ANNUAL REPORT OF THEDEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA 1969-70

CONTENTS

Introduction ii

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre 1

Tata Institute of Fundamental Research 47

Physical Research Laboratory 56

Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics 59

Tata Memorial Centre 62

Indian Space Research Organization 63

Atomic Minerals Division 73

Industrial Operations 76

Atomic Power 80

International Relations 82

Other Activities 83

INTRODUCTION

T HE atomic energy effort in India is in its 25th year, having begun withthe establishment of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in

Bombay in June 19*5 The quarter century marks the commencementof the era of nuclear power in the country: the 380 MWe Tarapur AtomicPower Station — first nuclear power station in India and the largest operat-ing nuclear power plant in Asia today, was dedicated to the Nation ty thePrime Minister on January 19, 1970, With the commissioning of Tarapur,atomic energy commenced its role as a source of electricity in this coun-try. The Station began trial generation of power from April 1, 1969 andbecame fully operational on Gandhi Jayanti Day, October 1969. FromApril 1, 1969 till March 31, 1970, it had generated over 1,300 million unitsof power to the two States of Gujarat and Maharashtra which share itsoutput.

Tarapur will be joined by two other atomic power stations nowunder construction: the 400 MWe Canada-aided station at Rana PratapSagar in Rajasthan, and the Kalpakkam Atomic Power Station in TamilNadu. The first unit of the Rajasthan Station is expected to be completedby the middle of 1971 while the second would be ready in the latter halfof 1973. Kalpakkam will mark another milestone in India's technologicaldevelopment as it will be wholly Indian-built with almost 80 per centindigenous content.

At the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, the hub of nuclear research workin India, activities have increased and diversified to meet the demandsof the expanding nuclear programme. Besides conducting basic researchand development work for peaceful applications of atomic energy, theCentre is engaged in programmes connected t.'ith the various atomicand space projects that are coming up.

Among the important activities of the Centre is the preparation ofradioisctopes and labelled compounds which it also exports. During theyear, the value of radioisotopes, equipment and services sold by itsIsotope Division totalled Rs. 28.21 lakhs, including Rs. 3.87 lakhs in ex-ports. In all, 24 countries including advanced ones such as France.Sweden, Hungary, Denmark and Austria bought Trombay-producedisotope products and equipment in this period. Among the equipmentsold, mention may be made of the export of two irradiation units —Gamma Chamber 900 — containing powerful sources of cobalt-60, toBurma and Kenya for use in agricultural and industrial research.

The Isotope Division has developed several new radiopharmaceuticalsincluding radioiodinated human serum albumin in unidose syringes andradioiodinated insulin. Besides working on new compounds and their

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uses, the Division carries out radiotracer investigations for studyingsilt movement in harbours, leakage of water, oil in pipelines etc. Duringthe year radiotracer investigations with bromine-82 radiotracer werecarried out at the Ankleswar OH Field for the study of the pattern ofleakage of water in the oil wells. Mention may also be made of a techni-que developed for inspection of Boeing 707 jet engines. Using anindigenously developed remote-controlled radiography camera, it ispossible to detect bow in the vanes of Boeing jets. This investigationhas been done in India for the first time.

The Biology Division of the Centre is engaged in plant breeding pro-grammes, among other investigations. It has evolve i six groundnutmutants which are being tested at several centres through the All IndiaOilseeds Research Project. And, in collaboration with the Central RiceResearch Institute, it has isolated short, dwarf and early flowering mutantsof rice. Four slender grain mutants, TR-6 to TR-9, have been includedin the Slender Grain Varietal trials conducted by the All India Coordi-nated Rice Improvement Project. I

Research programmes on basic and applied aspects of cellular metabolismand tho development of food irradiation procedures is being conducted bythe Biochemistry and Food Technology Division of the Centre. Duringthe year, it continued experimental programmes on the develop-ment of promising radiation preservation procedures ^ r perishablefoods. Large scale feasibility trial? on disinfestation of wheat, extensionof storage fife of onions and preservation of fish and fish products arein progress ..i its Food Irradiation and Processing Laboratory.

Development work on medical uses of radioisotopes—for diagnosis,treatment and for understanding disease processes—is being doneat the Radiation Medicine Centre of BARC. An essential part of theactivity of the Radiation Centre relates to training of medical doctors andtechnicians in the use of radtotsotopes in their practice. Research incertain selected areas is also carried on here for understanding the

* various processes leading to radiation damage.

The Electronics Division is engaged in intensive development work onnuclear and non-nuclear electronic instrumentation and equipment. It

-is also assisting the Electronics Corporation of India Ltd. (ECiL) atHyderabad, a Government of mdia concern, by way of transfer of know-how. Thus, items such as the on-line computer TDC-12, 400 channelanalyser, medical spectrometer and processes relating to semi-conductordeivices, developed by the Electronics Division of BARC are being takenup for commercial production by the Corporation. The ECIL is in its thirdyear; most of its factory buildings and facilities are now ready and it hasalready entered the market with its products.

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The Reliability Evaluation Laboratory, part of the Electronics Group atthe Centre, now in its second year, has established itself to progressivelyoffer to manufacturers, users and designers of electronics and otherproducts the following services: environmental and reliability testing,electronic instrument calibration and electrical parameter measurement;reliability, availability and related cost analysis of complex systems andequipment, failure rate data collection; analysis and information retrieval;electronics trade literature and reliability literature; special jobs in thefield of reliability engineering and reliability training.

The Chemical Engineering Division is producing nuclear pure uraniummetal for the CIRUS research reactor, and ceramic grade uranium oxiderequired for the first half charge for the Rajasthan Atomic Power Projectreactors at its Uranium Metal Plant at Trombay. It is contribu ,ng tothe setting up of a heavy water upgrading unit at the Rajasthan AtomicPower Project and also assisting the Indian hare Earths Ltd. in producingthorium nitrate by the solvent extraction process. In addition, theDivision is engaged in training personnel for the Nuclear Fuel Complexthat is being built at Hyderabad, The Division is also involved in theSpace Programme; it was responsible for setting up the Rocket Pro-pellant Plant at Thumba for manufacturing solid propeliants for Centaurerockets.

The Central Workshops of the Research Centre caters to a variety of jobsdemanded by the various nuclear and space projects. It is engaged infabricating components and equipments for the Rajasthan Atomic PowerProject, the Nuclear Fuel Complex, Centaure rockets, besides meetingthe needs of BARC laboratories.

Meanwhile, the Fuel Reprocessing Division of the Centre is working onthe design of the Power Reactor Fuel Reprocessing Plant at Tarapur.The construction of the plant building is about 40 per cent complete andwork on associated electrical installations is progressing on schedule.

The Atomic Fuels Division is engaged in developing and fabricating fuelelements and components for research and power reactors. Its mainactivities have been directed towards (a) production of metallic andceramic fuel elements for CIRUS and ZERLINA (b) Fabrication of thoriumoxide and thorium elements for CIRUS, (c) development work on ceramicand cermet-type materials and (d) development work on the fabricationof zirconium alloys that are of importance to the country's nuclear pro-gramme and the electronics industry. It is fabricating half the initial fuelcharge for unit I of the Rajasthan Atomic Power Station. On the basisof technical reports prepared by the Division, a Ceramic Fuel FabricationPlant, and Enriched Uranium Oxide Fuel Fabrication Plant and a ZircaloyFabrication Plant are being set up at Hyderabad as part of the NuclearFuel Complex.

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The Chemistry Division is engaged in research and development activitiesin the fields of radiation chemistry and solid state chemistry, amongother investigations. In the field of radiation chemistry, wood plasticsproduced with the aid of gamma radiation are being studied in great—-'ail, Large blocks of wood plastic alloy suitable for textile shuttleshave been produced and are being tested. They are reported to besuitable for the textile industry.

The Health Physics Division of the Centre carried out analysis o? falloutdebris from the tenth Chinese nuclear explosion and from the Frenchtests in detail. The countrywide studies on fallout from French tests inthe southern hemisphere have contributed significantly to the under-standing of the origin of monsoons. From the studies of countrywidefallout samples, it has been observed that the levels for different isotopesmeasured continued to decrease after the maximum values reached1

during 1963-64. The Division also carried out extensive measurementsat Trombay to study the sources and concentrations of a number ofatmospheric pollutants.

During the year, the countrywide radiation safety programme conductedby the Directorate of Radiation Protection expanded considerably. Thefilm badge service run by the Directorate now covers some 16,000radiation workers from about 1,250 institutions all over the country.

This diverse research and development programme is being supplementedby the training programme of BARC through which annually about 150scientists and engineers pass out to man the various atomic and spaceprojects in the country.

At the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bombay, the on-line dataprocessor (OLDAP) built in the Institute has been installed and fullychecked out; it should soon be available as an on-line facility for analysisof bubble chamber film. The development of a scanner-digitizer toconvert pictorial data for computer processing is making progress. Anexperimental 24 bit, 64-word thin film memory system with a cycle timeof 200 nanoseconds is nearing completion. A modern facility is beingset up to package semi-conductor devices and integrated circuit modulesinto subsystems.

Balloon flights from Hyderabad are being continued on a regular basisfor the study of Cosmic Radiation. A new mechanized polyethylenesealing technique has been adopted for the manufacture of large balloons.A new balloon launching facility has been set up at the Maula Ali site,Hyderabad.

In the radiocarbon laboratory of TIFR some more archaelogical sites and

cultures in India have been dated. The neolithic culture in Bagor(Rajasthan) has been found to have existed around 2700 B.C. And therecently excavated site at inamgaon near Poona (Maharashtra) has beendated to approximately 1300 B.C.

The 530-metre long cylindrical radio telescope at Ootacamund for studiesin Radio Astronomy has been completed. It is a major facility for researchin this area in India, and is one of the largest steerable radio telescopesin the world. Suitable for a systematic survey of weak extra-galacticradio sources by the method of lunar occupation, it exploits fully theposition of India near the geographic equator, The telescope in itsmechanical and electronic aspect has been entirely designed andengineered in India.

The Atomic Minerals Division has intensified its underground develop-ment work at the Narwapahar and Bhatin mining prospects in Bihar.It has also located traces of uranium and other atomic minerals inRaiasthan and the Himalayan regions. The Uranium Mine at Jadugudawhich the Division developed, and the Mill alongside it are being operatedby the Uranium Corporation of India Ltd. (UCIL), a Government of Indiaundertaking set up in October 1967. During the year, the Corporationproduced concentrates of the value of approx. Rs. 335 lakhs as againstRs. 181 lakhs in 1968-69,

Also dealing with minerals, in this case rare earths minerals, is the IndianRare Earths Ltd., another Government concern which was registered inAugust 1950. The company commercially exploits the monazite sandsin the beaches of Tamil Nadu and Kerala States, operating plants atAlways, Manavalakurichi and Chavara. it is also operating the thoriumplant at Trombay. During the year, IRE was able to enter into a two-yearcontract with the United States for the sale of substantial quantities ofrare earths. The main products of IRE, namely, rare earths chloride in theRare Earths Division, and ilmenite in the Minerals Division have beencommitted for sale, ta the former case till 1971-72 with an option for1972-73 and in the latter till 1973-74 with an option for 1974-75 onwards.

In recent years a complex of plants has been programmed to supportthe expanding role of nuclear energy in the country. Among these are:the Nuclear Fuel Complex at Hyderbad which will prepare nuclear gradeuranium oxide and cladding material for the country's nuclear powerplants, a Power Reactor-Fuel Reprocessing Plant at Tarapur and HeavyWater Plants at Rajasthan and at Baroda. Tne Heavy Water Plant atRajasthan Atomic Power Project will have a capacity of 100 tonnes ayear. The plant at Baroda is being built by a consortium of French firms.Its capacity will be 67.2 tonnes/year.

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The Physical Research Laboratory at Ahmedabad, the Saha Institute ofNuclear Physics, Calcutta, and the Tata Memorial Centre, Bombay areamong major units administratively responsible to the Department ofAtomic Energy. The Physical Research Laboratory besides its investi-gations in aeronomy, geomagnetism, astrophysics, space physics, theore-tical physics and related sciences, is doing pioneering work in spaceresearch. It has developed a number of instrumented payloads forlaunGhings from Thumba and is collaborating with scientists from othernations in meteorological and other experiments from Thumba. TheSaha Institute carries on basic research in the nuclear field. It is colla-borating with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, in settingup a Variable Energy Cyclotron near Calcutta. This cyclotron incident-ally is being fabricated in the Bhabha Centre while some major itemshave been contracted out to Indian firms. The Bhabha Centre, theHeavy Engineering Corporation Ltd., Ranchi, and Heavy Electricals(India) Ltd., Bhopal are engaged in fabricating components for themachine.

As a first step in the programme of developing fast reactors, the AtomicEnergy Commission is planning to construct a Fast Breeder Test Reactor(FBTR) with French collaboration, an agreement for which was concludedearly this year. A team consisting of engineers, metallurgists, scientistsand supporting staff is working on the detailed design and drawings ofthe FBTR. The design work, which is partly done in India and partly inFrance, is guided by a Design Review Committee consisting of senior stafffrom the BARC.

Work on the detailed report on an agro-industrial complex is nearingcompletion. The report, as did the preliminary report, studies twolocales for the Complex — one in Western U.P. and another in Saurashtra,Gujarat.

The Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) hasbeen reconstituted under the National Institute of Sciences of India(NISI) and, since August 15, 1969, the programme of Space Researchand its utilisation for peaceful purposes is being managed by the IndianSpace Research Organization (ISRO) under the Department of AtomicEnergy.

The first India-built Centaure two-stage rocket, fabricated under licencefrom Sud Aviation of France was launched on February 27, 1969 and itsperformance was found good. The Centaures are being built in theBhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay. Collaborative experimentswith Japan, USSR, Britain, France and West Germany are continuingfrom Thumba. Besides research work, ISRO has been engaged in deve-lopment work on material and equipment for the overall space programme.

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Under project Rohini, development of a series of rockets starting froma 75 mm diameter rocket to a satellite launching vehicle with a 175-dia-meter booster has been undertaken, A Rohini 100 rocket was flownsuccessfully. Development of Rohini 300, a 300 mm diameter rocket isin progress. It is expected to be flight-tested this year. A feasibilityand optimization study has been completed to finalize specifications forthe design and development of a satellite launch vehicle having a capa-bility of putting 30 kg. payloao into 400 km near-circular orbit.

In addition to development of rockets, supporting facilities like a RocketPropellant Plant (RPP) for the manufacture of Centaure solid propellantgrains has been set up. The RPP was commissioned in February 1969.A Rockat Fabrication Facility (RFF) is also being built at Thumbs forundertaking fabrication of vehicles and acessories for the Rohini vehi-cles now under development at the Space Science and TechnologyCentre. This facility is expected to be commissioned by the middle of1970.

A rocket range is being established at Shriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.This facility, which is expected to be ready in six months time, will beused as a sounding rocket launching facility and for flight testing newrockets being developed at the Space Science and Technology Centreat Thurnba.. Later, facilities would be added for satellite launching.

An important development in the space programme is the NASA-DAESatellite ITV Experiment Project which entails the beaming of tadia-pre-pared programmes from NASA Satellite ATS-F for about one year in1972-73, to 5,000 television sets located in rural areas of some selectedregions. A special group has been set up in ISRO to look after the plan-ning, organization and management of this experiment.

Meanwhile, the Experimental Satellite Communication Earth Station isengaged in building the Arvi Commercial Satellite Communication EarthStation, a task that is being undertaken by an Indian team for the firsttime. The Station is also engaged in conducting its regular trainingcourses for personnel from India and other developing countries.

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BHABHA ATOMIC RESEARCH CENTRE

The total strength of the Centre on December 31, 1969 was 9,552 whichconsisted o? 2,037 scientific, 4,046 technical, 1,752 administrative and1,637 general maintenance and auxiliary staff.

The Centre's work is carried on broadly under six Groups which have atotal of 30 divisions and sections as under:

I. Physics Group

II. Electronics Group

III. Directorate of RadiationProtection

IV. Engineering Group

V. MetrJ'urgy Group

VI. Bio-Medical Group

(1) Nuclear Physics Division(2) Technical Physics Division(3) Training Division

(1) Electronics Qjvision(2) Health Physics Division(3) Computer Facility(4) Electronics Prototype

Engineering Laboratory(5) Reliability Evaluation Laboratory

(1) Architecture & CivilEngineering Division

(2) Chemical Engineering Division(3) Engineering Services Division(4) Waste Treatment Division

(1) Analytical Division(2) Atomic Fuels Division(3) Chemistry Division(4) Isotope Division(5) Metallurgy Division(6) Radiochemistry Division(7) Reactor Engineering Division(8) Reactor Operations Division(9) Spectroscopy Division

(1) Biology Division(2) Biochemistry & Food Technology

Division(3) Medical Division(4) National Botanical Gardens

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Vtl. Administrative Group (1) Accounts Division(2) Personnel Division(3) Purchase & Stores Division(4) Library & Technical Information

Section.

The Research Centre has three research reactors: 1 MW Apsara, the40 MW Cirus, and the zero energy reactor Zerlina. These reactors are 'theresponsibility of the Reactor Operations Division,

During the year, work on improving Apsara was taken up and is still con-tinuing. CIRUS was operated throughout the year. In CIRUS,irradiation of antimony-124 start-up sources for the Tarapur AtomicPower Project was completed. The sources, in the form of 32 pencils,were processed and supplied to the Project. Meanwhile, production ofradioisotopes was continued.

In ZERLINA, design modifications to the core support were incorporatedfor the joint India-Australia experiments on initial conversion ratio mea-surements in UO2 clusters. The experiments are in progress.

Besides maintenance and operation of the reactors, the Division wasengaged in the following work: Review of Tarapur Reactor start-up testprocedures and test data with reference to reactor safety and plant per-formance, which was completed. Also completed was the core assemblydesign for the proposed Fast Critical Facility. In addition, the Divisioncarried out analysis of stable isotopes in samples received from outsideorganizations as also other divisions of the Centre. The programme oftraining personnel in reactor maintenance and operations was continued.

Physica Group

Research groups in the Nuclear Physics Division have been engaged innew experiments using neutron beams from the CIRUS reactor andcharged particle beams from the Van de Graaff accelerator.

The neutron scattering experiments at Cirus encompass various aspectsof solid state physics. In crystallography, the structure of crystals likeglutamic acid and asparagine monohydrate have been solved using thecompletely automatic 3-dlmensional diffractometer. The structure of am-monium sulphamate has been determined using X-ray and neutron me-thods. Polarised and unpolarized neutrons have been used in the solutionof the magnetic structures of a number of ferrites, Heusler and other typesof alloys. Paramagnetic scattering from ferrites and perovskite-like struc-tures have been studied to obtain information on the exchange inter-actions in these compounds. Many of these studies have been made at

liquid helium temperatures. Phonon dispersion relations in calciumfluoride have been examined by the inelastic scattering of neutrons. Themotion of the water molecules in several hydrated single crystals likepotassium oxalate and banum chlorate have been studied. The motionsof the ammonium ion in ammonia iodide and ammonia stannibromide havebeen examined in great detail. Mossbauer effect studies have been madeon mixed cobalt zinc ferrites to determine their cation distributions andhyperfine fields.

The Van de Graaff accelerator at the Centre was completely overhauledand the accelerating tube was replaced. This has resulted jn more effi-cient operation of the accelerator. A five port switching magnet built inthe Division has been installed. The accelerator was used to obtainbeams of protons, deuterons and He1. Several isobaric analogue statessuch as those in Ge™ and As7a have been studied. The levels in Ne"1

and Mg-7 and also in Al-K have been determined.

