Research Highlights of the National Bureau of Standards : Annual Report, Fiscal Year 1960
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* -"Va&\, 1960 RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS ' OF THE : 3r'" NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS -*.'. Cr* -. r \~;-"' • ANNUAL REPORT At'.*: J' J I • i UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Frederick H. Mueller, Secretary Carl F. Oechsle, Assistant Secretary for Domestic Affairs NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS A. V. Astin, Director Research Highlights of the National Bureau of Standards Annual Report, Fiscal Year 1960 December 1960 Miscellaneous Publication 237 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington 25, D.C. - Price 65 cents The National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D.C., laboratories (top) and Boulder, Colorado, laboratories (bottom). Contents Page 1. General review 1 Progress on measurement's frontiers 2 Fundamental constants measured 8 Plasma physics and astrophysics 10 New developments in materials 12 Radio propagation research 13 Data processing and applied mathematics 14 Calibration, testing, and standard samples 15 Cooperative activities 19 Administrative activities 21 Publications 24 2. Highlights of the research program 25 2.1. Metrology 25 Calibrating fluorescent lamps 26 The variability of human normal color vision 26 Color automatically computed 26 Color distortions found with electronic computer . 26 Brightness standards for TV tubes 27 Helicopter wing-tip lights , 27 Airport runway markings tested 27 Two-color projections 28 Image analysis 28 Glass lens free from residual chromatic aberration 28 Lens distortion measurements compared 28 Photographic research 29 High-resolution camera 29 Improved accuracy in length measurements 29 Reflection phase shift dispersion in interferometry 30 Evaporated multilayer coatings 30 Polarization of light at beam -dividing surfaces 30 Standard screw thread publications 30 Improved techniques for mass measurements 31 Standards and calibrations 31 2.2. Electricity 32 Absolute measurement of current 32 Absolute measurement of resistance 32 Redetermination of the faraday 33 Electrolytic purification of silver 33 Audiofrequency current transformer 34 Phase angle standard 34 Transformer -type voltage dividers 34 Guard-ring micrometer holder 34 Dielectric properties of polychlorotrifluoroethylene 34 Dielectric properties of nylons 35 Ultra -low -frequency bridge 35 Spherulitic growth in polychlorotrifluoroethylene 36 Theory of chain-folded crystallization in bulk polymers 36 2.3. Radio standards 36 Numerical analysis 37 Millimeter wave research 37 Atomic frequency and time interval standards 37 Radio broadcast service 38 Radio and microwave materials 40 High frequency electrical standards 41 Microwave circuit standards 41 Electronic calibration center 42 Accuracy of a hierarchy of standards 43 2.4. Mechanics 43 Infrasonic waves in the atmosphere 44 Cavitation with ultrasonics 45 • • • ill 2.4. Mechanics—Continued Page Pressure measurement 45 Multiple-anvil apparatus used 45 High-vacuum pressure measurements 45 Acceleration due to gravity 45 Advances in force measurements 46 High-temperature thermocouples 47 Thermocouple reference table 48 Heating tests of a new thermocouple 48 Catalytic reactions on a rare-metal thermocouple 48 Fuel flowrate studies 48 Calibration of aircraft fuel metering accessories 49 Hypervelocity missile in a combustible gas 49 Fatigue strength of aircraft structures 50 Culvert hydraulics 51 2.5. Heat 51 Plasma thermometry 51 High-temperature arc developed 52 Hydrogen and helium studied 52 Nonequilibrium systems investigated 52 Thermodynamic properties of light -element compounds 53 Omniform 54 Theoretical rheology 55 A new simplified approach to the many -body problem 55 Paramagnetic resonance in the free hydroxy! radical 56 Transfer of rotational energy in collision between molecules 57 Precise molecular structures from microwave spectra 57 Free radicals research program 58 Production of trapped radicals 58 Behavior of trapped radicals 58 Reactions involving trapped radicals 59 Primary diesel reference fuel studies 59 2.6. Atomic physics 59 Laboratory astrophysics 60 Transition probabilities 60 Atomic energy levels 61 Collision cross sections 61 Wavelengths as length standards 62 Radiometry 62 Infrared spectroscopy 62 Atomic weight of silver 63 Solid-state physics 63 Studies of rutile 63 Electron scattering 63 Vacuum ultraviolet spectrometer 64 Atomic standards of frequency 65 2.7. Radiation physics 65 Standards 65 Radiation theory 66 Cross sections 66 Multiple scattering 66 Radiation protection 67 X-ray studies 67 Ion-pair production 67 Intercomparison of standards 67 Linear polarization 67 Radioactivity 68 Beta decay 68 Linear electron accelerator 68 High-energy radiation 69 Measurement and standardization 