is cx tms iv c ly uscd i n trmtrncr?t.of th poi d ccnccrs mcl i n hypcrthyroidism. It is also vcry radioisotope lnbclcd dycs. Somc of thcsc ccmpomds i n t h c pcst, havc been known to local is c in tumor tissuc =tnd thus indicatc tothc surgcon with radioiodinc and a r c now uscd i n a simikar m;lllIlcr with, of coursc,

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loc n liz c radioiodinc and othcr radioisotopcs i n cmccr tissue in this 2s is now don2 with thyraid canccr, 0 Radiocobalt is just bcginning t o bc uscd i n plncc of radiun and have othcr advnntzigcs such as s in pli city.In dust rid applicstion i s bcing mdc of Co 60 a3 a SOUTCC of rndiation i n prcparing radioeaphs of metals. This isotopc offcrs gat pronisc QS a st,mdc.\rd for radiation mcasurcncnts bccnusc of its long hnlf lifc. widcsprccd usc of c ddt for this purposc. It appcars likely that thcrc will bo a Sincc this isotopc is uscd larg c ly for b?.sic rcsccrch in ncdicinc, it is onc of thc nost worthwhile isotopcs, f r o n I long-tcm standpoint, now find sone mans of when L: tcndcncy toward cmccr exists. Somc progress I n addition t o basic rcsc,?rch on how thc body functions, a Invcstigztors hopc t o bc ablc t o dingnosc cmccr 'and pcrhaps and t o vcry delicate tfssucs such as the. eye. Ls in ilm wc is bcing an applicator and uscd to irradiate loccd. circcs. Thc advmtagc of such . a- would bo dclivcrcd only t o I limited surrxmding mx of .tissue.. instcad

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Industrial applicotisns of radioisotopcs arc increasing vcry rapidly. not clways willing to havc thc applicctions prrblicizcd. It is, thcrcforc, in t crc sting oncs are: study friction through nccsurcnent of radioiron inthc lubricating oil, (2) use of radioactive bmi m to follow flew of fluids through pipc lincs, and (3) use of rndioisotopcs as t racc rs in improving industri'd proccsscs. (1) usc of ir rad in tcd bmrings a d othcr it& to illustrates the incrcascd dm.nds thct arc bcing placed upon thc Laboratory Adj usb cnt s havc bccn =de i n tho pile to incrcaso thc mount of reactivity avail abl c for rz sca xh, isotopc production, scrvlcc irradiations, and othcr r-eccssary uscsj a d 2.t prcscnt the roactor i s pcrforning norc scrviccs than n t .any tinc in thc history of thc Laboratory. bias bccn largely offset by o reduction 3.n thc isotopc irradiation cost Thc cont in ud ly incrcasing dcmnd for radioisotopes has mde ncccssary a.considcrablc cxpzmsion of f nci li tics with thc sGbscqucnt cnlargcncnt of tho isotope program i n both production cnd dcvclopxnt. Thc now Isotop pcnso of opcrating fac ili tics in thii arm has bccn includcd i n the budgct.

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adled. The off - arcc wastes and Lnboratory proccss wastes m e cxpcctcd t o increase i n volume and activity ovcr ;I period of so vcr d ycars atleast. The rcduction i n thc opcrating budget for the f is cd ycaP 1949 w33 mde ' possible lc rg ely by the fact th z ta mjos ovcrhuul of thc bdc Fam f nci li - operating responsibilities,the Operations Division is nnticip?ting aten pcrccnt decrease i n its over dl budget for f is c91 year 1949, that mk c the reduction possible arc: efficiency; (2) reduction i n working force; and (3) USC of Word mter i al for special isotope runs. The budget for thc fiscal year 1950 has bcen incrcascd t o include tho t o prevent radioactivc pm tic lcs fron csccping into tho atnosphcrc,