In fission physics, studies have been made on the emission of K X-raysfollowing the fission of U-:!:> and Cf'~v-, using a sophisticated 3-parameteranalyser,

A new dual mass spectrometer for producing stable isotope targets fornuclear physics experiments has been designed and many parts such asthe ion source, power supplies etc., have been fabricated. A large num-ber of BF., counters required for neutron detection and argon and xenonproportional counters for X-ray work have been fabricated. Develop-ment work on He1 counters is in progress.

At Gauribidanur near Bangalore, the Seismic Array and the microbaro-graphs have been operating satisfactorily. Twenty underground nuclearexplosions from various parts of the world and an atmospheric explosionwere identified. The array data have also been used in studies on thestructure of the Deccan plateau and the source mechanism of Indianearthquakes.

During the year, the Technical Physics Division consolidated work onthe various projects already in hand and also made a beginning in newdirections.

The production of diffusion pumps, sorption pumps, sputter-ion and orbi-tron pumps, valves, couplings, gauges and control units for the entirerange 10 -—10 l0Torr, was continued by the Division. Various types ofoil, greases, and waxes, were developed and produced.

In the field of high temperature technology, the following machines were

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produced and operated : a 6-KW electron beam welder used for weldingmaterials like stainless steel, kov&r, titanium and zircaloy; 6- and 30 KWsintering furnaces — fabricated and supplied. The 30 KW furnace iscapable of going upto 2000°C, heating a zone of S cm dia, and 15 cm.length; a 60-KW D.C. plasma jet torch was successfully produced for thesynthesis of acetylene. This is being supplied against an order.

The production of vacuum coating units, film thickness monitors andtreeze-drying units was continued. Production of mass spectrometer leakdetectors is also progressing satisfactorily.

Special electronic instruments like proportional temperature controllers,storcd-energy discharge welders and magnet power supplies have beendeveloped and produced. As a special need of the electronics (semi-conductor) industry, design of diffusion furnaces having a flat zone of25 cm. at 1200 ± 0.1 °C was taken up last year. One furnace has beenfabricated and supplied against this requirement.

Nuclear radiation detectors of various types and sizes have been on,production schedule for quite sometime now and were routinely produc-ed this year also. Fifty Hall effect Gaussmeter probes were alsoproduced.

A cryo-cooler (using compressed air only) capable of going to low-tem-peratures and handling about 20 watts of power was designed an4engineered in the Division, it is expected to find use in the physics andbiology experiments and in industrial applications such as with coldtraps in vacuum systems. Development of this instrument may be con-sidered as a new line of investigation based on applied research initiatedby the Division.

A liquid argon ionization chamber was operated as a possible radiationdetector. Its full potential or limitations cannot be gauged at the moment.Lithium drifted silicon detectors have been developed. Development ofsome 15 cm. dia. alkali halide crystals was successfully completed. Highgrade LiF crystals were also grown in a vacuum furnace.

The development of an atmospheric electron beam welding gun wastaken up last year and is nearing completion. Development of low energyelectron diffraction apparatus, electrolytic tank, 20 KW electron baammelting unit and high voltage (50 KV, 1mA) power supply is progressingsatisfactorily.

Similarly, mass spectrometers for solid sample analysis, coating plantwith a metal bell jar, 88 cm oil diffusion pump for the Variable Energy

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Cyclotron project at Calcutta, thickness rate control monitor, large con-ductance ultra-high vacuum valves, large sorption pumps, etc. are beingdeveloped.

Tfie. work on special purpose tubes like image intensifiers and convertersis near ing the prototype production stage.

A scheme for running an orientation course of 120 lectures for the juniorstaff of the Division Is being implemented on an experimental basis.Regular training of personnel from industries and laboratories in variousbranches of technology in which the Division has competence was con-tinued during the year.

Technical assistance to industries, research laboratories and educationalinstitutions in the country was continued. Efforts were concentrated insolving import substitution problems in industries.

The total cost of the various items of equipment produced by the Divisionduring the year is about Rs. 15.1 lakhs, of which the foreign exchangecomponent is Rs, 2.1 lakhs. The C.I.F, value of these items, if wholly im-ported, would have been nearly Rs. 20.2 lakhs.

The 12th Course of the BARC Training School which was started inAugust 1968 concluded in July 1969. One hundred and fifty-five scienceand engineering graduates went through the Course. Out of these, 147trainees successfully completed the Course and were absorbed as Scien-tific Officers and Engineers in the grade of SC1/SC2 in the various Divi-sions of the BARC, TIFR, VEC Project, PPED, TAPP, RAPP, TERLS, SSTCand ECIL. Out of the 8 trainees who failed to make the grade, two wererejected while five were absorbed in BARC and one in AMD, in lowergrades.

The syllabi of courses for the engineering and chemistry trainees wererevised and some modifications made in the practical course.

The 13th Course was inaugurated on August 21, 1969 with 161 trainees:38 in physics, 24 in chemistry, 40 in mechanical engineering, 11 in elec-trical engineering, 14 in chemical engineering, 20 in communicationengineering and 14 in metallurgy.

The Training Division organized the 8th Refresher Course in "NuclearPhysics & Electronics" and "Nuclear & Radiation Chemistry" for univer-sity post-graduate teachers in physics and chemistry respectively incollaboration with the University Grants Commission and TIFR during

May-June 1969. There were 19 participants in physics and 16 in chemistry.Practical training in the Centre during the summer of 1969 was organizedfor 51 engineering students from the various Indian Institutes of Techno-logy and engineering colleges, as part of their degree courses.

Electronics Group

During the year, the Electronics Division continued intensive developmentwork on its own besides assisting the Electronics Corporation of IndiaLtd. by way of transfer of know-how in respect of on-iine computerTDC-12, 400 channel analyser, medical spectrometer and the processesrelating to semi-conductor devices to enable the Corporation to under-take large scale production of these items.

The highlights of development wck include the building of a two para-meter analyser with 400 x 1024 channel coincidence system which isundergoing operational tests. The basic units required for all solid statedesk calculator and a real-time clock employing integrated circuits havebeen designed.

A transistorised kidney uptake system is undergoing operational tests.Gas level detector for detecting over-filled and under-filled cylinders,some new modules for counting systems, a portable battery operatedfloor monitor capable of detecting beta-gamma and alpha activity, a de-cade sealer going upto 2 Mc/s have all been developed. A prototypeof ship-installed radiac system for the measurement of radiation requiredby the Ministry of Defence was put to various tests at CIL, Bangalore.A modified system is being built to suit their requirements.

The efficiency of ruby laser range finders has been improved by using Qswitch ruby and by inserting a rotating mirror system. Work on He-Ne,Ga-As, COL.-A gas laser is in progress. V.H.F. systems have beeninstalled at Guard House, Old Yacht Club, CIRUS and the PlutoniumPlant

An animal counting system for pharmacological studies of animals undervarying environments, influence of drugs etc. has been developed. Aninstrument for calibration of instruments above 2 MeV 7 gammas is alsobeing designed. The batch of counters with very flat plateau and count-ing stability at 150°C environmental temperature have been developed andfabricated.

The Division hss also completed the fabrication of 161 single units, 21counting systems, 3 analysers, 4 installations, 397 counters and dosi-meters. The cost of these instruments is estimated at Rs. 12.7 lakhs,

with F. E. component of Rs. 5.1 lakhs, in addition, 90 out of 150 oscillo-scopes have been fabricated, inspected and accepted by the Ministryof Defence. The cost of this programme is about Rs. 8.7 lakhs.

Training facilities were provided to 34 Indian students and to 2 foreigntrainees sponsored by the IAEA.

The Health Physics Division co. iinued to look after the radiation healthand safeiy aspects of tne BARC and other nuclear installations of theDAE, through it3 three Sections, namely, the Air Monitoring Section, theBody Burden Measurements Section and the Radiation Hazards ControlSection. '

The Air Monitoring Section carried out n^crometeorological studies forenvironmental safety at the nuclear power installations, fallout studiesfor population dose control and weapon identification, and design andfabrication of special instruments lor air-monitoring, low level radioacti-vity and oata logging. In addition, research programmes connected witnaerosol pnysics, atmospheric chemistry and air pollution were continued.

A micromeieofoiogy laboratory having a 120 m high tower and a meteoro-logy station having a 33 m high tower were made operational at Tarapurand Kalpakkam respectively.

The analyses of fallout debris from the tenth Chinese nuclear explosionand from the Frencn tests wers carried out in detail. The country-widestudies on fallout from the French tests in the southern hemisphere con-tributed significantly io the understanding of the origin of monsoons.From the studies o. country-wide fallout samples, it has been observedthat the levels for different isotopes measured continued to decreaseafter the maximum values reached during 1963-64.

As a part of studies on air polution from non-radioactive contaminants,extensive measurements were carried out at Trombay to study thesources and concentrations of a number of atmospheric pollutants.

A new method for the rapid estimation of radium and radon in water wasdeveloped. Auto-radiography techniques were used for the study of air-borne active particles of plutonium. In the field of instrumentation, theSection has developed and fabricated special instruments for air-moni-toring and low level counting.

The research programme connected with aerosol physics was continued.Mechanisms of gas to particle conversion in the atmosphere were investi-gated using controlled experiments in the laboratory. The role of ioniz-

ing radiations in this phenomenon was found to be of special interest.Studies were also carried out to understand the nature and behaviour ofsmall ions in the air.

The Body Burden Measurements Section installed and maintained ashadow shield whole body counter at the TAPP and a shielded chairwhole body counter at the Modular Laboratories basement, Trombay. Amodified design of a shadow shield whole body counter employing twodetectors was also installed at the Modular Laboratories basement.

«The shadow shield whole body counters ?t the Plutonium Plant andJaduguda continued body burden measurements due to various radionu-clides of occupational workers. The steel room whole body countingfacility at the Old Yacht Club continued to play an important role in thedevelopment of various counting geometries for the use of whole bodycounters in radiation protection work and clinical problems.

The 'pair counting' technique was used to analyse biotogical samplesfor their total natural alpha activity. Further analysis of samples for theirRa-° content by Rn-- milking technique was continued by the Section.

The Radiation Hazards Control Section carried out health and safetyservices for the various installations in the Research Centre and theconstituent units of the DAE. The work consists mainly of operationalhealth physics, industrial hygiene and safety, analytical chemistry, bio-logical studies, radiation .dosimetry, research and development, andinstrument development and maintenance. The Operational HealthPhysics Group looked after the overall health physics work at thereactors, production plants and the various laboratories at Trombay.The Health Physics Unit at the TAPP maintained health physics surve-illance during the commissioning and operational stages cf the powerreactors. The Hazards Evaluation Study Group assisted the members ofthe Tarapur Safety Review Committee in the safety evalution of the Tara-pur Atomic Power Station. At the Uranium Corporation of India Ltd.,-Jaduguda, the Health Physics Unit provided radiological and industrialhygiene and safety services.

The Industrial Hygiene and Safety Unit conducted several surveys duringthe year to assess the hazards in different industrial operations at sheBARC and undertook ventilation and noise level surveys in the Centre.Periodic analysis of accidents was continued in the Research Centreunder the Accident Prevention Programme. Safety inspection surveyswere conducted in different Divisions. The project undertaken todesign and fabricate a subsonic wind tunnel was completed.

The Analytical Chemistry Laboratory continued its programme of routine

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evaluation of internal contamination 4n radiation workers by means ofexcretion analyses. Extensive analyses of effluent and environmentalsamples were carried out at various installations at Trombay. Environ-mental surveys are being continued at Tarapur and UCIL. Goat ihyroidall m has been monitored regularly at the Environmental Survey Labora-tory, Tarapur.

The Biological Studies Group continued its investigations on the dis-tribution of fallout radioactivity and trace elements in the aquatic environ-ment. Studies were carried out both in the laboratory and the field(Tarapur) on the response of marine organisms to heated,effluents.

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I he Radiation Dosirnetry Group carried out detailed investigations onthe thermoluminescent properties of natural calcium fluoride as a partof a research contract with the IAEA. Dosimetry work required for theMonazite Survey Project—a joint WHO-BARC" programme under theauspices of the Bio-Medical Group — was continued. More than 6000thermoluminescent dosimeters were prepared, calibrated and sent fordistribution to the population of monazite areas for wearing by individualmembers.

As part of the research programme, a new technique for the solution ofradiation transport problems in heterogeneous finite one-dimensionalsystems was developed. A theoretical model on the charge distributionin fission fragments was also developed. The method, which was deve-loped earlier to estimate the enrichment of U2!r> in uranium samples, wasused in the estimation of depletion of U-:<r> in spent fuel from reactors.

The Instrument Development and Maintenance Group developed a num-ber of new instruments.

169 airline respirators of type AL-A, 101 dust respirators of type DR-A,120 PVC hoods and 8 PVC suits were made and supplied to variousDivisions of the Research Centre and also outside agencies.

t

The Computer Facility built around H-400 Honeywell computer systemwas increasingly used during the year. Some software modificationswere carried out to Automath compiler compatible with the Honeywellsystem. Systems development was carried out for adopting the machinelanguages for the development of a payroll system for BARC.

Considerable work was undertaken on the development of peripheralhardware. Two versions of a real time clock were designed: one builtaround integrated circuits and the other employing discrete components.This development has resulted in considerable savings in foreign ex-

9

change. Development work was also undertaken for connecting up astandard X-Y plotting device wuh tne H-400 system, A storage typeCKT display tor tne System is being developed.

A 2K memory module and one magnetic tape handling unit were incor-porated in the System, resulting in its greater usefulness in scientificand engineering applications. A facility is being provided lo directlyfeed the oata on paper tape into the System.

Three lecture courses were conducted on 'Automath' and Cobol' ex-tending over a periou of a weeks and also a snort-term advance coursein Automam specifically tor those users who are familiar witn uOG-3600computer.

After having obtained approval from Atomic Energy ol Canada Limitedfor the design of the overall Data Logger Scanner & Recording Annun-ciator, RAHr-ll system, experimental worK has been undertaken. It hasbeen considered necessary to develop a prototype Recording Annun-ciator system to start witn. Tne mecnamcal racKs tor tne system havealready tteen designed and labricaied. It is envisaged tnat about 12-13different types ot sub-systems would be required for the entire Record-ing Annunciator.

For the Data Logger Scanner system, it is envisaged to employ integ-rated circuits instead of discrete components considered earlier. It isexpected that this would give much higher performance capability tothe system, improving further its reliability and overall performance.

During the year, the Electronics Prototype Engineering Laboratory under-took and earned out the following jobs: radiotelescope drive for TIFR;a 18 kw, 12 bank, lighting control system — designed, fabricated andcommissioned at the National Centre for Performing Arts; a multi-lan-guage translation system (104 channels) — designed, fabricated andinstalled at NCPA; a iuse testing spinner for the Navy; a digital recorderdrive unit for the Indian Railways Track Recording Car; about 50 unitsof various types of radiation measuring instruments (including 10 medicalspectrometers). Construction of the servo control drive for the ArviSatellite Communication Earth Station is nearing completion.

Efforts have been made towards the development of potentiometic multi-point recorders. An experimental model of 6 point recorder has beenmade and tested for continuous operation. Test runs have been satis-factory and work on the fabrication of a 12 point, 25 cm chart widthpotentiometic recorder using indigenous components has been initiated.

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Development work for fluid control systems has been undertaken. Preli-minary models for basic logic modules have been fabricated and nestedand further investigations are in progress.

The Reliability Evaluation Laboratory, in its second year has establisheditself to progressively offer the following services to manufacturers,users and designers of electronics and allied products : environmentaland reliability testing; electronic instrument calibration and electricalparameter measurement; reliability, availability and related cost analysisof complex systems and equipments; failure rate data collection, analysisand information retrieval; electronics trade literature apd reliabilityliterature; special jobs in the field of reliability engineering; and reli-ability training.

The Laboratory has established climatic testing facilities to simulatehigh temperature, low temperature, temperature-humidity, sea coastatmosphere, environment conducive to biological mould growth and highand low air pressure. With the setting up of these facilities, it is pos-sible to test electronic and allied products to cl«matic conditions asspecified in Indian Standards etc. specifications. Facilities have alsobeen established for the accurate measurement of the following elec-trical quantities: capacitance; low resistances in the range of milliohms;quality factor; power; magnetic flux; electrical noise; transistor para-meters; voltage; current. These facilities were utilized towards studyof some indigenous electronic components.

Directorate of Radiation ProtectionDuring the year, the countrywide radiation safety programme conductedby the Directorate of Radiation Protection expanded considerably. Thefilm badge service now covers some 16,000 radiation workers from about1,250 institutions all over the country. The corresponding figures iorthe previous year were 13,500 and 1,100 respectively. Radiological pro-tection surveys were conducted in 65 institutions using radiation sourcesin medicine, industry, agriculture and research. These surveys enabledthe Directorate to take the necessary steps to ensure the adequacy ofradiation safety measures in various institutions. Assistance was givento about 40 institutions in the planning of X-ray departments, teletherapy*installations and radioisotope laboratories. About 260 institutions wereadvised on the various aspects of radioisotope applications and the asso-ciated safety aspects.

The development and fabrication of a number of radiation measuringinstruments for routine and emergency monitoring was continued. Alarge number of special instruments were also supplied to various insti-tutions in the country.

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As a part of the countrywide radiation safety programme, four short-termtraining courses and one long-term training course were conducted bythe Directorate. 44 persons were trained in the "Safety Aspects in theIndustrial Applications of Radiation Sources" and 20 persons in the"Safety Aspects in the Medical Uses of Radiation Sources." In addition,25 persons successfully completed the 7th one year post-graduatetraining course in radiological physics conducted by the Directorate incollaboration with the World Health Organization. Tre 8th one yearpost-graduate training course commenced on 16th September 1969 with20 trainees, including 2 candidates from abroad i.e. one each from SouthKorea and Indonesia.

Engineering Group

The Architecture and Civil Engineering Division of the Group completedthe Central Complex Main Building and the Phase ! of the TrainingSchool Complex. The following projects were in hand during the year:The auditorium in the Central Complex building, expected to be readyby March 1970; Phase II of the Training School Complex, expected tobe ready by the end of March this year; two residential buildings for theDepartment of Atomic Energy in Bombay, also expected to be ready atthe same time.

The; Division has also completed ail works on the facilities at the SeismicArray Project at Gauribidanur while work on the staff quarters there isto be taken up shortiy. AH works at the Experimental Satellite Communi-cation Earth Station at Ahmedabad have been completed.

At Thumba, the main Laboratory building of the Space Science andTechnology Centre, the group of buildings for the Propellant Laboratoryand the Visiting Scientists Hostel complex have been completed whilework on the Rocket Fabrication Facility is progressing. At the RadioAstronomy Centre, Ootacamund% all the civil works originally plannedhave been completed. The staff quarters are under construction.

The Chemical Engineering Division consists ot the following units : Ura-nium Metal Plant; Heavy Water and Stable isotope Production Section;Ore Extraction Section; Zirconium Oxide Section; Rocket PropellantPlant; and Fire Service Section.

Nuclear pure uranium metal for CIRUS and ceramic grade uranium oxiderequired for the first half charge for RAPP reactors are being produced,in the Uranium Metal Plant. In the next few months the operational staffrecruited for the Uranium Oxide Plant, Hyderabad, will be given in-planttraining in the Uranium Metal Plant at Trombay so that they can take

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over the operation at the Nuclear Fuel Complex as soon as the plantthere is commissioned.

The Reconcentration Plant continued normal reconcentration of heavywater to reactor grade. The overall responsibility for setting up a SulzerDistillation Column at the RAPP site for the upgrading of heavy waterfrom the reactor has been entrusted to this Division.

The froth testing unit for hydrogen sulphide-water system, which wasdesigned earlier, was fabricated and installed. Samples of water fromthe Rana Pratap Sagar reservoir were tested on this unit and found tobe non-foaming.