69 Nuclear studies 69 Gamma- and X-ray calibration 70 Dosimetry 71 Neutron physics 71 i Page 2.8. Chemistry 72 Deposition of high-purity tungsten 72 Tube plating devices 73 Therinochemical properties of boron oxides 73 Radiation-induced chemical reactions 74 Nuclear magnetic resonance studies 74 Isotope effects in tracer studies 74 Barium titanate semiconductors 76 Separation of titanium, zirconium, iron, and aluminum 76 Water-vapor detector 76 Determination of minor elements by X-ray fluorescence 77 Coulometric titrations 77 Primary standards of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium 77 Metal-organic standard samples 78 2.9. Mineral products 79 Crystal growth 79 Elastic properties of oxide single crystals 80 Low-temperature X-ray diffraction 80 Phosphate crystal structures 81 Ferroelectric materials 81 Ion exchange properties of clays 81 Standard glass for measurement of physical properties 82 Interatomic bonding in glasses 82 Thermal radiation of space crafts 83 Infrared studies on inorganic solids 83 Vaporization of refractory substances 84 Mechanisms of elementary reactions 85 Oxidation of niobium 85 2.10. Organic and fibrous materials 86 Measuring the aging of rubber vulcanizates 86 Precision viscoelastometer 86 Analyzing copolymers by combustion 87 Strain-wave propagation in fibers 87 Cellulose analysis 87 Physical properties of paper 88 Pendulum and inertialess paper testers 88 Statistical data interpreted 89 Indoor tester for treadwear of tires 89 Thickness measurements on floor coverings 89 Heat-resistant polymers 89 Low -temperature irradiation of polymers 90 Polymer decomposition 90 Low angle X-ray diffraction of fibrous polyethylene 91 Pyrolysis of polyamides and poly olefins 91 Properties of monolayers of polymers 91 Fluorescence of polymeric materials 91 Noble metal content of dental gold alloys 92 Isomers of zinc oxide and eugenol 92 Tensile properties of dental amalgam alloys 93 2.11. Metallurgy 93 Metal creep investigated 93 Die steels for aircraft components 94 Stress -corrosion research 94 Equipment developed for high -temperature research 94 Diffusion in crystals studied 95 Work with single crystals progresses 96 Stability in gage blocks 96 Important data from fractured titanium specimens 96 Preparation of pure metals 97 Metal crystals grown from their vapor 98 Nuclear magnetic resonance of a tantalum nucleus observed 98 Reversed plastic deformation 98 Mechanical properties determined for metal foils 98 Apparatus for controlled slack quenching 99 Service failures investigated 99 v Page 2.12. Instrumentation 100 The resistor noise test set 100 Electron devices data service 100 Electrical properties of semiconducting materials 101 Properties of mica essential to electron tube use 101 Electronic scanning microscope 101 Electronics for rubidium vapor frequency standard 102 FOSDIC 102 Hygrometry 103 Telemetering pickups 103 Instrument reference service enlarged 104 2.13. Applied mathematics 104 Combinatorial analysis 104 Eigenvalue theory 105 Matrix theory 105 Approximation theory 105 Numerical experimentation 105 Machine translation 105 Improvement in facilities 106 Digital computation 106 Experiment designs 107 Life testing and reliability 107 Probability and mathematical statistics 108 Mathematical physics 108 2.14. Building research 109 Program of fire research 109 Potential heat of materials in building fires 109 Behavior of model crib fires 110 Flammability standard 110 Underground fallout shelters Ill Heat pumps Ill Thermal conductivity of semiconducting materials Ill Bond between concrete and deformed reinforcing bars Ill Physical properties of masonry \ . 112 Asphalt degradation 112 Aging effects in hydrated cement 112 Magnesium oxysulfates 113 Calcium aluminate complex salts 113 Cement and concrete reference laboratory 113 Cement reference samples 113 Floor friction standards 113 Abrasion resistance of protective coatings 114 Design loads for plumbing systems 114 2.15. Data-Processing systems 115 SEAC and analog computing facilities 115 PILOT data processor 116 Technical assistance for data processing 116 Components and techniques 116 Digital circuitry 117 Digital systems research 118 Special purpose digital computer 118 Data transmission link 118 Fallout predictor 118 Biomedical data processing 119 Computer systems evaluation 119 Analog-digital differential analyzer 119 Automatic mail -sorting developments 119 Mechanization of patent searching 119 Pictorial data processing 120 Research information center 120 Simulation of traffic flow 121 Statistical data-processing installation 121 Communications data processing 121 Additional data -processing applications 121 2.16. Cryogenic engineering 122 Cryogenic engineering data 123 Low-temperature transformations in steels 123 vi 2.16. Cryogenic engineering—Continued Page Thermal insulation 124 Reactor materials 124 Thermocouples for low-temperature use 124