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Tho op crat ims of the Physics Divisicn can be dividcd into t;rO intcrdcpcndcnt classcs, both of which r?rc cutgrowths of our I 3 C dirccti-Jc of l a s t Mcrch. The first class includcs work of direct cpplic3-bility inthc dzvdopm n t o f thc usc of atomic cncrgy; this work includcs dcvolopcnt of controls and instruncntation for thc projectcd high flux pilo, cxpcrinents on the critical m ssc s of ur anim rcquircd for varlouh kinds of pilb Eock-ups, an extcnsivc prcr&zi on tho dcvelopmcnt of norc off ici cnt radiation shiclds, inportcnt work on thc nature Of rcd i at ion &mge i n sclid natcricd.s, studics cross sections. The Xenon oxpcrinent , currcntly i n progrcss, is onc of studying tho absorption spcctrun of noutmns i n in detail. This isotope is by fzr tho most inportant fission prodcct poison; it will bc recalled that because of it the Hanford piles ncczly fdl od to work,. Tho expcrhent isa mjor one in tc rn s of of fort, r.nd thc rcsults so far indicatc tht the pismine will not bc rcduccd i n bigh-tcmpcraturc piles,. The othcr broad South; hcrc wo hwe tho frcqucnt co nhc ts with the O& Ridcc Institut c of belonging t o thc Cheristry Di-&don but long unusod ond i n storilgc,. has bccn brought to li fc in a joint Physics-Chenistry cf'fort.? Tho Physics Division has no long-tcm c h i n on this mchinc, but the expcricncc @ncd by the workers will bo of vtiluc i n handling a ' l ~ rcc rm.chinc.e 1.lO hope t o obtain tho larg cr mchinc in the nca futurc,. It is bndly nocdcd for the foUC)King

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(a) $0 constitute a source of nonoldnctic ncutrons for studying thc neutron crosd scctions of all cicncnta in thc ki lc volt to nil lion &lt ran~c: S e c t i m s Com.ittec, where it kos found thak ho kbbohtorics were worldn;: on this vital, lonprclngo pro gxh. t o broaden bur cxpcrhcntation bcyond pure rc lim cc upon th cfr a phi tcp IC, This need has bccn cxcnplificd i n rll of t h c Nntiond. Ldmratorics, for sthcrs bocn behind hand in this rospcct. Thc situation nust be rcctificd. . Thc'rccent install h tion ' o f il hclitol liq ucf i cr will. five us a start a t thc lon pra ngc prorjrm of scattcring polarized ncutrons frm polarized nucloi,thcrcby cnablirq us t o lc,?rn norc about spin-dcpcndcncc i n nuclcar fascinntinl: qu cst ims to bc onsmrcd rcprcscntinc R contiming type of sci cnt if icc on tri but ims of ' 1948, cult but basic into prctons with work has obvious 'inplic5.tions i n Css ion of a bcta particle, This diffifuturc high power or hich tcngcrclturo reactors.

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Southern Univcrsitics 2nd othcr uniocrsitics work i n the Lobmatory for thc s mcr session. Thcy odd agcat dcel, t o thc progrcss of work at thc

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I n reviewing the program and projected budget of the Chemistry Division, it is essential to understand its dual functions. the staff is engaged in ohenical research on specific problens related to the toall technical divis'ions of OT(rJL and in spec id fields to other organizaprograc and t h e other half furnishes cherdcel analytical. service t ions in the Oak Ridge Area. During t h e past year, the rosearch progrm has suffered from severe losses in senior personnel. Recruiting is being actively pursued t o secure the adequate replacenents necessary for the successful fulfillncat of research conmitnents and for a well-rounded prograu in nuclem cha ical research, considering only chec,ists of highest qualificetions end with the obvious scarcit y of such nen, it is enticipated that full divisionel strength will not be achieved this year, as is reflected in the of analytical chcnists has been abnorndly nentment of junior personnel has pcr rit ted lower budget. ..Although t h e turnover high, the greater ease of repleceunintorrupted conduct of all analytiNearly ell p h a e s of the research Progrcr. of the Cheriist~$ Division fall (1) the accunulction 'of fk d men k chmicci data perthent'.to, and the direct developrient of, processes for the isolatioq and recovery of fissionable nate rials ; rdi of so to pes -and-&at&gic naterials, and c a l problem of reactor develoment. b o n g the studies of a nore,fundmental nature are those concerned nith the elucidation of the nuclecr and cherricd properties of the heavg elenents . and of elensnts in the fission product region. &luded in the forner group