Some civil engineering work at the Kota Heavy Water Plant site has beenstarted.

Work on production of various organic and inorganic compounds label-led with deuterium was continued. These compounds were suppliedto a number of research laboratories within and outside the B.A.R.C.New methods have been developed for the synthesis of some scintilla-tion chemicals. Development work is in progress for the enrichmentof carbon-13 by chemical exchange.

Regular production of semi-conductor grade silicon in the small set-upwas continued by the trichlorosilane method. The factors influencingthe yield and purity of trichlorosilane, further purification in distillation,and the yield and uniformity of silicon finally obtained have been studied.The material produced in the laboratory has been tested at the NationalPhysical Laboratory and the Solid State Physics Laboratory. Based onthis experience, some modifications are being made in the process andplans for increasing the production capacity are being finalised.

At the request of Messrs. Indian Rare Earths Ltd., studies on the sepa-ration and purification of praseodymium oxide-from their mixed rareearths products are being carried out.

The other development activities of the Division are: Study of themethods for the recovery of uranium as a by-product from phosphaterock and different industrial products derived from it; study of the methodsfor recovery of lithium from ores; study of bacterial leaching of uraniumfrom ores.

Production of nuclear grade zirconium oxide and chemically pure zir-conium compounds was continued on a pilot plant scale. Trials for the

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recovery of hafnium oxide from the raffinate obtained after zirconiumextraction were carried out with a view to finalising process conditions.Work on the procurement of equipment for the Zirconium Oxide Plantof the Nuclear Fuel Complex made further progress. Detailed layout ofprocess piping for this plant is being worked out. Detailed design ofprocess tanks for the plant being set up by Messrs Indian Rare EarthsLtd. for producing chemically pure zirconium compounds was carriedout and specifications for all items of equipment were drawn. Assist-ance was also provided in the selection of equipment. Studies havebeen undertaken for producing zirconium oxide and other oxides by thehigh temperature and pressure precipitation process.

Based on laboratory scale studies carried out last year, pilot plant trialswere carried out for producing thorium nitrate by the solvent extractionprocess. A project report is under preparation for changing the existingprocess of thorium nitrate production being followed by Messrs IndianRare Earths Ltd. to the solvent extraction process. This process is ex-pected to effect considerable economy in the cost of chemicals and alsosimplify uranium recovery.

The Rocket Propellant Plant at Thumba set up by this Division for manu-facturing solid propsllant was commissioned in February 1969 and startedregular production during this year. A Centaure rocket charged with thepropellant produced in this plant has already been successfully launched.The plant has now been handed over to the Indian Space ResearchOrganisation.

The Electrical Works Section of the Engineering Services Division carriedout the installation work connected with the extension at 22 KV main sub-station including a 10 MVA additional transformer. Installation of theVan de Graaff sub-station with a capacity of 500 KVA 11 KV/415 voltswas completed and the sub-station commissioned. Electrification of theField House in the Gamma Field area was also carried out.

The Miscellaneous Works Section is in charge of various projects inTrombay and the Power Reactor Fuel Reprocessing Project, includingthe housing colony. The value of project work handled by the Sectionamounts to Rs. 2.75 crores. In addition, the Section is in charge of thecivil maintenance of all buildings in B.A.R.C, maintenance works amount-ing to Rs 5 lakhs annually.

The continuing projects include the following: Power Reactor Fuel Re-processing Plant at Tarapur (Project PREFRE); Housing Colony forPREFRE at Boisar; High Intensity Radiation Utilisation Project at Trombay(Project HIRUP); Gamma Field Facility at Trombay and Pulse Critical

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Facility at Trombay.

The total value of work turned out in the Central Workshops during theyear amounted to Rs. 70 lakhs. Among the jobs carried out for the variousdivisions of the Research Centre are: components for CIRUS fuel rods,electromagnets, wafer-base stem machine, high vacuum valves, floata-tion cells, air-filter frames, quadrupole focusing lens, seismographiccontainers, wire wrap fuel assembly jigs and gas analyser set-ups. Forthe RAPP project, the major work taken up consists of access doors,air-lock entries, lattice tubes, fuelling machine heads, end fittings andwater-cooled thermal shields. The RAPP jobs under execution are.worth about 30 lakhs and the jobs for which preliminary work is on handare worth over 140 lakhs. A substantial amount of chemical processequipment has been fabricated for the Uranium Oxide, the ZirconiumOxide and the Zirconium Sponge Plants of the Nuclear Fuel <$bmplex atHyderabad. The value of these jobs is over Rs. 30 lakhs.

While the vehicles for the first batch of 3 Centaure rockets were com-pleted by last year end, they were charged with powder blocks, pyro-techniques and other requisites early this year at Thumba. Two of thethree rockets have been successfully fired. Work is on hand for thefabrication of 12 more rocket vehicles, using mostly indigenous materials.

Execution of the jobs mentioned above in the Central Workshops hasresulted in F. E. savings of about Rs. 35 to 40 lakhs this year. Thi* mountwill go up by a factor of two in the very near future.

The Remote Handling Section completed, among other things, the designwork for the HIRUP hot cells, a 1000 curie gamma garden set-up forSsndhri, a 100 curie \ , j 3 T cell, and a 1500 curie Co"" irradiation unitfor low temperature work. It has also prepared all the preliminary draw-ings for the new irradiation set-up for the Indian Agricultural ResearchInstitute at Delhi and analysed and prepared the working drawings forsome of the complicated parts of the Variable Energy Cyclotron. TheHIRUP is a large size hot cell complex with a provision for 2 hot cellsconnected by a water channel and equipped with special conveyor sys-tem terminating inside the cells. Each of these cells has four viewingwindows and other facilities for loading and unloading, storing and handl-ing mega curies of irradiated material.

The Plutonium Plant at Trombay, the operation of which is one of theresponsibilities of the Fuel Reprocessing Division, was operated conti-nuously for the production of plutonium as well as collection of plantscale data in connection with the design of the Power Reactor FuelReprocessing Plant at Tarapur. The information obtained by the opera-

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tion for the latter purpose under various modified conditions has justifiedthe main objective of the Trombay plant, namely, to serve as a demon-stration facility.

The dissolver of the pilot plant for recovery of uranium-233 fi> om irradiat-ed thorium has been installed and the associated piping has been com-pleted. The rest of the equipment has been fabricated and installed;installation of piping and commissioning of the rest of the plant will betaken up as socn as the associated instrumentsare available. However^dissolution followed by laboratory scale separation of Ua M will beattempted shortly.

The research and development programme of the Division made furtherprogress. v On completion of the collection of laboratory data on thesolvent extraction and partition in connection with the Tarapur Repro-cessing Plant, a mini mixer settler was installed for extension of ,thebench scale information to continuous operation. During the year, ex-tensive work was carried out on the continuous precipitation of plutoniumoxalate in order to provide the design information for the plant at Tara-pur with its much larger capacity for plutonium processing. A majoreffort was directed towards the standardisation of various methods ofanalysis both for process control purposes and accounting of nuclearfuel material.

The Mechanical Services Group of the Division, in addition to meetingthe maintenance requirements of the Division, completed the fabricationand installation of the thorium reprocessing pilot plant and was exten-sively engaged in the fabrication of embedded parts for the TarapurReprocessing Plant.

The work on the Tarapur Reprocessing Plant Project has made encour-aging progress. The construction of the main plant building is about40% complete and the associated electrical works is progressing onschedule.

Preliminary work on the architectural design of the reprocessing deve-lopment laboratory in the Reactor Research Centre at Kalpakkam hasbeen taken in hand and a project report for the reprocessing facilitiesat Kalpakkam has been submitted.

During the ensuing year it is proposed to carry out significant modifica-tions to the Trombay reprocessing plant to increase its versatility forexperimental purposes. The effort in the process and analytical deve-lopment aspects will be oriented towards the requirements of futura

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reprocessing facilities. The reprocessing plant under construction atTarapur is scheduled to be completed in 1973.

The Waste Treatment Division continued the collection, storage anddisposal of radioactive wastes, both of low and high activity, from variousinstallations in Trombay as well as from certain outside users of radio-isotopes and also its research and development work.

Most of the equipment and material required for the Waste TreatmentPlant at RAPP were procured. Work on the Plant is expected to becompleted next year. ••

Work on the waste management plant at Tarapur is expected to be start-ed early next year.

A centralised waste management facility consisting of Liquid Waste Treat-ment Plant, a Decontamination Centre and a Waste Storage-cum-filurialFaciSity is being planned to meet the requirements of all the facilitiesproposed to be located at the KalpakUam site.

Work connected with the setting up of an active incinerator at the Radio-active Waste Storage Site is nearly complete. An incinerator of 10 ton/day capacity is being designed for the Bombay Municipal* Corporationand work connected with the design of a 24 ton/day capacity incineratorfor the disposal of all the combustible inactive waste arising from theResearch Centre has been undertaken.

On the basis of the research and development programme undertaken,feasibility studies were taken up for setting up a high level waste man-agement plant for the treatment of high level radioactive waste likely toarise from the Power Reactor Fuel Reprocessing Plant at Tarapur. Aproject report is being prepared.

Absolute filters have been produced using the high efficiency filter mediadeveloped by the Division for use in various plants and laboratories ofthe Research Centre. Problems of large-scale production'of filters werestudied in detail in a pilot filter production unit on the basis of which it isnow possible to establish a large scale production unit to meet the entirerequirements of the Research Centre. Work connected with the develop-ment of special filters is in progress.

Studies on volume reduction of medium level radioactive waste by solarevaporation were continued throughout the year with a view to developingcheaper methods for the treatment of this waste, investigations werecarried out to develop suitable treatment methods for the waste likely

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v> arise from the Power Reactor Fuel Reprocessing Plant at Tarapur and$ Nuclear Fuel Complex at Hyderabad. An operational analysis of the

Waste Treatment Plant was carried out with a view to study the efficiencyof various stages of treatment and on the basis of these studies, optimummethods of treatment have been standardised for use in the above plant.

Studies were carried out for selecting suitable sites for the ground dis-posal of the radioactive waste at Tarapur, Rajasthan and Kalpakkam.On the basis of these studies, suitable sites were selected for setting upthe required facilities.

An IAEA research contract was completed for the transformation of inter-stratified vermiculite of Indian origin to pure vermiculite and improvingtheir suitability in decontamination of radioactive wastes. This work wassuccessfully carried out and the final report was submitted to the IAEAwithin the prescribed contract period.

Studies were carried out on the fixation of radioactive waste in vitrifiedmedia with a view to developing suitable methods for the treatment of-high level radioactive waste expected to arise from Fuel ReprocessingPlants at Trombay and Tarapur. Studies were also carried out for in- ,solubilisation of radioactive wastes by incorporation in asphalt andpolyethylene matrices using wastes like sludge from the chemical treat-ment plant, purex waste, decladding waste etc. Studies are in progresson a laboratory scale fixation unit.

Filters developed by the Division were produced in a pilot productionunit to meet the requirements of various plants and laboratories of theResearch Centre. The cost of production of the filters during the yearis Rs. 2.00 lakhs with a foreign exchange component of Rs. 0.2 lakh.The total cost of equivalent imported filters is estimated to be Rs. 4.6lakhs, with a foreign exchange component of Rs. 2.60 lakhs.

The Division has been providing consultation services in the field ofwaste management and design of air cleaning system. Advice wasgiven for the design of incinerator plants to the Bombay Municipal Cor-poration.

Metallurgy Group

During . the year the Analytical Division catered to requests foranalyses of nearly 2680 samples involving 8280 determinations. Towardsservice analyses rendered to institutions not coming under the direct res-ponsibility of the BARC, a sum of Rs. 5,000/- was collected as charges.

Nearly 60% of the analyses was required to be carried out in the ppm

13

range of concentration, of which 20% had to be met in good measure bythe development or standardisation of suitable methods of analysis. Anumber of these analyses were met by the development of spectrophoto-metric and flame photometric methods of analysis such as the determina-tion of alkaline earths, silica, lead, zinc, thallium and sulphate in a num-ber of intermediate and high purity materials. Neutron activation methodswere employed where the other methods did not have adequate sensiti-vity. In support of the work of the Extractive Metallurgy Group, polaro-graphic methods of sufficient accuracy were developed to simplify theanalysis for copper, nickel, molybdenum and iron in leach liquors. Simi-larly, chemical methods were streamlined for the analysts jot strontiummetal and slags. A sequential ion-exchange procedure in mixed sol-vents was developed for the determination of copper, nickel, uraniumand molybdenum. An ion-exchange method was also standardised forthe separation of traces of rare earths from thorium prior to the activationanalysis of these elements.

Research activities in support of the development effort and the post-graduate work carried out in the Division were in areas including thefollowing : trace and major element distribution in Deccan Trap Flowsfor which atomic absorption methods were standardised for the determi-nation of rubidium, iron, barium, manganese, strontium, zinc and copper,and activation methods for the determination of lanthanum, scandium,uranium and thorium; fission track method for the determination of ura-nium in whole rock samples; ring oven technique for the semi-quantitativeanalysis of copper, nickel, iron, cobalt, manganese, zinc and antimony;study of mixed ligand complexes of titanium, thorium and indium; poten-tiometric study of the complexes of copper, beryllium, uranium and zir-conium with a view to correlate the complex stabilities with the ring size,which is being further studied by their isolation and structure elucidationusing the ESR and NMR techniques; chronopotentiometric reduction ofthorium, samarium and ytterbium; chronoamperometric methods for theestimation of copper, lead, cadmium and zinc; differential cathode raypolarography using metal and alloy electrodes system and polarographicreduction of metals in mixed solvents as also with the use of nichromeelectrodes. +

A rotating bomb calorimeter and an apparatus for isopiestic measure-ments were fabricated. An apparatus for the TG measurements and aset-up for particle size analysis were assembled. It is hoped that theacquisition of an atomic fluorescence spectrometer, a spectrophotofluori-meter, a multi-channel analyser and the spark source mass spectrometershortly will provide the much needed instrumental support for augment-ing the capabilities of tfie Division in the analysis of high purity materials.

The Atomic Fuels Division is entrusted with the responsibility for deve-

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loping and fabricating fuel elements and components for research andpower reactors. The main activities of the Division have been directedtowards: (a) Production of metallic and ceramic fuel elements forCIRUS and ZERLINA (b) Fabrication of thorium oxide and thorium ele-ments for CIRUS (c) Development work on ceramic and cermet-typematerials (d) Development work on the fabrication of zirconium alloysthat are of importance to the country's nuclear programme and electro-nics industry.

The Fuel Element Fabrication Facility at Trombay completed its 10thyear of operation. During the year, it met the requirements of CIRUSand ZERLINA for metallic fuel elements, components and sub-assemblies.

The Division has also undertaken the fabrication of half the initial fuelcharge for the RAPP-I. Sintered uranium-dioxide pellets of requisitequality are being made on a production basis. Numerous dies, jigs, tools,fixtures etc. required for the purpose were fabricated. The equipmentfor welding assembly of fuel bundles for RAPP-I has been installed andcommissioned. The assembly of fuel bundles is done on a productionbasis. On the basis of technical reports prepared by the Division, aCeramic Fuel Fabrication Plant, an Enriched Uranium Oxide Fuel Fabrica-tion Plant and a Zircaloy Fabrication Plant are being set up at Hyderabadas part of the Nuclear Fuel Complex.

The Division is responsible for operating a facility at Kota for processingof coolant tubes for RAPP-I.

Considerable experience has been gained in making and fabricatingzircaloy-2. Ingots of the required composition have been produced andextruded into tubes.

A nitriding set-up was fabricated for the surface hardening of 17-4 PHstainless steel parts of the RAPP fuel loading machine. Nitriding condi-tions on test samples have been standardized.

For the fabrication of cobalt slug capsules and pellet capsules for RAPPreactors, aluminium tubes and end caps have been produced. Filling ofaluminium tubes with cobalt pellets has been accomplished by vibro-compaction.

Low expansion alloys such as Invar, Kovar, Fe-Ni (50:50) etc. in the formof rods, sheets, strips and wires were made on a production scale tomeet the requirements of electronics industry and the Defence Organi-zation.

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On requests from the Indian Telephone Industries, Experimental SatelliteCommunication Earth Station, T.I.F.R., and ECIL, development work wasundertaken on the production of seamless tubes of various alloys for useas wave guides. Tubes of rectangular cross section in brass with speci-fied finish have been made in lengths of 300 cms.

Foils, wires and strips of various metals and alloys such as Ta, Mg, Cd,ire-Ni, zircaloy, stainless steel etc, have been fabricated and suppliedto several Divisions of the B.A.R.C. and outside organizations.

On a request from McGiil University, Montreal, Canada, uranium andthorium foils of thickness 0.025 mm (1 thou) and 0.075 mm (3 thou) werefabricated and exported. The value of the material supplied is about$ 1,000.

In connection with the fission gas release studies, numerous discs ofThO2-UO2 of varying sintered densities were fabricated for the ChemistryDivision.

On a request from M/s. Philips India Limited, specialized annealing ofMu-metal parts and laminations was undertaken. The total amountrealized against this job is about Rs. 13,000/-.

In order to ensure the integrity of components, sub-assemblies and fuelelements produced in the Division, testing, inspection and quality con-trol have been carried out vigorously. During the year, about 46,000 com-ponents of various types were inspected.

The specialized inspection facilities of the Division have been madeavailable to FRD, RED, Central Workshops, TAPP, PPED etc. and outsideorganizations such as the Fertilizer Corporation of India, Bombay GasCompany, Mahindra Ugine Steel Company Ltd., M/s. Zenith Steel PipeLtd., and Naval Dockyard, Bombay.

During the year, the Chemistry Division appreciably increased the pre-paration of high purity materials required in semi-conductor technology.The total cost of the high purity materials prepared and supplied to vari-ous Divisions of the BARC and other research institutions in the countryis estimated at about Rs. 2.3 lakhs, resulting in considerable saving offoreign exchange.

Work was also continued on the special materials project and the detailsof the building plan and the services required were finalised and sentto the consultants, M/s. M. N. Dastur and Co.

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t he Division continued its research and development activities in ihefields of radiation chemistry and solid state chemistry. In the iield ofradiation chemistry, wood plastics produced by the aid of T -radiationwere studied in great detail. Large blocks of wood-plastic alloy suitablefor textile shuttles were produced and have been under test and arereported to be suitable for textile industry and can replace hard woods.Studies were continued in the field of basic radiation chemistry with aview to obtain a better understanding of the process taking place inaqueous and non-aqueous systems as well as in solids.

In collaboration with the Reactor Engineering Division, work was conti-nued on the chemistry of water at high temperature, pressure and radia-tion fields.

in the field of solid state chemistry, studies were made on the diffusionof solid and gaseous fission products in cladding and fuel materials. Ithas been observed that very little gas release could be expected iromthona-urania samples at temperatures up to 600 C. Work at highertemperatures is in progress. For determining the thermodynamicalparameters of different reactor materials, a high temperature transpira-tion apparatus and a solid e.m.f. cell have been set up. This work issupplemented by high temperature X-ray diffractometry, ihermogravi-metry and DTA analysis.

Theoretical studies in the field of many-body problem and quantumchemistry were continued as well as studies on the determination olcrystal structure by X-ray analysis.

The scope of activities of the Isotope Division in the field of productionand applications of radioisotopes continued to increase during the year.The sale value of radioisotopes, equipment and services rendered total-,led Rs. 28.21 lakhs, including rts. 3.87 l^khs in export. A total of 18,223consignments of radioisotopes were despatched during the year, includ-ing 10J96 consignments for medical use.