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are the fission able eleoents and their source elements, Studies of the solw tion chemistry of thoriun, protactiniun, urnniun and the tra sur mic elenents, which are es sent icl for en intelligent approcch t o sepcrctions processes, will be extended t o include o. grectcr ctiphasis on t h e nuclear properties of these ele~ients, This direction of resemch is considwed h per at ive to fill en existing gap in the overcll AEC resewch progrcn. I n addition, a besic progrm on the dry cha is try of the hemy ela ents will be initiated mith the ul that e objective of developing volatility methods for the isolation of fissionable elenents, Of direct concern t o future developnent of recictors, in pcr ti cula r of honogsneous recctors, are the phase relationships i n aqueous end nob-aqueous solutions of fissionable Lieterials. T h i s investigation which has proceeded on a Eoderate scc3e in the past nill be expanded; The investigction of the fission ole-ents is eG c ted to continue t o add t o the knovrledge of the nuclem cnd cher:.iccJ ch cr act eris tics of species 'produced in fission. Such in form tion nill assist in the developcent of seperntions processes and is es sent icl for the clarification of the theory. of the fission process. h other,field of research involves the deter ha - t i o n of the neutron cross-secticn of isotopes produced i n fission. The neces- ' a it y for this infomation for the design of recctors of higher power and opereting ct higher neutron energies t h m thernal is aCL recognized. The. . . '- successful detercinetion o f the cross-section of Xeu5 as a function of neutron energy is typical of the studies nhich vrill be extended, i n cooperation orith the Physics Division, t o other fissi0.n elenents. Within the scope of applied nuclecr chenistry ftlls. t h e developnent of cess trastes, such as that of the Redox process, i n connection with the radiolo@cal warfare grogran. During t h e year, it is expe.cted .that on optbun

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process will have been selected and pilot plat devolopnent started in c& opera'tion with the Technical Division, separating hafniun froc zirconiun FAX. continue nith the objective of ulti; nat ely developing a coraercial nethod for producing pure airconiun will continue with the objective of ul tin at ely developing a come rc in l nethod for Research on chai icd. nethods for producing pure zirconiun. As mould be expected a f t e r the continued production of radioisotopes for nore than two years, the need f o r the developrent of production proce&es has Ui shed. (1) theS pec if ic problens whose continuation is planned are: perfection of nethods for isolctiiig the higher rare ear.bhs, (2) resecrch on Pore suitable target net e rials for production of Cu, ond (3) cooperction nith the National Bureau of Standards i n t h e rcdioisotope standardization prog&an; The radidorgcnfc research group continue at cbout Lts present s i z e ; A syst en rti c progrm for the prepmation of orgcnic co~pounds, especially of ihe ' ihr ne dia tes of vdue In orgcnic syntheses, cont&ing Cu 'ahd other radioisotopes, will continue; khe i$st&etion of a 2 Lev Van de Grroff as a joint project of the Chenistry end Physics Mvisions is expected t o serve as t: stinulus t o the pr& Division will djvide its efforts bet?ecn fundct.cntki resecrch oh the e f f e c t of radiation on natter and direct, &e e6p&ical, studies of the behavior of riectbi; net ei ids under rs action : A recctivated cnd expanded group the Ched st b &I ihe borderline fields of &&Cal physics and physical chenistG; very procis&g progralis cre bekg in it ic ted : The cho rice t ric bchniques to p e q t deter&otioh b f the energy of the gcr=Lle rays ecitted during ;a& ative neutron ccpturef k coopcrctive pbograc @ t h the Physics Divisio,n end

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wlth m e 3f the southern unlv or sitio s 1s the appllcatlon …