Export of radioisotopes and equipment recorded a substantial increase.A total of 3519 consignments of radiopharmaceuticals, labelled com-pounds, irradiation equipment etc. valued at Rs. 3.87 lakhs were exportedto Argentina, Australia, Austria, Burma, Denmark, Ethiopia, France,Ghana, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia,Morocco. Philippines, Rumania, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey,U.A.R. and Uganda. For the first time, radioisotopes were exported toa country in South America viz. Argentina. Special mention may bemade of the export to Burma and Kenya of two irradiation units "GammaChamber-900" containing powerful sources of cobalt-60 for agriculturaland industrial research.

22 f

Several new radiopharmaceutical products were developed for use innuclear medicine- These include radioiodinated human serum albuminin unidose syringes, and radioiodinated insulin. Radioiodine labelledbovine serum albumin was produced and supplied for certain researchinvestigations in the medical field.

Several additional radioisotope labelled fertilizers were developed foruse in agricultural research. These include: phosphorus-32 labelledtriple-superphosphate, nitro-phosphate and different meta-<phosphatesand pyrophosphates.

About 11,000 curies of cobalt-60 in the form of encapsulated sourceswere supplied for use in different gamma irradiators and radiographyequipment. More than 2000 curies of iridium-192 in the form of radiographysources were supplied to various industries for use in industrial isotoperadiography. About 14,000 curies of antimony-124, in 32 source pencils,were supplied to the Tarapur Atomic Power Project for the start-up ofthe reactors.

Some more carbon-14 and tritium-labelled compounds have been addedto the list of available labelled compounds. Seven additional carbon-14labelled compounds including labelled amino acids were prepared bybio-synthesis and chemical synthesis. Three more tritium labelled com-pounds were prepared in addition to the compounds already developed.

Considerable progress has been made in the development of 'self-lumin-ous compounds'. Self-luminous sources incorporating tritium gas weredeveloped and trial batches of different types of sources have been pre-pared. Thirty consignments of self-luminous sources and compoundswere supplied to various users during the year.

Radiotracer experiments were conducted at the Visakhapatnam OuterHarbour Project for the study of silt movement on the sea bed. Resultsof the experiments have been analysed and the data on the direction ofthe movement of the silt have been provided to the project authorities.Radiotracer investigations were carried out at the Ankleshwar Oil Fieldfor the study of the pattern of the leakage of water in the oil wells usingbromine-82 radiotracer. Radiotracer investigations were also carried outusing radioiodine as a tracer at a local sewage purification plant for thedetermination of the retention period of sewage in filtration tower, at threedifferent flow rates.

A laboratory prototype automatic standardization digital multi-gauge sys-tem for use in different radioisotope gauges was developed. Furtherwork for the fabrication of prototype unit for uso in industry is in pro-

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gress. Development work on gamma switches for controlling the levelof materials in closed tanks was continued. Assistance was provided tovarious industries in the installation and maintenance of nucleonicgauges.

Radiography equipment and radiography service were offered to variousindustries in the private and the public sectors such as oil refineries,Army and Navy installations, steel and engineering factories and atomicpower projects. Special mention may be made of the technique develop-ed for the inspection of Boeing-707 jet engines. Using an indigenouslydeveloped remote-operated radiography camera, it has been possible todetect bow in the jet engine vanes of the Boeing-707 planes operatedby Air India.

Work on the HIRUP Project progressed. The design of the various faci-lities in this project has been completed. The fabrication arawmgs oithe various mechanical equipment nave been completed and rabncationof some of the embedments is under progress.

The work in the field of radiation technology was continued and a newgamma irradiation unit "Gamma Ghamber-4000" is being developed. Thisunit will provide an irradiation volume of 4 litres and dose rates of theorder of half a million rads per hour. The dosimetry of the packageirradiator at FIPLY was completed and work has already been under-taken for the replenishment of decayed sources in this irradiator.

A request has been made for assistance from the United Nations Deve-lopment Programme/Special Fund for setting up a Dual Purpose Irradia-tor in India for the radiation sterilisation of medical products and thedevelopment of fibre-polymer composites.

Work on the development of fibre-polymer composites was continued.Liaison is being maintained with the wood and fibre board manufacturingindustries for the early commercial exploitation of the radiation polymeri-zation process for upgrading low quality fibrous materials.

The work of installation of new facilities in the Radiological Laboratoriesfor the development and production of radioisotopes has advanced con-siderably. Some of the laboratories will be commissioned early in 1970and the other production activities will be progressively commissionedin the course of the year.

The Metallurgy Division has been concentrating its efforts both on deve-lopment work and fundamental studies on tlje materials of interestprimarily for the nuclear energy programme. During the year, efforts

24

were mainly directed towards the beneficiation of low grade uraniumores, development of ceramic nuclear fuels, production technology ofreactor grade zirconium and zirca'oys, development of suitable zirconium-base alloys with desired mechanical properties and studies in corrosionbehaviour of alloys of interest.

The activities in the Division also involved development of materials ofgeneral interest to the country. Tantalum capacitors of various sizes re-quired by the ECIL are being continuously produced. It is likely thatlarge-scale production will be taken up shortly at the Nuclear Fuel Com-plex at Hyderabad. Pilot plant studies on the recovery of molybdenum,nickel and copper from the run-of-mine of Jaduguda uranium ore werecarried out. A facility is being set up at Jaduguda to continue this work.Studies on the methods of extraction of molybdenum-nickel concentrateswere continued. Considerable experience has been gained in the opera-tion of pilot plants for the production of zirconium and titanium. Theproduction of micron-size zirconium metal powder and hydride powderwera continued. Studies on suitable methods for the extraction of preci-ous metals like niobium, tungsten, tantalum and vanadium were continued.Considerable progress has been achieved in the development of zirco-nium-base alloys and in the study of its properties, especially on stresscorrosion. Facilities have been created for starting work on the extrac-tion of beryllium. Work on other projects such as beneficiaticn of lowgrade uranium ores, low grade highly dispersed graphite ores and bene-ficiation of rock phosphate from Mussourie are progressing.

Fundamental studies form an essential part of the programme of theDivision. Some of the subjects on which studies are in progress are:(i) kinetics and thermodynamics studies of reactions of interest, (ii)mechanism of sintering of ceramics, (iii) mechanism of collector andregular interactions in the flotation of minerals, (iv) defect structure ofmetals and alloys, and (v) fundamental studies in diffusion of metals.

Certain preliminary work on the sintering of PuO2 mixtures of PuO2-UO2 were carried out in the facilities of the Fuel Reprocessing Division.

The Radiochemistry Division continued its research work on the chemistryof actinide elements and nuclear fission, and the development work onseparation processes and methods of estimation.

Experiments have been carried out on the oxidation-reduction reactionsof plutcnium with nitrite and hydrogen peroxide in nitric acid solutionsand on the radiolysis of piutonium solutions in hydrochloric acid. A studyof the electrolytic oxidation of piutonium (vi) in alkaline medium hasbeen carried out. The synergistic extraction of americium, europium

25

and uranium by organic reagents is being investigated. Several com-pounds ot uranium and iron with pyridine N-oxide and substituted pyridineoxide are being studied by infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance andMossbauer speciroscopy. The surface area measurements on plutoniumdioxide samples have been earned out by X-ray diffraction metnod. Stu-dies on non-stoichiometric and mixed oxide systems of uranium andplutonium have been done and the structure ot uranyl oxalate is beingworked out by X-ray method.

The recoil range* of fission fragments of several heavy element nuelideshave been determined using gamma-ray spectra and radiochenmca*methods and the kinetic-energy deficit' has been calculated. Massyields of a number o! nuclides in the tnermal neutron induced fission ofplutonium-239 have been measured using gamma-ray spectra. A simplemethod of detecting fission fragments by their tracks in polymer plasticshas been developed and applied for the determination of 14 MeV neutronfission cross sections of a number of actinide isotopes. The solid statetract detector has also been used to measure the uniformity of electro-plated targets of fissile materials.

With a view to studying the problems associated with the recovery ofvaluable trans-plutonium isotopes formed in plutonium fuels, a thin foilof plutohium-alumimum alloy prepared by the Fuel Reprocessing Divi-sion is being irradiated in CIRUS. In connection with the work on iheprocess chemistry of neptunium, the action of nitrous acid and uranium(iv) on the different valence states of neptunium in nitric acid solutionshave been studied. A cation exchange and an anion exchange proce-dure have been developed for the separation and purification of prome-thium from fission product waste solution. Pyrochemical studies on thereaction of the oxides oi thorium and uranium with metals in molten saltmedium have been carried out.

A new programme to find out the feasibility of a plutonium fuelled moltensalt breeder reactor has been undertaken. Equipment required for theinitial phase of this programme has been designed and the fabricationis nearing completion.

The isotopic composition of uranium is routinely measured for the variousDivisions of the BARC using a mass spectrometer with a thermionic source.Several lots of plutonium oxide from the Fuel Reprocessing Division havebeen analysed for plutonium using a potentiometric method. A methodfor the direct colorimetric estimation of uranium and free acid in nitricacid solutions has been developed and an apparatus is being set up forthe gamma absorptiomelric estimation of uranium and plutonium as apart of the programme on "In-Line" analysis of fuel reprocessing streams

26

in collaboration with the Fuel Reprocessing Division. An emissionspectroscopic method has been developed for the estimation of rareearths in uranium. The gamma-ray spectrometric method of analysis ofCIRUS coolant water samples has been standardized

The Division continued to provide services such as radiochemical, spec-troscopic and X-ray analysis, preparation and supply of several specialradioactive sources etc. Training in radiochemistry was provided to anumber of scientists from the universities and other institutions in thecountry. Sixteen post-graduate teachers in chemistry have attended theEighth Refresher Course in Nuclear and Radiation Chemistry'.

Jhe Reactor Engineering Division comprises the following Sections :Reactor Feasibility Studies, Engineering Laboratory, Theoretical Physics,Experimental Reactor Physics, and Fast Reactor Studies.

For boiling heavy water or light water coolant, from burn-out heat iluxconsideration, tube geometry is very good. In view of this, modified tube-in-shell typ j of fuel element using uranium metal fuel element has beenconsidered for BLW reactors. As compared to CANDU type of reactor,boiling D2O cooled, D̂ .O moderated reactor using modified tube-in-shellnatural uranium metal fuel element may have substantial saving in bothcapital and fuelling cost. Light water moderated (cold moderator) boilingSight water cooled enriched uranium metal fuelled reactor using modifiedtube-in-shell type of fuel element may have substantial saving in bothcapital and fuelling cost as compared to pressure vessel type BWR reac-tors. This reactor system may have considerable saving in separativework cost as compared to pressure vessel type 3WR reactors using en-riched UO2 fuel.

A computer programme "CONTSHELL" for standard containment shell wasmade. A computer programme "PRESET" for calculating pressure tran-sients in pressurizer is being made. Computer programme APCIGS wasformulated to do hydraulic analysis for boiling pressure tube type reactorcircuit in a steady state. The "COBRA" programme was modified and ex-tended to calculate local heat transfer co-efficient, coolant and can tem-perature and burn-out heat flux in each sub-channel. Kinetic studiesof CANDU type reactor were carried out using "AiREK-MOD" and "LASS"programme.

A Type Testing Loop was completed to conduct tests on fuel elements,manufactured in India, under reactor service conditions. Load tests onsingle bundles have been completed. Further tests are being planned.

A facility has been designed and is under fabrication for testing of RAPP

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primary heat transport pumps under simulated conditions. The experi-ence gained will be useful for * maintenance of these pumps in actualservice, and also subsequent testing of similar pumps for the MadrasAtomic Power Station.

Facilities are being provided for the testing of the fuelling machine heads,which are being fabricated at Trombay.

The hydraulic valve control station for the fuelling machine of RAPP-IIis being fabricated in the Engineering Laboratory. The Laboratory willalso undertake the fabrication of D^O and H2O control stations for RAPP-II, Required for the fuel transfer facility. The Laboratory is also helpingthe PPED in evaluating various indigenous instruments for their suitabi-lity in reactor service.

A set-up has been designed and is under fabrication for study of vapoursuppression system, being considered for MAPP. Also, study was doneto establish the feasibility of fabrication of calandria support rod assem-blies in the Laboratory.

Towards the development of such reactors, an out-of-pile boiling waterloop was commissioned. Various problems associated with the instru-mentation and system analysis were overcome. Studies were conductedat a system pressure of 500 psi. Further work has been planned forstudies on burn-out heat transfer, two phase flow characteristics andhydrodynamic instabilities. Burn-out detectors and void density metersare being developed for this purpose.

In collaboration with the Chemistry Division, studies on water chemistryhave been undertaken. Analysis techniques are being developed forthe measurement and control of pH, oxygen, chloride and conductivityin out-of-pile and in-pile systems.

A two year consolidated programme on fuel element development, withPlutonium enrichment upto 4% has been drawn up. Analytical work wasdone to study the behaviour of the elements under various transient con-ditions. Facilities for irradiation of these elements in the PressurizedWater Loop in CIRUS have been designed.

The analysis of various components was undertaken. Techniques weredeveloped for measurement of strain under dynamic conditions in arotor being designed for the Pulsed Fast Reactor»(P.F.R.).

For the Pulsed Fast Reactor, design of the rotor assembly has beenstarted. Also, facilities are being provided to check mechanically theintegrity of fuel elements and the heat transfer system.

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The Theoretical Physics Section worked on the nuclear design problemsof Rajasthan Atomic Power Project, Tarapur Atomic Power Project, FastBreeder Test Reactor and Critical Facility for Pulsed Fast Reactor. Itprovided consultancy service to Power Projects Engineering Division inconnection with the fuel management, start-up and operational problemsof RAPP. A number of major computer codes on neutronic problems ofRAPP were developed and commissioned for PPED. Some calculationson start-up of TAPF were made and work for the improved fuel elementdesign for the first batch of reload fuel has been taken up. Completeneutronic design of FBTR and PFR cores is being carried out.

•

A detailed evaluation of technical and economic aspects of nuclear powerreactors was undertaken in connection with India's Nuclear Power Pro-gramme. A survey of the status of thorium utilization and plutoniumrecycle technology was also carried out. For India's future power plants,an analysis of the design of the advanced heavy water moderated powerreactors is being carried out.

To carry out the nuclear design work for the power reactor and otheradvanced concepts under consideration, a number of design methodswere developed and the experiments carried out in other countries wereanalysed. The advanced theoretical methods developed for nuclearwork were applied in other branches of physics. In particular, the MonteCarlo method was used for some problems of field theory and nuclearphysics.

Measurements of Initial Conversion Ratios in various configurations ofUOo clusters have been carried out in Zerlina in collaboration with theAustralian Atomic Energy Commission. These measurements are con-tinuing.

Two-zone methods of studying new reactor cores were tested using ura-nium metal fuel. Preparations were made for extending measurementsto oxide cores in a metal reference lattice.

Setting up and testing of equipment for noise-analysis experiments, use-ful for routine checking of power reactor operation, was undertakenduring the year.

Preparatory work was undertaken for performing oscillation experimentsand for measurements of core spectra.

Work was initiated for designing experiments on fast reactor physics.

As a first step in the programme of developing fast reactors, the AtomicEnergy Commission is planning to construct a Fast Breeder Test Reactor

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(FBTR) with French collaboration, an agreement for which was concludedearly this year. A team consisting of engineers, metallurgists, scientistsand supporting staff is working on the detailed design and drawings ofFBTR. The design work, which is partly done in India and partly inFrance, is guided by a Design Review Committee consisting of seniorstaff from the B.A.R.C.

M/s. Tata Consulting Engineers have been appointed to prepare thepreliminary design of the conventional portions of the FBTR.

The proposed Reactor Research Centre is located at Edaiyur, adjoiningKalpakkam. The layout of the Centre has been finalized, The mainaccess road connecting Kalpakkam and Edaiyur is ready and the bridgeacross the Edaiyur has been completed. The bridge across the Edaiyurbackwaters is in an advanced stage of construction. 330 quarters ofvarious categories have been completed in Puduppatinam township ofthe MAPP complex. The roads, water supply arrangements, drainageand external electrification are nearing completion. Work on the con-struction of two engineering halls has commenced. Pile foundation forHall-I has been completed and that for Hall-2 is in progress. The mecha-nical design of the 500 KW loop is over. A study was made of variousexperimental works proposed in the coming years for understanding anddevelopment of components for future fast .reactors.

A Pressurized Water Loop has been installed in CIRUS. This experi-mental set-up provides a facility to study and develop fuel elements fornuclear power reactors using light or heavy water as coolant at hightemperatures and pressures. This project is financed jointly by Indiaand Canada, the total expense being about Rs. 50 lakhs.

The erection and testing of all loop components was completed and theloop has been operated out of pile regularly for training the ROO operat-ing personnel.

The Spectroscopy Division continued to provide spectrochemical analy-tical service to the various divisions of the Research Centre and the otherconstituent units of the DAE, Over 2,600 samples were analysed, involv-ing nearly 20,000 individual determinations - of 'undesirable' elementspresent at parts per million level in nuclear pure uranium metal, uraniumoxide and thoria. Analysis of high purity rare-earths and semi-conductormaterials required modification of the existing methods and develop-ment of new spectro-chemical procedures to determine more impuritiesand to attain lower detection limits. These include the analyses of CaO,UF4, U:IO« and graphite for Al, B, Cd, Cr, Cu & Zn at concentration levelsof 0.1 to 1000 ppm, lithium fluoride used in thermo-luminiscent dosi-

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meters for alkali metals and alkaline earths impurities in the range of10 to 250 ppm and boric acid for Fe, Si, Ca etc. at ppm levels. X-rayfluorescence methods have also been developed for special types ofanalysis, i.e., rare-earths in thoria.

Basic, research for an understanding of spectra and structure of atomsand molecules, in free and crystalline matrices, forms an important acti-vity of the Division. From a study of known isotope shifts, an estimateof nuclear deformation parameters, ^ for dysprosium-154. was obtain-ed which showed a transition from a single particle to a collectivemodel on the addition of the 45th pair of neutrons. Revised vibrationalassignment of the second negative bands of 0 , necessitated in a re-calculation of their Franck-Condon factors. Molecular vibrations ofCF:{H and CF.,D, C-CI,. were studied from a normal co-ordinate analysisand improved set of force constants, including Coriolis interaction weraobtained.

Fabrication of electronic and optical instrumentation forms an essentialpart of spectroscopic research. During the year, several such accesso-ries were built including a regulated power supply for running a zir-conium arc lamp, a tesla-coil ignition attachment for a d.c. arc source,an arc and a spark source for the direct reader, a power supply forexciting continuum in the vacuum ultra-violet and a time delay generatorfor the flash-photolysis unit.

The Division fabricated Twyman-Green, scatter fringe, and fixed shearcube type interferometers for testing large mirrors, measurements ofsmall angles and evaluation of the quality of optical surfaces. A directvision spectroscope was made incorporating a direct vision prism of anovel design.

Bio-Medical Group

The Biology Division continued its plant breeding programme, amongother investigations.

Six groundnut mutants were tested at several centres through the AllIndia Oilseeds Research Project. Four of them gave higher yields atsome of the centres. Three selections isolated from a cross betweenTG-1 and virescent mutant showed several improved features like earlymaturing, high sheiiing percent and oil content.

In collaboration with the Central Rice Research Institute, short, dwarfand early flowering mutants were isolated in the second generation ofrice varieties, AC 2178 and AC 2624. Four slender grain mutants, TR-6

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to TR-9 have been included in the slender Grain Varietal Trials conductedby All India Coordinated Rice Improvement Project.

The stem rust resistance gene of Agropyron elongatum has been trans-ferred from the Canadian wheat variety, Thatcher to the Indian wheatvariety Niphad-4. This line has been found to be resistant to the fourraces of stem rust to which wheat strains grown in Maharashtra aresusceptible.

In jute, 227 mutations affecting various plant parts have been isolatedand fixed.

Barley seeds irradiated with fast neutrons in Standard Neutron IrradiationFacility showed increased radiosensitivity with storage. Such storageeffect was not found with gamma irradiation.

Using gamma-rays instead of ordinary light, a new method was developedfor rapid preparation of polyacrylamide gels under extreme conditionsof pH containing solubilising agents.

During radiosensitisation of E, coli cells by iodoacetic acid, iodine wasincorporated in all the bands of membrane proteins on polyacrylamidegel. lodination of proteins occurred at all amino acid residues. Themechanism of radiosensitisation by other—SH poisons was ascribedto the reaction of cells with some short-lived transients of sensitisers.

Radiation induced electrons in frozen sugar solutions reacted with dis-solved thymine giving rise to thymyl radicals at 77°K. With alkaline solu-tions of thymine, such radicals could be observed on warming to highertemperatures and at 77°K only the anion of thymine was detected. Theseresults indicate that the anion is unstable in sugar solutions and getshydrolysed at 77°K.

To investigate fast reactions in solutions, a flash photolysis equipmenthas been set up, the rise time and duration of flashes being 50 and 200micro-seconds respectively.

Morphogenetic studies on Tylophara indica tissues In vitro have shownthat early embryogeny reminiscent of the zygote occurred in cells situat-ed deeply within the callus mass while in the peripheral cells, divisionwas highly irregular. The developmental sequence was, however, quiteunlike that of normal embryogeny., In addition, sporadic formation ofroots, shoot buds, vascular nodules, and peridermic colonies were ob-served. These abnormal ontogenetic patterns of organised structuresreflect an imbalance of micro-chemical environment in the culturemedium.

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Culture of immature anthers of Datura metel gave rise to numerous em-bryos which, on isolation and transfer to fresh media, grew into normalseedlings. Amongst them were seedlings that showed haploid, diploidand tetraploid number of chromosomes.

Heavy water has been found to cause a delay in the appearance of iso-enzymes in germinating barley seeds, suggesting its effect on gene acti-vation.

Chronic irradiation (12 hr/day) of fruit trees has shown that,in citrus lowdoses (upto about 200 mR/hr) stimulate growth while higher doses (over400 mR/hr) are inhibitory.

Investigations on the mechanism of radiation action on plant systemssuggest that radiation uncouples oxidative phosphorylation. An inverserelationship was observed between radiation dose and growth as wellas macro-molecular contents.

Studies on RNA-DNA hybridization and hybridization competition haveshown that in the conidia of Neutrospora crassa the level of hybridizablem-RNA is different at different period? of growth of the fungus.

The uptake and distribution of the long-lived radio-elements of the ura-nium and thorium series in plants has been examined. In bean plants,2,4-dinitrophenol induced increased flux of radium into, as well as outof, root tissue, presumably due to changes in the permeability charac-teristics of the root surface. Uptake of radio-lead was inhibited in thepresence of Pb ' 2 and Sn ' ' ions while polonium uptake was reducedconsiderably by Fe ' 3 and Th '« .

Nitrogenous fertilizers reduced radium and radio-strontium uptake byplants in a number of Indian soils. Potassic fertilizers significantly re-duced radio-strontium uptake but their effect on radium uptake wasconsiderably less marked.

Studies on the soils of the monazite bearing high radiation areas ofKerala and Madras indicata that the availability of radium is consider-ably lower than that of calcium. Addition of nutrient salts as well asorganic matter reduced the exchangeable radium and thorium in thesesoils.

An effective neutron activation analysis technique is being developed forestimating trace elements in human blood serum and for ecological stu-dies on insects. Limits of detection after neutron activation of stablecerium tagged on the wing of red palm weevil have been ascertained.

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Gamma spectrometry of seeds irradiated with fast neutrons showed in-duced activity to a lesser extent than that with thermal neutrons. How-ever, data on seedling height reduction and chromosomal aberrationssuggest that this activity is sufficient to impair mechanisms arid decreasethe frequency of deletions.

In mice the cross-placental transfer of Pa- appears to be dependent onthe physical state of the substance. In vitro experiments with kidneyslices and small intestine of albino rat have shown that both the tissuesdiscriminate against strontium and favour calcium by a factor of 2 to 3.

Electrophoretic studies have revealed that x-irradiation, thermal acclima-tion and colchicine treatment induce qualitative changes in the proteinsof lizard tail without affecting total proteins.

Researches on problems relating to insect pest control have been con-tinued. Optimum radiation doses for the sterilisation of stored graininsect pests have been determined.

Prolonged exposure of Khapra beetle males to the sex pheromone ex-tracted from females induced sensory fatigue and adversely affected theirmating ability. Irradiation also adversely affected male response tofemale sex pheromone and this effect was dependent on the stage ofdevelopment at irradiation..

Eight mutants of Hemophilus influenzae, which are more sensitive thanthe wild type to UV-irradiation, have been isolated. There are indica-tions that in some of these mutants certain steps of DNA repair may beblocked.

Studies in maize genetics have shown that DNA of teosinte and maizehas the same buoyant density and hence, the same average base com-position.

Barley seeds treated with ethyl methanesulphonate during the S phaseof cell cycle showed the highest mutation rate. Seeds treated after thefirst S phase showed a reduction in mutation frequency.

In a number of species of Triticum and Hordeum, similar electrophoreticforms for 'critical' enzymes like glutamic dehydrogenase, malate dehydro-genase and catalase were observed.

Quantitative isoenzyme variation was found in a polyploid series of wheatand wheat-rye amphidiploids. Tetraploid and hexaploid species showedrespectively 2 and 3 times the enzyme activity found in diploids. In

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bread wheat lines with substituted pair of rye chromosomes, an increasedprotein content was noted. Nulli 2B and 2D substitution lines had higherprotein content than the Nulli 2A substitution line.

Studies on some of the wild plant species growing in Trombay area haverevealed that Tridaz procumbens is one of the highly sensitive and Calo-tropic gigantea one of the resistant species to chronic gamma irradiation.

Chronic irradiation with low doses induced early flowering and increasedplant height in Brassica juncea. Flower colour and plant height mutantsin sesame and early flowering mutants in mustard and linseed were iso-lated following radiation treatments. The linseed mutant was signifi-cantly early. Tallness of sesame mutant was found to be monogenicrecessive.

In continuation of work on the synthesis of potential radioprotective com-pounds, a number of open chain nitrites containing dithiocarbamyl func-tion have been synthesised.

Extracts from various plants have been tested for their anti-tumor andinsect moulting effect. From Achyranthes aspera, ecdysterone has beenisolated. Sesuvium portulacastrum extracts have shown pronouncedinsect moulting hormone activity.

The importance of phenylalanine as a precursor for tylophorine has beenconfirmed. Ring A and carbon atoms -10 and -6' of tylophorine havebeen found to originate from phenylalanine, thus ruling out the shikimicacid-acetate pathway.

Studies on microbiological transformations have been extended to newsubstrates and molds. In addition to the products reported earlier, fla-vone, 4' -hydroxyflavone and 3', 4' -dihydroxyflavanone have been isolatedfrom the ferments.

Defence secretions from several species of water beetles have beenstudied for their constituents. Seven C^ -steroids, some of them im-portant hormones, have been isolated and characterised.

Formation of amino acids by the interaction of glycine and formaldehydehas been demonstrated. Slow hydrolysis of methyleneaminoacatonitrilegives a number of amino acids.

Microanalyses of over 300 compounds for elemental and functionaSgroups were carried out for various Divisions of BARC and for othercommercial and research organizations.

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In the field of biophysics, studies are underway on the post-irradiationresponses of biomolecular and cellular systems, and on the photosynthe-tic pigment forms of chlorophyll a & b. Low temperature investigationsinto the po£t-irradiation formation, fading and photobleaching of ther-moluminescence centres in nucleic acid bases and their complexesindicate the presence of two or more sets of trapped and quasi-freeelectrons. The ultimate result of reactions of these electrons dependson the nature of the lattice in which they are trapped, indicating a mole-cular basis of radiation resistance.

Conformational changes of apparently cyclic nature have been observedwith solutions of highly polymerized DNA, treated with ultra-sound ofhigh frequency.

Inactivation of bacteria by ultra-violet irradiation has been found to de-pend on the energy per pulse as well as on the dark time between twoconsecutive pulses.

Derivative-microspectrophotometric studies in vivo on single cells ofChlorella pyremoidosa, Scenedesmus obliquus and Chalamydomonas sp.have demonstrated that chlorophyll a is present in multiple forms andthat chlorophyll b exists only in two states.

investigations on the extracellular products of Anabaena sp. and Oscilla-for/a sp. have shown that the nature and quantity of extracellular aminoacids depend more on the composition and nitrate status of the culturemedium than on the inherent attributes of the alga.

Results of comparative microspectrophotometric investigations on thespectral characteristics of normal cells and heterocysts of Anabaena sp.L-31 provide, for the first time, clear evidence in vivo that blue-greenalgal pigments associated with photosystem II in photosynthesis areeither absent, or present only in very small quantities in heterocysts whilethe pigments of photosystem I are always present. These findings sug-gest that heterocysts could be sites of nitrogen fixation in blue-greenalgae.

An area of about 65,000 sq. m was developed into lawns and gardens inaddition to the maintenance of existing gardens. Over 4,000 species andvarieties of plants were introduced in the National Botanical Garden.

The Biochemistry & Food Technology Division continued its researchprogrammes on basic and applied aspects of cellular metabolism andthe development of food irradiation procedures.

Researches in biochemistry included aspects relating to macromolecular

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synthesis, membrane structure-function, mechanism of enzyme action,radiation repair and molecular mechanisms underlying de-differentiationprocesses. Some salient results are outlined below :

In Escherichia coli and rats, biotin influences interconversions of folatederivatives but does not affect the de novo biosynthesis of simple folateforms.

Vitamin E, when added to rat liver homogenate, binds with proteins ofthe soluble supernatant. The vitamin E-protein complex can be separat-ed by paper electrophoresis.

Differences in the time of appearance of label in retinol-protein complexof liver cell sap and blood, using either "C-leucine or :iH retinol as pre-cursors, have been observed. Progressive protein deficiency decreasesthe amount of retinol-albumin comple? in liver cell sap as well as itsrelease into blood.

High concentration of dinitrophenol (DNP) is inhibitory to mitochondrialoxidation and this inhibitory action appears to be due to the e** ,-r* ofDNP on flavin-linked dehydiogenases.

The second site of oxidative phosphorylation appears to be more resis-tant to DNP action than the first and the third site. No correlation couldbe seen between the loss of uncoupling, decrease in respiratory controlindex and stimulation of ATPase by DNP at any concentration. The DNPaction is thus multiphasic. Flavins are involved in mitochondrial ATPasesystem,

The water soluble lipoprotein from rat liver mitochondria has been fur-ther characterised. It exhibits unusual spectral characteristics, presum-ably due to ionisation of the imino group of tryptophan residue. Watersoluble mitochondrial lipoproteins from rat heart, kidney and brain aswell as from mouse and chicken liver show close similarity in respect ofelectrophoretic mobility, fluorescence spectrum, lipid, protein ratio andstability towards storage. Further studies indicate that this lipoproteinmay be precursor of the mitochondrial membrane lipoprotein.

A rapid method for purification of serum low density lipoproteins by com-bination of Sephadex gel (G-200) filtration and Sephadex and/or Sepha-rose sandwich disc electrophoresis has been developed.

Fructose-1-6-diphosphate aldolase in Lactobacillus casei has charac-teristics of the mammalian enzyme. The isoenzymic composition of thealdolase could be altered by growing the cells on ribose in place of

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glucose. The enzyme is Schiff-base lorming type and has lysine residueat the active site.

Protein kinase from mitochondria and supernatant of tumour-bearing ratsand mice exists in multiple forms. The enzyme is a metalloprotein.

Folyl conjugase purified from chicken liver can be resolved into severalisoenzymes on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Uridine diphosphoglucose dehygrogenases purified from calf liver, ratliver and Aerobacter aerogenes show significant differences in respectof pH optima and Km values. A stable enzymesubstrate complex canbe isolated by Sephadex gel filtration.

Like thymidine phosphorylase, the enzyme thymidine kinase is also locat-ed at cell wall-cell membrane matrix of Escherichia coli.

Phenethyl alcohol, known to act on cell-membrane, seems to inhibitassembling of alkaline phosphatase sub-units into active form but nottheir de novo synthesis, in Escherichia coli.

Within a short time after administration of hydrocortisone to adrenalecto-mised rats, there results increased aggregation of liver ribosomes. Syn-thesis of messenger RK'A associated with polysomes is also increased 30minutes after hormone administration.

The patterns of inducibility of tryptophan pyrrolase and tyrosine transa-minase are altered during early stages of thioacetamide-induced frankhepatomas and no further change in these patterns are discerned in thefully developed hepatomas. The altered enzyme induction pattern duringhepatocarcinogenesis can be restored to normal when thioacetamide iswithdrawn from the diet even after prolonged feeding of 30 weeks. How-ever, it takes longer for complete restoration.

The factor which specifically inhibits rat liver mitochondrial oxidation of.N-ketoglutarate has been partially purified from rat embryonic supernat-ant. Addition of sulphydryl group donors brings about marked reversalof the inhibitor activity.

A modified sucrose-space polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis techniquehas been successfully employed to assess turnover of acid phosphatase,a lysosomal enzyme in atretic follicles of rat ovaries.

A number of studies have also been conducted on biochemical aspectsof ioni5:ng radiation.

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Whole body x-irradiation (800 r) results in a marked decrease in creatinephosphokinase. On the eighth day post-irradiation, there is a two-foldincrease in blood lactic acid levels.

There is a sharp drop in viable counts of E. coli and S. faecalis in ihe ileumof 24 hour x-irradiated rats. Whole-body exposure to 800 r also resultsin morphological degeneration of intestines. There is a marked depres-sion in secretion and composition of gastric juice in x-irradiated animalsprobably due to gross degeneration of gastric glands of stomach.

The protection afforded by cysteamine against radiation inactivation oiLactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus arabinosus is much more in ribose-adapted cultures than in glucose-grown cells. This correlates well withradiation responses of the cleavage enzyme, phosphoketolase, essentialfor pentose metabolism and, of aldolase, the cleavage enzyme, inglucose-grown cells.

Active folate transport of the small intestine is affected in x-irradiatedrats due to impairment in energy-generating mechanism. The folate-dependent conversion of the beta-carbon of serine into thymidylic acidof rat bone marrow is completely blocked as a result of 600 r whoie-bodyx-irradiation, while that into purine nucleotides is reduced by about 60%.

Phosphorylating ability can be conferred on a non-phosphoryiating elec-tron transport particle from rat liver mitochondria by the addition of ATPsynthetase system prepared from livers of unirradiated, not irradiatedrats.

Hydroxyalkyi peroxides which have been implicated in the toxicity ofirradiated sucrose solution to SalmonelFa typhimurium could not beunequivocally shown to be responsible for impairment of oxidative phos-phorylation in rat liver mitochondria.

Gamma-irradiation of fibrinogen in aqueous solution causes cleavage ofdisulphide linkages and subsequent oxidation of cysteine residues tocysteic acid.

Synthesis of arginme-rich histones o? thymusat 18 hour following whole-body x-irradiation of rats is depressed to a greater extent than thatof lysine-rich histones.

Asparagine synthetase activity of potatoes is enhanced on exposureto 10 Krad gamma radiation. This is due to de novo synthesis of theenzyme protein.

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In irradiated potatoes, indole acetic acid decreases progressively dur-ing storage. The enzyme synthesising indole acetic acid has been puri-fied from potato tubers.

Radioexposure of Escherichia coli in the presence of radiosensitisingchemicals, N-ethylmaleimide and iodoacetic acid, increases strand scis-sions in the DNA molecule.

Experimental programmes on the development of promising radiationpreservation procedures for perishable foods were continued. Large-scale feasibility trials on disinfestation of wheat, extension of storage-life of onions and preservation of fish and fish products are underway.Studies on wholesomeness of irradiated wheat have been completed.Similar work with dehydro-irradiated shrimp is in progress. Many radio-preserved flesh foods have been scanned for pathogens. Some importantfindings are summarised below:

Regular maintenance work on both the Package and the Through-flowirradiators and their accessories were carried out to ensure efficientoperation. In addition to installing a rotor lift mechanism to enablecontinuous operation of the Through-flow irradiator, arrangements forself-cooling of main screw conveyor and adjusting the inlet opening sizewere provided. Various items of food plant machinery were designed,fabricated and installed.

Large scale grain disinfestation studies using gamma radiation are inprogress; comparisons are being made with conventional chemical disin-festation procedure. The wheat is being analysed for microbial andinsect spoilage as well as quality characteristics for bread-making atvarious periods of storage after disinfestation.

Quality of bread prepared from irradiated (20 Krads) wheat is better asjudged by loaf volume and organoleptic scoring. Irradiated wheat flourcan be replaced up to 10% with defatted peanut or soyflour withoutsignificant change in bread quality.

Chapatis and bread slices show useful extension in storage life whenirradiated at 50 krads followed by heating for 35 minutes at 65 C.

At the doses of radiation employed to enhance cooking properties ofarhar dal, vitamins, non-protein nitrogen and lipids are not significantlyaffected. Trypsin inhibitor shows progressive destruction with dose anddigestibility of proteins by papain is better in the irradiated samples.

Gibberellic acid-treated and irradiated barley shows enhanced malting

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properties. Packing in paper cuttings inside a cardboard box withpolyethylene lining and with 2% ventilation holes has been found to bethe best for storing irradiated (25 Krads) mangoes. Large-scale osmoticdehydration of custard apples along with storage and rehydration studiesare underway.

Semi-dried shell-on shrimps, irradiated at 0.25 Mrad, retain natural colourand flavour and have better texture due to decreased surface hardening.Pre-cooked shrimps (10 min. steaming) irradiated at 0.35 Mrad are stabi-lised for 6-8 weeks storage at room temperature. The blackening inirradiated (0.15 Mrad) prawns is prevented by prior blanching. Suchproducts store well for more than 40 days at 0-2°C.

Bombay duck laminates, superior in quality to those commercially availa-ble, have been prepared by removal of part of the drip by pressure beforefinal dehydration. When suitably packed, they can be kept free frominsect infestation, at room temperature, for more than one year by irradia-tion at 15 and 30 Krads. Eels exposed to 0.25 Mrad can be stored for3 weeks at 0-2°C.

Jrradiated (0.25 Mrad) fresh Bombay duck laminates could be suqcess-fully transported over long distances in ice-containers, such products hav-ing a storage life of one week. Several batches of prawns, lobsters, eels,pomfrets and Bombay duck, received from the Central Institute of Fishe-ries Technology substation at Veraval, have been studied for extensionof shelf-life by irradiation.

Semi-dried pomfrets cooked in brine and irradiated at 0.5 Mrad have lowbacterial counts but high mold counts; the latter is effectively inhibitedby incorporating 0.1% propyl parabens during cooking treatment.

Both Proteus and Pseudomonas sp., known to be rapid spoilers, producelarge amounts of trimethylamine (TMA) and total volatile basic nitrogen(TVBN) when inoculated into sterile fish homogenate as compared withthe other predominant micro-organisms that occur in sea foods, viz.Micrococci, Lactobacilli sp., Achromobacter and Aeromonas which pro-duce only trace amounts of these compounds. TMA and TVBN valuesare found to serve as good chemical indices of freshness for sea foods.

No toxin producing strains of Salmonella and Clostridia sp. are observedafter screening several representative samples of sun-dried Bombay ducklaminates.

The sensitivity of fish-borne bacteria to radiation at different phases ofgrowth vary for different species. While radiation effects on Bacillus

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are not influenced by growth phase, Pseudomonas are more resistant inlog phase than in stationary phase and the reverse is true of Aeromonas.

Exposure of Bombay duck to radiation results in changes in electrophore-tic mobility characteristics of the sarcoplasmic, fibrillar and drip proteins.While irradiation results in a decrease in the number of protein bands indrip and sarcoplasmic. fractions, the number of fibrillar proteins remainsunchanged, though their mobilities are altered.

Shelf-life of lamb meat both at 10- — 12 C can be considerably extend-ed by irradiation at doses of 0.5 and 0.9 Mrad. A combination of nitrite(20 mM) and heat treatment (50 C for 30 min) significantly decreasedthe lysosomal enzymes, ^-glucorenidase and cathepsin, in lamb meat.

No significant changes were observed in proximate composition ofdehydro-irradiated (0.25 Mrad) shrimp samples. B vitamins were lost tovarying degrees (35-50%) and both heat treatment and irradiation con-tributed to this. Growth, reproductive performance, biochemical, hema-tological and enzymological data show no significant differences in ratsfed control or irradiated shrimp diets for 3 generations.

Protein quality of several foods is not affected by radiation preservationprocesses as assessed by growth of Tetrahymena pyriformis.

D,n value, for room temperature irradiation of vitamin A in shark liveroil is 13.0, while in a model system of synthetic vitamin A in coconutoil, the value is 5.7. These results suggest some protection of vitaminA in the natural system.

In collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency and theFood and Agriculture Organisation, the Bhabha Atomic Research Centreorganised a seminar on "Food Irradiation1 on January 13-14, 1969.

A symposium on 'Macromolecules in Storage and Transfer of BiologicalInformation' was held at B.A.R.C. during December 15-17, 1969 under theauspices of the Biology and Medical Committee of the Department ofAtomic Energy, Government of India.

A joint IAEA/DAE International Course in Radiation Microbiology wasorganised at Trombay during April 7-May 15, 1969.

A two-week Training Course on Food Irradiation tor scientists fromSouth-East Asian countries was conducted at the Food irradiation andProcessing Laboratory, Trombay, from October 27, 1969 under the UNDPRegional Technical Assistance Programme.

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The activities of the Medical Division are broadly classified under: (a)application of radioisotopes in medical diagnosis, treatment and re-search, (b) research oriented to radiation safety and industrial health,and (c) Contributory Health Service Scheme.

The activities of the Radiation Medicine Centre are broad-based anddirected towards the clinical applications of radioisotopes in the form ofservice to the community of patients referred from various institutionsin the city of Bombay and outside and also in the exploration of newareas of applications for the better understanding of the disease pro-cesses and methods of management. During the year, about 2,100 newpatients were investigated and 90 of these were treated with radioiso-topes. The type of investigations carried out at the Centre includethyroid function studies, absorption of various nutrients from the gastro-intestinal tract, scanning of various organs like thyroid, liver, spleen,kidney, brain and pancreas, renogram for the evaluation of renal functionetc. Diseases like thyrotoxicosis, thyroid cancer and polycythaemia verawere treated with radioisotopes.

With a view to minimise the radiation dose received by patients in theyounger age group and in children, several in vitro tests like, Ta RBCuptake, immunoassay of growth hormone and saturation analysis assayof vitamin B-12, have been introduced. It has thus become possible toget the desired information without the administration of any radioactivityto the patient.

Among the various research activities, a goitre survey of about 2,000school children attending the Municipal schools of Central Bombay wascarried out. A preliminary examination of these data indicates that about36 per cent of these children have detectable enlargement of thyroidgland. Analysis of the dietary histories of about 250 children indicatesthat the iodine levels in the diet are indeed very low. The work is stillin progress.

An essential part of the activities of the Centre relates to the trainingprogramme ol medical doctors and technicians in the use of radioisotopesin their practice. This year, about 18 trainees from various parts of thecountry were given intensive training extending over a period of 5 weeks.

For the better understanding of the various processes leading to radia-tion damage, research in certain selected areas is in progress. It is wellknown that exposure to a massive dose of radiation will result in sup-pression of the defence mechanism of the body. Studies have been ex-tended to explore and understand the fundamental nature of immunologi-cal processes; significant contribution has been made in defining the cell

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systems responsible for the anti-body production and specificities oftheir interaction. In recent times, there has been a growing interest inthe applications of radiation for detoxification to toxins to facilitate theproduction of anti-toxins in animals. The studies conducted oncobra venom have shown that exposures to high dose of radiation inthe range of 100,000r can appreciably suppress the toxicity cf the venombut still maintain stability to interact with the anti-venom, Though thesestudies have fundamental importance, the technique of radiation detoxi-fication appears to hold some promise.

The Contributory Health Service Scheme of the Medical Division nowcovers about 51,500 beneficiaries. There are eight dispensaries, in ad-dition to a small hospital located at the premises of the J. J. Hospital.In order to meet the growing needs of beneficiaries residing at the Trom-bay Township, a dispensary was recently opened in that area. TheScheme has also different sections such as Medical, Surgical, Dental,Pathology, Radiology, Gynaecology, Medical Social Welfare and Psychiatry.

The Family Planning Programme continued to receive high priority andall facilities for family planning, including various contraceptives,were made available free of charge under medical advice, TheSocial Service Section rendered active help in social problems connectedwith medical care. Facilities for sophisticated investigations in thePathology Section were increased. The X-ray facilities available to thebeneficiaries were augmented by the installation of Cinelix Image In-tensifier with television monitor, cine and video attachment. The WellBaby Clinics of the CHS intensified their activities and child care con-tinued to receive emphasis. Periodical immunization programmes werearranged at the dispensaries, in the field of psychiatric care, mentallyretarded children were given special attention.

The Trombay Dispensary, which caters to the needs of persons at site?in Trombay, expanded its activities by opening an Opthalmology Unitwhere medical advice on proper care of vision and associated problemsis given. The industrial medical problems were resolved by the Dis-pensary in association with the Health Physics Division.

Administrative Group

The Library & Technical Information Section further extended its activi-ties in the field of scientific documentation, acquisition, classification anddissemination of scientific and technical publications, particularly in thefield of nuclear science and technology. The Translation Unit carriedout the translation of some 300 scientific and technical papers and docu-

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ments in several European languages and Japanese into English for thebenefit of the scientists of the Research Centre and other Units of theDepartment. The Publication Unit brought out 130 technical reports andproceedings of symposia on various subjects held under the auspices ofthe Department. The Bibliographic Unit compiled 18 bibliographies ontopics of interest to BARC scientists.

During the year, with the exception of the Bio-medical Group Library, allother Library units located in various buildings were merged with theCentral Library, situated in the Central Complex. With this merger andalso the location of the Technical Information Section in the same build-ing, speedier and more effective functioning of the Library & TechnicalInformation Section has become possible.

The Library registered further growth and its holdings now amount toabout 54,000 books and bound volumes of periodicals. Besides, it getssome 1100 scientific and technical periodicals. The Depository Libraryholdings of technical reports from various atomic energy organisationsin the world in full-size as well as microforms now exceed 1,70,000.

During the year, some 12,000 visitors including Members of Parliament,foreign dignitaries, scientists, professors, members of the diplomatic andconsular corps, ministers and parliamentary delegations from abroadwere shown around the Research Centre. Among the high dignitarieswho visited the Centre were the Shahansha of Iran, the President of,Hungary and the President of Rumania.

During the period April 1, 1969 to December 31, 1969, 66 scientists weresent on deputation to participate in international conferences, symposia,panel meetings and for government work. About 10 scientists are likelyto be deputed for similar purposes by the end of March 31, 1970. FromApril 1, 1969, 39 scientists were deputed abroad for training upto Decem-ber 1969. Seven more scientists are likely to be sent for training duringthe remaining period i.e. upto March 1970. Besides, some scientists werealso sent abroad on foreign service either as experts or advisers.

In addition, a team comprising 20 scientists and engineers and 15 auxi-liary staff was sent to France for preparing the design of the fast testbreeder reactor which is proposed to be built at the Reactor ResearchCentre, Kalpakkam, in jollaboration with the C.E.A., France.

Twenty-four universities have recognized the BARC as a research cen-tre for post-graduate studies. Seventy-one scientists have been accord-ed the status of university teachers by various universities for guidingpost-graduate students.

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In collaboration with the University of Bombay, the Research Centre otter-ed to extend facilities to a limited number of post-graduate students ofthe University to prosecute research leading to M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees.During the year, 7 students have been selected for undergoing trainingunder this scheme.

Eleven foreign scientists have been accepted for training in the ResearchCentre under the fellowship awards. Scientists from the following count-ries are currently undergoing training: Burma, Indonesia, the Phil ippics,Poland, South Korea and the U.A.R.

A scientist each from Thailand and the Philippines are expected to joinshortly.

After the submission of the preliminary report on the Agro-industrial Com-plex in June i968, work on the detailed report was undertaken, and isnearing completion. In addition to the aspects covered in the preliminaryreport, the logistics and implementation aspects have also been studiedin the detailed report. The detailed report, as in the preliminary report,studies two locales for the Complex, one each in Western U.P. andSaurashtra in Gujarat. For the Indo-Gangetic Plain, thu agricultural landarea under irrigation for the Complex has been increased, MS a result ofthis, the entire production of fertilisers will be consumed for intensivecultivation in the Complex itself.

In addition to the above, a micro-study of the western Indo-GangeticPlain complex was undertaken with the help of the U.P. State Governmentand completed.

The detailed and systematic survey of the underground water resourcesof the Gangetic Plain is being undertaken jointly with the Tata Instituteof Fundamental Research and the U.P. State Government.

Experiments on the MSF and LTVE processes of desalination are beingplanned. Design and procurement of equipment is under way.

A committee was set up with Dr. G. A. Pate!, Director of Agriculture,Gujarat State, as Chairman to prepare a projeci report on pilot farmsin two regions viz. Kutch and Saurashtra. The pilot farm is required inorder to collect data and study the economics of agriculture usingdesalted water.

The feasibility of setting up a pilot plant with advanced electrolytichydrogen production is being studied.

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A project report on a 7,000 Te PjO.-./annum phosphoric acid plant usingthe electro-thermic process has been prepared.

Trombay Township Project

The first phase of the main Township envisages the construction of about2,074 flats of various categories, essential services and ancillary facilitieslike market, school, etc. About 1,200 flats intended for lower categoriesof staff have been completed and released for occupation. Anotherbatch of 448 flats is nearing completion. A further 112 flats are expectedto be ready for occupation by June 1970. Work on an additional lot of432 flats has been taken up. Buildings for the primary schooland a sector market have been completed and work on the constructionof the secondary school building is in progress.

TATA INSTITUTE OF FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH

Schooi of Mathematics

Several eminent mathematicians were in residence at the Institute duringthe year as Visiting Professors. They are: Prof. S. S. Abhyankar (PurdueUniversity, USA), Prof. H. Braun (Hamburg University, W. Germany), Prof.E, R. Kolchin (Columbia University, USA), Prof. B. Kostant (Massachu-setts Institute of Technology, USA), and Prof. R. Hartshorne (HarvardUniversity, USA). There were also two guest lecturers : Prof. R. RangaRao (Illinois University, USA) and Prof. J. T. Schwartz (Courant Instituteof Mathematical Sciences, USA).

A summer schooi on "Semi-Simple Rings" was organised in co-opera-tion with the University of Bombay, from May 12 to June 10, 1969.

During the year, a volume entitled "Lectures on Introduction to AlgebraicTopology" by G. de Rham was published, and "Lectures on StochasticProcesses" by K. Ito was reissued.

School of Physics

A. THEORETICAL PHYSICS. Research in THEORETICAL PHYSICS wascarried out in the following areas : (i) Particle Physics; (ii) Low EnergyNuclear Physics (iii) Solid State Physics and (iv) Astrophysics. InParticle Physics, the work done covered topics such as Pomeranchuklike theorems, unitarity bounds on scattering amplitudes, representa-tion of non-compact groups, current and current density algebras, chiralsymmetry, Yang-Mills fields, the theory of weak interactions, electron-muon universality in strangeness-changing decays, form factors in lep-tonic Kdecays, weak electromagnetic, decays of K-mesons, CP-violation,

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Veneziano model etc. In Nuclear Physics, varied nuclear structure cal-culations were carried out; the charge form factor and the binding energyof helium-4 have been calculated; Hartree-Fock (H-F) and Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (H-F-B) calculations have been carried out in s-d and p-fshells, and also with multishell configuration mixing, the quadrupolemoment of lithium-6 was determined in this way and found to be in agree-ment with the experimental value. Projection of good angular momen-tum states from the H-F-B states in f-p shell was carried out and agree-ment with experiment for Ti isotopes was obtained. The cluster knock-out reaction in lithium-6 has been analysed. In Solid State Physics, theeffect of second neighbour interaction on the magnetic properties of aHeisenberg system has been studied. The behaviour of positrons in anelectron system was investigated using the many-body formulation, andit was proved that a positronium bound state cannot form in the metallicdensity range. Using the three-body scattering theory of Faddeev, groundstates of some molecular systems such as H_> , D-.. , (HD) f

H - , e J e~ e ( etc. have been determined. The band structure ofcerium 13 being computed. Non-linear optical effects based on modelband structures are also being investigated. In ASTROPHYSICS theproblems being studied are: cool stars with special emphasis on pres-sure ionisation, pressure dissociation, convection, stellar rotation,sources of opacity, and composition; the stability of sun-spot models;pulsars; models for neutron stars; reformulation of Wheeler and Feyn-man's absorber theory of radiation; electromagnetic scattering; and inter-stellar grains.

B. EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS. In the area of COMPUTER DEVELOP-MENT, the on-line data processor (OLDAP) built in the Institute has beeninstalled and fully checked out; it should soon be available as an on-linefacility for analysis of bubble chamber film. The development of a scan-ner-digitizer to convert pictorial data for computer processing is makingprogress. An experimental 24-bit, 64-word thin film memory systemwith a cycle time of 200 nanoseconds is nearing completion. A modernfacility is being set up to package semiconductor devices and integratedcircuit modules into subsystems; equipment for this is being developed,for processes such as printing, etching and electro-plating, using as faras possible indigenous materials.

In COMPUTER RESEARCH an acceptable computer programme for ma-chine synthesis of speech has been developed. A speech recognitionsystem is in an advanced stage of realization; and work on some aspectsof human perception of speech is in progress. A programme for therecognition of handprinted English alphabets is being tested out usinga simulation programme for character generation. Research is also be-ing conducted in the area of formal theory of computation. Some results

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have been obtained on complexity measures for algorithms.

In OPERATIONS RESEARCH, work has been carried out on the optimiza-tion of information handling equipment in space communication. Simula-tion and optimization packages have been developed for the design ofmulti-stage satellite launching vehicles. An integrated optimization pro-gramme for the design of nuclear reactors is nearing completion. Ageneral model is being developed for the systems analysis of researchand development activity.

The NATIONAL COMPUTATION CENTRE consisting of a CDC 3600-160AComputer system is now being operated for about 135 hours a week, asagainst 112 hours a week over the previous year; it is being activelyused by more than 110 organizations all over the country. The capacityof the computer system has been upgraded with the addition of a 133million word disc file and 2 Calcomp plotters. A time-sharing facilityconsisting of 4 remote typewriter stations is in an advanced stage oftesting. The integrated system, (capable of fore-ground on-line editingwith background job-shop operation), will be shortly ready for generaluse. A visual console with a light pen connected with the CDC 3600computer has been made fully operational with a variety of softwarepackages for the output of curves and text; these can also be edited andmanipulated with the light pen.

For NUCLEAR REACTION STUDIES the beam handling system of theCascade Generator at the Institute has been improved by installing asystem of quadrupole focussing lens, analyser magnet, liquid nitrogentraps and better vacuum systems. Using the 14 Mev neutrons producedby this machine it is planned to study several experiments involving(n, n1), (n, p), (n, ^ ), and (n, 2n) reactions using time of flight techniqueinvolving a proportional counter telescope system. The study of severalproton induced nuclear reactions of astrophysical interest, in the energyrange 400-900 KeV, has been planned; as also the installation of a 2-KeVneutron facility at the Apsara reactor at the Bhabha Atomic ResearchCentre to measure the cross-sections of elements in this energy regionwhich is also of great astrophysical interest.

Using the Van de Graaff Generator at BARC, studies of reactions of thetype (p, nT) are in progress: the measurements relate to the absolutecross-sections for production, and the angular distributions of gammarays resulting from these reactions; these data provide useful informa-tion on the spins, parities and other properties of the low lying levelsof the residual nuclei; the target nuclei bombarded have been 7tAs,"Co, and "'V. The Van de Graff Generator at BARC is being used lorthe study of the perturbed angular distribution of Coulomb-excited gamma-

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rays of Pt in Pt Fe., alloy target to determine magnetic moments of excitednuclear states; the programme on recoil implantation in ferromagnetictarget materials is being pursued.

The high resolution beta-ray spectrometer and the single-gap magneticspectrometer fabricated at the Institute are being employed for studiesin the area of NUCLEAR STRUCTURE PHYSICS, particularly, nuclearstructure effects in the internal conversion (ICC) process are beingstudied by measuring the ratios of L-subshell ICC or by directly mea-suring the particle parameters and, hence, the penetration matrix ele-ments, by electron-gamma correlation studies. A study of the particleparameters in the highly retarded M1 transitions in Thulium-169, andretarded E1 transitions in the corresponding isotope Thulium-171 hasalready been completed. Magnetic moments of short-lived excited statesof several nuclei have been measured using the perturbed angular cor-relation technique using either external fields (20 kilogauss), or the inter-nal hyperfine fields in ferromagnetic lattices. Beta-gamma correlationexperiments on mixed allowed transitions of short-lived isotopes are be-ing continued using the facilities at the APSARA reactor.

In the field of NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTATION a multi-gap beta rayspectrometer has been completely tested for its performance. It will beinstalled shortly near the reactor? at BARC to study, neutron-capturegamma rays. It gives about 11% transmission at about 2% resolutionA Ge (Li) detector with an area of 160 sq. mm. and depletion thicknessof 2.5 mm., and capable of yielding a resolution of about 6 KeV for 1.33MeV gamma rays, has been fabricated; the fabrication of a still largerdetector has been undertaken. The construction of a fast pulsed-beamfacility at the Cascade Generator is in progress.

In CHEMICAL PHYSICS magnetic susceptibility measurements of sometransition metal complexes and rare-earth complexes have been madeat various temperatures. High resolution nuclear magnetic resonancetechniques are being used for understanding the structure and thermo-dynamics of transition metal complexes and oriented organic molecules.Mossbauer studies at various temperatures on ferrous and ferric com-plexes and rare-earth stannates are in progress. Electron-spin re-sonance studies on carbon-13 labelled free radicals, heterocyclic freeradicals and ligand exchange in inorganic complexes have yielded inter-esting results. Electron spin-lattice relaxation times of free radicalshave been measured by the pulsed technique for the first time. Electro-chemituminescence studies on cyanoindole have thrown light on thenature of the luminiscent species; it has also yielded information aboutthe energetics of t!ie process. Microwave spectra of 2-cyanopyridine and2-fluoro pyridine have been measured, and the molecular parameters

SO

assigned. Molecular orbital calculations on the conformation of somebiological molecules have been initiated.

In SOLID STATE PHYSICS critical attenuation in magnetic materials isbeing investigated by the ultrasonic method. Zero field nuclear magneticresonances (NMR) of Mn-55 and Sb-123 isotopes were detected in MnSb and CrSb mixed alloy. NMR studies of ferroelectric crystals andiiquid metals are in progress. Conductivity and diffusion techniques arebeing used to study the defects produced by photodecomposition of leadhalide crystals; this will be extended to defects produced, by gammaradiation. The hyperfine fields in magnetic alloys, magneto-crystallineanisotropy, and the effect of order-disorder on the magnetic properties ofalloys are being investigated using Mossbauer effect and nuclear orien-tation techniques. A study of superfluid helium flow has been under-taken. The properties of molecular materials, such as crystallinity, phasechanges etc are being examined by measuring lifetimes of positroniumatoms using the annihilation gamma rays.

Balloon flights from Hyderabad are being continued on a regular basisfor the study of COSMIC RADIATION. A new mechanised polyethylenesealing technique has been adopted for the manufacture of large balloons;this is expected to result in improved balloon performance. A newballoon launch facility has been set up at the Maula Ali site, Hyderabad;the laboratory-hostel complex of this facility is ready, whilst the con-struction of tha balloon production building is on.

Investigations are being conducted on the primary cosmic radiation atballoon altitudes on X-rays, electrons and heavy nuclei; solar neutronsand gamma rays are also being studied. A region of new X-ray sourceshas been discovered; the spectra of some known X-ray sources havebeen determined very accurately; an X-ray flare in the SCO-source hasbeen seen. Significant upper limits on energetic neutrons and gammarays associated with a 2B solar flare have been obtained. The antici-pated steepening at very high energies of the energy spectrum of elec-trons has been observed in nuclear emulsion work, but needs to be pro-perly confirmed and the point of steepening exactly determined in viewof its great significance. A number of theoretical investigations havebeen carried out on the diffuse flux of high energy photons, and onpulsars. New balloon experiments with electronic detectors are underway for further studies on X-ray sources, and for detecting the possibleemission of pulsed X-rays from pulsars, and of gamma rays from thegalactic nucleus. The possible existence of antinuclei and positrons inthe primary cosmic radiation is being investigated using a magnetspectrograph that employs wide-gap spark chambers, nuclear emulsionsand the normal scintillation counter telescope system.

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Observations on the high energy hadronic component of EXTENSIVE AIRSHOWERS using a large multiplate cloud chamber in the air showerarray at Ootacamund, have continued. Cloud chamber photographs ofevents exceeding a few hundred GeV in energy are being analysed onthe basis of Monte Carlo simulations on the TIFR CDC-Computer of̂ thedevelopment and absorption of such electromagnetic and nuclearcascades. It has been noticed that the details of the development andabsorption of nuclear cascades recorded in the cloud chamber signi-ficantly differ from those calculated using the currently accepted para-meters of high energy interactions. There are wide discrepancies in theflux values and spectra of high energy N~particles as obtained with thecloud chamber and as obtained with non-visual detectors such as thetotal absorption spectrometer at Ooty as well as elsewhere. A signi-ficant result is the trend for the lateral distribution of high energy nuclearparticles to flatten as shower size increases. The cloud chamber photo-graphs have also been effectively used for obtaining the charged toneutral ratio of hadrons in showers of various size, and for Madrons ofdifferent energies. A definite trend for a decrease of the jharged toneutral ratio with increase in size has been found. The properties otmuons of energy greater than 2000 GeV are being studied using an airshower array on the surface at the Koiar Gold Fields in conjunction withdetector systems at various depths below it.

The programme of experiments to determine the angular distribution ofmuons at various depths underground is continuing at Kolar; observationsat two shallow depths of 250 m and 500 m underground have been com-pleted and at present, observations at a depth of approximately 1000metres are in progress. The present observations can be understood interms of the normal cosmic ray picture that the high energy muons uptoenergies of a few thousand GeV arise through the decays of pions andkaons; there is no indication of the existence of a new process, theX-process, for production of muons, that has been put forward by the,Utah group. The Tata Institute-Osaka City University-Durham Universitycollaborative experiments to study neufnno-inducea interactions at adepth of 2400 metres in the Kolar Gold Mines, which had been in opera-tion for the last five years, have been successfully concluded.

A programme has been initiated to search for high energy pulsed gammarays, (of energy greater than 10 n GeV), from a number of pulsars. Pre-liminary experiments provide some positive indication that the pulsarCP 0950 emits high energy gamma radiation. Further observations arenow in progress from Khandala on this and other astronomical objects.

Analysis of 75,000 BUBBLE CHAMBER PHOTOGRAPHS taken at theArgonne National Laboratory, USA is in progress using the facility set

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up at the Institute for work in this area. The aim of the experiment is todetermine the total cross-sections for the interactions of rho and othermesons against nucleons. At present one scanning and one measuringmachine is being used for this analysis. Two more scanning andmeasuring machines will be in operation by the end of next year.A new experiment to study the rare boson resonances produced in proton-antiproton annihilations is being planned. This experiment will involvean analysis of 1.5 million bubble chamber photographs taken in the 81cm. long hydrogen bubble chamber at CERN in Europe.

In the field of OCEANOGRAPHY natural silicon-32 has been used to studylarge scale mixing and transport processes in the South Pacific Ocean.Transport of radiocarbon produced in nuclear explosions to deep oceanwaters has been found to take place predominantly through carbonatesin the skeletons of biological organisms; because of this, there is, alonga vertical column in the oceans, a sinking chronology of skeletal materiallabelled by bomb produced radiocarbon. The distribution of naturalradionuclides, uranium, thorium and their daughters, has been studied inIndian rivers and in the waters of the Indian Ocean.

In HYDROLOGY studies based on the use of tritium, carbon-14 andsilicon-32 as radioactive tracers have been successfully continued inGujarat, and extended to Western Uttar Pradesh. The techniques,some of which are new and yet in the process of development, aim atestimating ground water parameters, particularly the recharge rate. Asizable recharge of shallow aquifers by local precipitation, (about 20%of the rainfall), has been found in Uttar Pradesh, whereas the water indeep aquifers has been estimated to be 1500-3000 years old. A study oftritium levels in the Kopili hydroelectric project area in Assam indicatedthat the water was fresh in regions of high permeability.

In the RADIOCARBON LABORATORY some more archaeological sitesand cultures in India were dated. The neolithic culture in Bagor (Raja-sthan) was found to have existed around 2700 B.C. The recently ex-cavated site at Inamgaon near Poona (Maharashtra) was dated to ap-proximately 1300 B.C.

In the area of ROCK MAGNETISM several new instruments have beenbuilt to study the magnetic properties of basaltic rocks at temperaturesbetween -180 ' to 700 Centigrade and in the frequency range fromDC upto 50 megahertz.

In the field of COSMOPHYSICS techniques have been developed that arebased on cosmic ray induced isotopic changes and fossil tracks produc-ed by heavy cosmic ray nuclei. Using these, a large number (50) oi

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meteorites were studied, some of which had penetrated the earth'satmosphere in an oriented fashion with one surface well preserved —thus enabling a study of low energy cosmic rays and solar activity levelsduring the past one million years. With these techniques, moon-rocksamples from the Apoilo-11 mission have also been investigated.

The 530 metres long cylindrical radio telescope at Ootacamund forstudies in RADIO ASTRONOMY has been completed. It constitutes amajor facility for research in this area in India. It is one of the largeststeerable radio telescopes in the world and is suitable for a systematicsurvey of weak extra-galactic radio sources by the method of lunar oc-culation; it exploits fully the position of India near the geographic equator.The telescope, in its mechanical and electronic aspects, has been entirelydesigned, engineered and built in India. Ap&rt from occultation studies,the telescope will be used for observations on pulsars, interplanetaryscintillations etc. Work is in p rog i^s on a long base line interferometerproject in which two 13.7 metres diameter parabolic dishes will be locatedon a north-south line parallel to the axis of the cylindrical telescope andabout 3 kilometres away from it; this system will provide very useful dataon the two dimensional structure of distant radio sources. Observationson the sun at a frequency of 612 MHz using the multi-element interfero-meter at Kalyan, near Bombay, have continued.

The development of three more typss of transmit-receive(TR) tubes hasbeen undertaken by the MICROWAVE ENGINEERING group. The range ofmicrowave test equipment and components in production has been ex-tendyd. Solid state diode (Gunn, Schottky barrier and Point contactmixer) circuit applications are being studied. An antenna feed systemrequired in microwave communication is under development and expect-ed to be in production within the year. A project for the development ofhigh power klystrons is in progress. A new programme has been initiatedfor research, design and development relating to microwave componentsand sub-systems that are basic building blocks for radar and communi-cation systems; in particular, varacter harmonic generator type micro-wave oscillators, transmission line filters, directional couplers, and non-reciprocal devices are under development.

!n the SOLID STATE ELECTRONICS laboratory, planar transistors havebeen produced and are in regular use; some digital integrated circuitshave also been produced. Work on silicon controlled rectifiers, point con-tact microwave mixers and GaAs Gunn diodes is in progress. A new gene-ration of Integrated Circuits (ICs) known as microwave ICs is underdevelopment using thin film technology developed at the Institute.Facilities for diffusion, epitaxy, photolithography, bonding and evapora-tion have been set up to undertake research and development on solid

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state devices primarily of silicon and gallium arsenide.

In the field of MOLECULAR BIOLOGY studies on the molecular mechanismof genetic exchange have continued; in particular genetic recorr.uinationin the bacterium Escherichia coii has been investigated using radioactiveand density labelled DNA. Evidence has been obtained that in Bacillussubtilis reciprocal genetic exchanges involving both the strands of DNA.occur. Studies relating to synthesis of enzymes are in progress. It hasbeen found that the formation of the enzyme aryl sulphatase in Aspergil-lus nidulans is a two-step process. Studies on the kinetics of inducedsynthesis of glycolytic enzymes in yeast have established that eitherglucose-6 phosphate or some compound related to this metabolite actsas an inducer of glycoiytic enzymes. A new hexokinase enzyme hasbeen purified from yeast; this enzyme has been named yeast glucokinase.It has been possible to purify brain mitochondrial hexokinase to an ultra-centrifugally homogeneous protein. Kinetic studies with the E. colialkaline phosphatase in the presence of inorganic solvents have shownthat a water molecule co-ordinated to zinc atom could be at the sub-strate binding site of the enzyme. A detailed theoretical analysis of the"tape theory" of protein synthesis has been carried out, Studies on thebiogenesis of ribosomes are in progress using immunochemical methods;investigations have been concluded on the antigenic properties of ribo-somal proteins.

In the area of DENTAL RESEARCH a programme has been taken up for thefollow-up study of 50,915 individuals in the rural Indian population in theStates of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Kerala and Maharashtra, whowere examined in an earlier investigation for possible precancerous andcancerous conditions. The proposed follow-up study will be carried outover a three year period and is being financed by the National- Institutesof Health, USA under P. L. 480 iunds. Already about 4,000 individualshave been re-examined in this programme. As a continuation of an oldproject, more than 2,000 Bombay policemen have been re-examined ina second follow-up after five years. In Poona district alone an exami-nation of 50,868 individuals has been carried out towards a targetedfigure of 1,00,000. Four scientific papers were published during the yearin various medical journals covering the results of th^se investigations.At the instance of the World Health Organization, Afghan medical scien-tists are being trained in the Institute for conducting future epidemiolo-gical surveys cf oral precancerous conditions in Afghanistan.

A SUMMER SCHOOL on "Physics of Condensed Matter" was held at Ban-galore from June 9 to June 27, 1969 at which lectures were delivered byProfessor K. S. Singwi (North Western University, U.S.A.) and ProfessorA. T. Stewart (Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada). Another

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Summer School on' "Theoretical Physics" was held at Nainital from June25 to July 15, 1969 at which Professor G. F. Chew (Lawrence RadiationLaboratory, Berkeley, California U.S.A.) and Professor F. E. Low (Massa-chusetts Institute of Technology, U.S.A.) were the principal lecturers. Themain subject at this su.nmer school was elementary particle and highenergy physics.

Under the auspices of ;he World Health Organization and its InternationalReference Centre for Oral Precancerous Conditions, an internationalmeeting of "Investigators on Histopathological Nomenclature and Classi-fication of Oral Precancerous Conditions" was organized at the Institutefrom January 19 to January 23, 1970. An international training course onMicrobial Physiology and Genetics in Molecular Biology was organizedby the Institute from November 24, to December 6, 1969, in collaborationwith the University of Bombay and the Biology Division of the BhabhaAtomic Research Centre. This course was supported by the Cell Re-search Organization of UNESCO and the Congress on Global Impactsof Applied Microbiology.

In the area of University Teaching, the School of Mathematics has beenactively collaborating with the University of Bombay in the latter's Centrefoifr Advanced Training and Research in Mathematics. The School ofPhysics has also been participating substantially in the teaching pro-gramme for the physics students of the Bombay University at the M.Sc.level. The Institute is recognised by the University of Bombay for thepurpose of guiding research students for the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees inMathematics and Physics (theoretical and experimental). Thirty-threescientists of the Institute are recognised teachers of the Bombay Univer-sity for the Ph.D. degree and eight for the M.Sc. degree. So far 80 and25 scientists have obtained their Ph.D. and M.Sc. degrees respectivelyon the basis of research carried out at the Institute; the correspondingfigures last year were 70 and 21.

The Department of Atomic Energy is constructing a Housing Colony nextto the TIFR which will have a Hostel Block for visiting professors andguests in addition to residential quarters for the Staff.

PHYSICAL RESEARCH LABORATORYThe Laboratory continued studies in the following areas : Cosmic rays,Astro and Cosmo-Physics; Aeronomy and Geomagnetism, Solar-Terres-trial relationships, atmospheric ozone, twilight glow, night airglow andregular and disturbance variations of the properties of the different re-gions of the atmosphere. Theoretical Physics concerning problems of

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nuclear structure and plasma physics were also under investigation.For these studies, ground-based, balloon-borne and rocket-borne appa-ratus and equipment were used. PRL scientists have taken sustainedinterest in developing indigenous equipment for use as payloads at theThumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station.

Work done in these areas was broadly along the following lines :

Cosmic Rays, Solar Terrestrial Relationships, Astro and CosmosPhysics

Some of the observations recorded by the Super Neutron Monitor(set-up in 1968) along with data recorded at other stations in theworld were analysed. The analysis showed that the semi-diurnal compo-nent of cosmic ray variation is due to an anisotropy which varies withthe rigidity and declination of the radiation, and whose direction is per-pendicular to the general interplanetary magnetic field.

Some aspects of terrestrial and solar neutrons were studied usingexposed emulsion plates and recording elastic collision of fast neutronswith free protons and by employing a thorium fission counter.

An experimental set-up for the measurement of the ratio of pos tiveand negative mu mesons is nearing completion.

Five rockets carrying X-ray payloads were successfully launchedIrom Thumba. The data showed : (i) a three-hourly periodicity in theoptical fluctuations of SCO X-1, (ii) a long-term variation in the SCO X-1X-ray flux corresponding to a life time of 20-30 years for the star, and(iii) the reappearance of the CEN X2 X-ray star.

A solar radio-spectroscope is in regular operation at Ahmedabad.The Jata indicates a 72% association between low energy solar X-rayflares and solar radio bursts. Regular measurements were made with aRadio-polarimeter, and a two-element phase-switching type interfero-meter.

Aeronomy, Geomagnetism

Studies were carried out on ionospheric drifts in the E and F regions,lunar tides in geomagnetic and ionospheric parameters and longitudinalinequalities in ionospheric and magnetic storms.

Telemetry signals from the satellite Alouette 2 were regularly receivedat Ahmedabad at the rate of four passes a week. The data were con-verted into usable ionograms by peripheral equipment built in the labo-ratory.

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The ionospheric recorder and the riometers at the Laboratory have beenin continuous operation. The data were analysed and distributed toWorld Data Centres and other interested organisations.

Two high frequency capacitance probes were launched during the year.The data derived indicate well-defined horizontally stratified ion layerswith 7-8 km vertical spacing, above the E layer maximum.

A 5 KW transmitter for measuring the ionospheric absorption of radiofrequency waves is under construction. Work on the construction of a50 KW pulsed transmitter for morphological studies of the ionosphereusing the partial reflection method is also in progress.

The monitoring of the field strength of the 164 Kc/s signals from Tash-kent continued. The influence of the X-ray stars like SCO XR-1 and TAUXR-1 on these field strengths have been detected during and around themeridian transit of these stars.

Regular observations of the atmospheric ozone were made with the Dob-son Ozone Spectrometer from Ahmedabad till September 1969, and fromMt. Abu later. Observations of Night Airglow from Mt. Abu continuedat a number of wavelengths in the visible and near infra-red regions ofthe spectrum. Similar observations are being made from Gulmarg sinceAugust 1969.

The ground-based proton-precison magnetometer at Ahrnedabad conti-nued to operate and provided valuable data. The data of the magneto-meter flights conducted in August 1969 have been analysed. TwoMagnetometer payloads for the rocket flights planned for 1970 have beenfabricated. Plans have been drawn up for a detailed study of the electro-jet with ground-based rubidium magnetometers.

Studies of the kinetic energy of the solar wind and of the variations inthe interplanetary magnetic field have shown that they are highly cor-related to the changes in the diurnal amplitude of the horizontal com-ponent of the earth's magnetic field as recorded by ground-based mag-netometers.

Theoretical Studies

Stability criteria and turbulence in Plasmas were studied. In the fieldof nuclear structure, the studies related to Hartree-Fock methods, nuclearspectra and the origin of deformation in nuclei.

Space Physics

As mentioned earlier, considerable work was done on the fabrication ofpayloads for investigations of the ionosphere, the electrojet, and X-ray

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fluxes from stars. The payloads were successfully flown and the dataanalysed. (See ISRO, Page 63).

The Third International Symposium on Equatorial Aeronomy was held atAhmedabad in February 1969, PRL being the principal host. The Sym-posium was sponsored by the International Union of Radio Science(URSI) and the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy(IAGA).

The symposium centred its attention on the detailed study of the consti-tution, morphology and behaviour of the upper atmosphere above theequatorial belt, with particular reference to the region between 50 kmand 1,000 km above the earth's surface.

There were 31 Research Scholars at PRL during the year. Based on theinvestigations carried out in the laboratory, seven candidates were award-ed the Ph.D. degree by Indian Universities during the year.

SAHA INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR PHYSICSIn the Cyclotron Division of the Institute, Coulomb excitation of the nucleiKl lEu, in!'Tb, " 'Ho etc. were studied. Two possible El excitations in theKiaEu nuclei were detected. The p-n, f reactions were studied in 7"'Asand 7r>Se. The nuclei l l l"Cd, !>r>Mo, 96Mo were investigated by Trayspectroscopy. Positron annihilation studies on metals, inorganic andorganic compounds were made with a time resolution of 180 p-sec. Thepara positronium life-time was determined and a short lived componentwas detected in metals.

In the Electrostatic Accelerator Division, high resolution gamma rayspectroscopy was done on 74Ga, TImRb, l l l ra Mo, ' -Pm and ""Ho. Lifetimes of several excited states in the nuclei n lV and <MIY were measured.Size EO transitions were detected in the gamma ray transitions in thedecay of ln2Eu. The reaction r>!lCo (p, T ) was studied with special re-ference to the 3.12 MeV doublet in {I0Ni.

Sputtering in single crystals of silver by zinc and cadmium ions wereinvestigated by mass spectroscopy and similar experiments conductedwith the electromagnetic isotope separator in the energy range 10-35 KeV.Channelling of ions in single crystals are being studied. Results obtain-ed by the high intensity mass spectrometer on charge transfer in ion-atom collisions were analysed theoretically for Ar + -Ar, H + -H, Cs + -C,K + -K.

The production of negative ions of hydrogen and oxygen and multiplycharged ions of various gases were studied by different types of iorr

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sources. Techniques have been developed to obtain a high sensitivitymass spectrometer. Properties o! rare and negative ions will be studiedby using the electron multiplier detector and acceleration system re-cently developed.

In the Nuclear Chemistry Division, analysis of ores, alloys of industrialimportance etc. were carried out and microgram amount of substancesestimated. Chemical analysis through neutron activation was done onelements which give long lived isotopes on activation. Efforts are beingmade to obtain zirconium of reactor grade purity free from hafnium byimproved separation procedures with inorganic exchangers. A new andsensitive method of determining transition temperature of known andunknown components from distribution studies which was developedhere is considered to be of considerable importance in physical chemis-try. Radiochemical studies on fragments from spontaneous fission arebeing pursued. Mechanism for radiation decomposition of aqueoussolutions of iodate and E.D.T.A. were studied with the help of a multicuri tl(1Co source. Construction of an automatic fraction collector is inprogress.

In the Nuclear Spectroscopy Section, the internal conversion coefficientsof the )' rays from 1!l-Pt and ''-'Os were determined and the p spectrumof l l lsAu in coincidence with the 412 KeV 1' ray and the e- -T correla-tion measurements in ' -Eu and '"-'Ir were measured. A fast TAC usingavalanche transistor, a transistorised magnet current stabiliser, and aliquid air.dewar with automatic temperature control were developed.The low energy spectra of the odd mass Sb isotopes were investigatedtheoretically.

In the Theoretical Solid State Group, a suitable model for the direct esti-mation of conduction electron contribution to the parameters of, Ihecrystalline electric field was developed. The contribution from the con-duction electron to the quadrupole interaction parameter in Dy metalwas calculated. Energy band calculations of La and spin lattice relaxa-tion in paramagnetic crystals were made and optical transitions in crys-talline electric field investigated. The oscillator strengths of crystalfield transitions in Rh1 • and Ir1 were calculated. The optical spectraof transition metal ions and rare earth ions in crystals were describedby employing second quantization formalism. The quadrupolar and octu-polar distortion of atom ions of He sequence were studied and a theorydeveloped to calculate the nonlinear response of the induced electricmoment of an atom in a very strong electric field.

The microwave spectrometer was modified to cover additional frequencyrange of 8.2—12.4 KMc/s (X-Band). Pulsed acoustic absorption in

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systems containing nuclei with electric quadrupole moment was studiedtheoretically. Spin lattice relaxation time for a Cu system and its rela-tion to the electric quadrupole, moment were calculated. The perform-ance of the X band superheterodyne ESR spectrometer was improved.The g,,, g, values of Cu-+ ion irv Copper Calcium acetate hexahydratewere studied. The orientation of the electric field tensor for ihe twodifferent species of molecules in Ba(CIO.,)... 2H..0 and the values of theasymmetry parameters were accurately determined. Hyperfine inter-actions of magnetic materials, th'e correlation with crystal structure andhydrated and anhydrous rare earth phosphates were studied by NMR.A pulse echo Rf spectrometer and a NMR spectrometer for the UHF re-gion are under construction.

In the X-ray Crystallography and Molecular Biology Division, the studyof collagen by different methods was continued. Significant resultswere obtained in the study of seiwhale bones. Structure studies ofaminoacids and allied compounds progressed satisfactorily. Study ofDNA from sponge, hydra and wheat plants was continued.

The nature of non-peptidic bonds in the amino acids were investigated* exhaustively. The mechanism of formation of these bonds in other pro-

teins is being studied. Studies in quantum biology and conformation ofbiomolecules, agrobiology and radiation biology are being continued.

In the Biophysics Division, investigations on problems involving DNAcontinued. Data on linkages i.i denatured DNA and on the effect of ultra-violet radiation on single stranded DNA were published. DNA proflavincomplexes and the ultraphase DNA from coliphase T-7 have been studiedspectrophotometrically. Studies were also made on native DNA, yeastand natural fibres.

VValuable findings on the physical and biological effects of binding withDNA phage £X 174 were communicated. Metabolic changes in cellsinfected with proflavin treated fj X 174 were studied. Work on in vivorepair of u. v. irradiated £X DNA is in progress. ,.

The process of killing of bacteria by different radiations was studied. In-fluence of incubation, DNA replication, recovery of bacteria were alsostudied. The organization of the DNA molecules within chromosomefibres from nucleated erythrocytes of a reptile, Calotes Versicolor wasstudied. A new method has been standardized for the isolation of DNAmolecules from cells of higher organisms.

The molecular weight of DNA coli-phage T7 and the molecular length of

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osmotically released T7 DNA have been determined by electron micros-copy. Investigations were also made on the chromatography of heatdenatured DNA on hydrosyapatite and on the haemoglobin Bufo Melanos-tictus.

In the Theoretical Nuclear Physics Division, the Particle Physics Groupworked on many problems like calculation of pion-nucleon scatteringusing current algebra, calculation of the leptonic decay of hadrons, dis-persion theoretic deviation of PCAC consistancy condition, and problemsin quantum electrodynamics. Some problems in the physics of electrongas were also solved. The Nuclear Physics Group worked on problemslike" calculation of two body matrix elements for structural work usingthe Hamada-Johnston hard-core potential and the Tabakin non-loca!potential, Hartree-Fock calculation for A—18 nuclei, theory of pairingvibrational states in the vicinity of closed shell nuclei, structural calcula-tions, calculation of the deuteron optical potential Regge pole type ana-lysis, deuteron stripping etc.

In the Instrumentation Division, projects on U.H.F. and microwave instru-mentation, oscilloscope and closed circuit T.V., computer based dataprocessing systems and wide band amplification have been undertaken.An avalanche diode oscillator at 10 GHz is being fabricated.

In the Gaseous Electronics and Semi-conductors Laboratories, measure-ments are being made on the perpendicular diffusion of plasma and asso-ciated low frequency instabilities. Propagation in plasma are beingstudied theoretically. Semiconducting behaviour of organic compounds(acridine pellets) were studied.

The (n,2n), (n,p), (n, lN ) reactions and energy distributions in promptfission fragments were studied exhaustively.

The Technical Physics Laboratory developed a magnetic vacuum valveand a water jet pump. A programme entitled PHA cum CAT project wasundertaken for the development of a multi-channel analyser cum timeaveraging computer. The necessary units like the ADC circuit, the con-trol assembly and the power supply are being designed and tested.

TATA MEMORIAL CENTREWith PL 480 aid from the National Institute of Health, U.S.A., an epide-miologic study of breast cancer in the Parsi community of Bombay wasinitiated by the Centre during the year. The study which would be forthree years is intended to collect accurate data on incidence of breastcancer among the Parsi women in the City as also on the role of various

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suspected etiological factors viz. marital status, pregnancy history, lac-tation, breast feeding habits etc.

An epidemiologic study of canceV in the Kolaba District, near Bombaywas continued. It is anticipated that this study would lead to assessmentof the prevalence, incidence, and distribution of cancer in rural areas.

A 60-bed expansion scheme of the Hospital is under progress. It is ex-pected that the wards would start functioning by April 1970. At theCancer Research Institute, which is part of the Centre, a specific anti-leukaemic serum, free of cross-reactiviiy with any of the norrna! tissues,and free of toxic side-effects, has been' prepared for clinical trials. Anti-cancer properties of indigenous plant extracts or synthetic compoundsare routinely being tested in. the laboratory. Among other projects inhand are : Studies on the role of pituitary, adrenal and gonads in thecausation of mammary cancers in experimental animals; investigationsof carcinogenic properties, if any, of the solvent-extracted edible oils andoils contaminated with argimone oil, development of a rapid in vitro testfor studying the relative efficacies of various chemotherapeutic agentson the tumour tissues taken out from the patients. Optical and electronmicroscopic studies on oral submucous fibrosis in human patients. At-tempts are being made to evolve methods of diagnosing cancer casesin the early stages; fundamental studies on- radiolysis of some of theindividual amino acids and poly-amino acids; investigations of influenceof electrostatic fields on the rate of duplication of cells.

A gonadotropin inhibitory material has been isolated from the urine ofhuman subjects and its usefulness in some of the clinical cases is beingstudied.

A proposal for expansion of facilities of the Tata Memorial Centre is beingconsidered. This would include : Advanced study and research in sur-gical, medical and allied fields pertaining to cancer, coordination ofresearch schemes with other bodies on subjects of mutual interest andbenefit, and training of doctors and scientists from other hospitals andinstitutions in the country.

INDIAN SPACE RESEARCH ORGANISATION

The Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) hasbeen reconstituted under the National Institute of Sciences of India (NISI)and since August 15, 1969, the programme of Space Research and itsutilisation for peaceful purposes is being managed by the Indian SpaceResearch Organisation (ISRO) under the Department of Atomic Energy.

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The Space programme progressed with collaborative and independentexperiments from Thumbs. During the year, new agreements were con-cluded for collaboration with Japan, the United Kingdom and the UnitedStates, while experiments under earlier agreements with these countriesand the USSR were continued. One collaborative agreement with theJapanese Institute of Space and Aeronautical Sciences (ISAS), and NASAfor X-ray astronomy was implemented successfully. NASA supplied twoNike Apache rockets for this programme.

Among the major collaborative agreements entered into are four: twowith NASA, and one each with the Science Research Council (SRC) andthe Meteorological Office, Bracknell, of the United Kingdom. The agree-ment with SRC is for conducting 3 Skua II (T) and 2 Petrel Soundingrocket experiments from Thumba for studying the equatorial electrojetby simultaneous rocket-borne and ground-based magnetometer measure-ments, and D-region electron density measurements; "while the experi-ment with the Meteorological Office of Britain involves investigation ofwinds and temperatures using meteorological rockets. With NASA thereare two understandings. Under the first, NASA will supply 8 rocketsduring 1970 for experiments in aeronomy. As an extension of this agree-ment, NASA also plans to conduct 10 rocket launchings from TERLScarrying payloads prepared by U.S. scientists for the study of the equa-torial ionosphere. These experiments will be conducted in collaborationwith Indian scientists. The second one pertains to a joint India-US ITVSatellite Experiment by which India will use a NASA launched satelliteto beam India-prepared broadcasts to rural areas in some selected regionsof the country.

International Symposia and ConferencesINCOSPAR (DAE) offered hospitality to the Third International Sympo-sium on Equatorial Aeronomy. The symposium was held at Ahmedabadfrom February 3 to 8, 1969. Nearly 70 foreign scientists from 19 coun-tries and 100 Indian scientists participated in the symposium.

The annual Space Research Symposium of COSPAR was held in Prague,Czechoslovakia in May 1969. INCOSPAR (DAE) deputed 6 scientists fromthe National Physical Laboratory, Physical Research Laboratory andthe Tata Institute of Fundamental Research to this symposium. Theypresented significant results obtained from the rocket and balloon ex-periments conducted as a part of the Indian Space Research Programme.

Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS)

At TERLS, a number of experiments were conducted in collaboration withthe United States and Japan under the agreements mentioned earlier, in

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addition to independent experiments evolved by ISRO scientists. Themajor experiments were :

(1) Launching of first India-made Centaure Rocket. The 2-stage Cen-taure is being manufactured in India under licence from Sud Aviation ofFrance. The rocket was launched on February 27, 1969 from Thumba.The main objective was to evaluate its performance. It also carried acapacitance probe to measure electron density in the upper atmosphere.

(2) Two Nike-Apache rockets were launched on April 26th and 28th,1969 as part of an India/Japan/US (NASA) project. The Physical Re-search Laboratory at Ahmedabad supplied the signal processing unit,VCOs and associated electronics while NASA supplied the rockets.Japan (ISAS) provided the proportional counter and magnetic aspectsensor, while TERLS supplied telemetry packages, special devices in-cluding payload housing and the split nosecone. The objectives of theexperiment were: measuring simultaneously the optical and X-ray lumi-nosity of SCO-X-1; measuring the absolute flux and energy spectrum ofX-rays from SCO-X-1, TAU-X-1 and CENTAURUS-XR-2 sources; andmeasuring the time variation of X-ray fluxes from SCO-X-1 and CEN-TAURUS-XR-2 sources.

(3) Between June and August 21, 1969, eight Judi-Dart rockets werelaunched to gather wind data between the 60 km and 20 km region ofthe atmosphere. The Judi rocket motor was supplied by the IndiaMeteorological Department while the Dart with copper chaff payloadwas developed by TERLS. Dart payloads developed by TERLS engineershave now become operational.

(4) One Dragon two-stage rocket was launched on September 21, 1969under a collaborative programme with the Hydrometeorological Servicesof the USSR and CNES of France. The objectives of the experimentwere: measurement of the neutral composition of the upper atmospherein the height region 100 to 330 km; investigation of energy spectrum ofdiffused omnidirectional low energy X-ray radiation and radiation fromlarge Magallanic cloud, Cygnus and Galactic Centre; measurement ofelectron density and temperature ionospheric irregularities and plasmawaves in equatorial 'E' and 'F' regions.

The Dragon rocket was supplied by CNES, France, while the telemetrypackage and Digital timer were supplied by the Space Science and Tech-nology Centre (SSTC). The payload housing and the ejectable noseconewere supplied by TERLS. Since the rocket failed and did not reach thedesired altitude, no useful data were obtained.

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(5) On December 7, 1969, the second Indian Centaure, carrying a pay-load consisting of instruments for the evaluation of the rocket perform-ance, capacitance probe for the ionospheric studies and X-ray investi-gation instruments, was launched. The payload was jointly fabricatedby the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, SSTC and TERLS.The hardware of the rocket was manufactured at the Bhabha AtomicResearch Centre while the propellant was developed by the Rocket Pro-pellant Plant at Thumba. The rocket reached its peak altitude of 125 km.

(6) One Nike-Apache rocket with a 'D' region experiment payloaddeveloped by the scientists of the National Physical Laboratory was flownon January 2, 1970. A 6 m-antenna deployment system developed byTERLS engineers for this experiment functioned as required. Radartracked the vehicle for 40 km. and telemetry received signals till splashat 343 sees. This was the first experiment which involved sophisticatedtechnology.

For 1970, TERLS has a collaborative programme vvith NASA to carry out17 experiments using rockets to be supplied by NASA. Scientific pay-loads for these experiments will be developed by Indian and foreignscientists. In addition to the above. TERLS will continue collaborativeprogrammes with Japan, West Germany, France and USSR.

Besides space experiments, ISRO continued development work on mate-rial and equipment for the overall space programme. Among these pro-jects during the year were : (i) Development of a Missile Target System(MTS) to assist Defence. A ground test aid three drop tests were con-ducted at Agra and Delhi; (ii) Copper clad fibreglass laminate sheetmanufactured by TERLS and supplied to the Oil & Natural Gas Commis-sion, Dehra Dun. (iii) Work on a fibreglass rocket motor was continued.Static tests were conducted in proof tubes and with fibreglass motorsand one flight test using a fibreglass motor was carried out satisfactorily.(iv) A transistorised servo-amplifier unit was designed and fabricated 'orX-Y plotter, (v) Some telemetry receiver sub-systems like Receiver, RFdiscriminator etc. were fabricated. A VHF Telemetry Receiver was suc-cessfully used on a Centaure flight.

Space Science and Technology Centre (SSTC), Thumba

Rohini Project: Under Project Rohini, development of a series of rocketsstarting from a 75 mm-diameter rocket to a satellite launch vehicle of175 mm diameter booster has been undertaken. The Rohini-75, a 75 mmdiameter rocket was successfully flown with different propellants. Thisrocket will be used as a test vehicle for training personnel for open-sitetracking. Rohini-100, a 100 mm diameter rocket was flown successfully.This rocket will be used as a booster for meteorological payload and also

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for testing various electronic instrumentation under high accelerationconditions. The development of Rohini-300, a 300 mm diameter rocket,is in progress and it will be flight-tested in early 1970. A multi-stagerocket is being developed to carry a 5 kg payload to 100 km altitude. Thefeasibility and optimization study has been completed to finalise specifi-cations for the design and development of a satellite launch vehiclehaving a capability of putting 30 kg payload into 400 km near-circularorbit.

Propellants: A new propellant has recently been developed with aspecific impulse of 250 seconds and has been successfully flown a num-ber of times in 125 mm diameter rocket motors. With this, the numberof propellants developed is now over 8. Studies are meanwhile continu-ing on various aspects of propellant technology such as thermocherrsicalstudies, burning rate studies, thermal conductivity measurements, andburning motors, ignition studies, thermal and shock cycling, etc.

Materials, components and hardware : Some special composite materialshave been developed. Progress has been made in research and deve-lopment work in strengthening of titanium alloys, aluminium alloys,maraging steel, special coatings, heat sink material testing apparatus,application of statistical quality control concerning strengthening of FibreReinforced Plastics. Thermal shielding material for protection of Cen-taure payload components have yielded useful data for aerospace appli-cation.

A complete set of instrumentation for evaluating the performance ofrocket motors in static and flight test conditons has been developed.These instruments are capable of measuring forces upto 10 tonnes, pres-sures upto 200 atmospheres, acceleration upto 120 g and vibrations upto2000 cycles. This development programme includes signal conditioningelectronic circuits for enabling telemetering and recording of data. Theseinstruments have to meet the requirements of the Rohini programme.

To develop capability of orientation control during space flight, controlcomponents such ns Solenoid valves, pressure regulators, check valves,safety valves, sun sensors, and geomagnetic aspect sensors and otherauxiliary components needed for such systems like miniature slip-rings,gas bearings etc. have been developed. And, with these control compo-nents, two solar pointing systems have been developed. One of theseorients a spinning payload towards the sun by means of servo motorsand the other orients non-spinning payload by means of two-axis reactionjets. A feasibility study of the control and guidance system of satellitelaunch vehicles has been completed and the development programmefor a minimal control and guidance system for such missions has beeninitiated.

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Considerable progress has been made in the development of telemetrypackages such as transmitters etc. A transmitter developed for use inthe RH-100 Project has been successfully flown.

An advanced sophisticated trajectory programme tD predict rocket flightpath accurately has been successfully developed and made operational.

Sandwich structures, vibration isolators and some sensors for strain andtemperature measurements have been successfully completed. Facili-ties for pressure proof tests, shock load tests and strength and rigiditytests on components have been indigenously developed and made opera-tional.

Ground-bdsed experiments : Work during the year included the follow-ing : Construction of equipment for the study of ionospheric absorption.Cosmic noise absorption is being continuously recorded on 16.5 Mc/s,and equipment to record on 2 more frequencies is under construction.

The Solar and magnetic effects on the equatorial F region have been stu-died and some interesting results have been obtained.

Equipment is under construction for the study of large scale ionosphericmotions by HF doppler technique and the smai! scale motions by thephase-path technique.

Sensors for the detection of infrasonic pressure waves at the ground levelare being developed. A receiving system for the study of VLF propa-gation is being set up.

Two related experiments for the simultaneous study of telluric currentsand geomagnetic micropulsation are under progress.

To study the geomagnetic field variation growth at the magnetic equatorin the Indian zone, a proton precession magnetometer will be shortly in-stalled at Kanyakumari, in addition to the one operating at Thumba.Phase path measurement equipment for the measurement of ionosphericdrifts has been completed and will be put into operation soon. The BackScatter Equipment developed at the Physical Research Laboratory torsetting up at Thumba will be ready for installation before the end of thisyear. A meson monitor with sophisticated digital pulse counting andrecording system is undergoing final tests at PRL, and will be sent toThumba soon for installation and continuous operation at the SSTC.Project Ultraviolet Monochromator is progressing satisfactory.

Progress has been made in matters relating to planning, scheduling.

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sequencing developmental work, production of hardware and compo-nents, and assembly of sub-systems. Latest methods of systems engi-neering have been adopted for coordination of various managementactivities like information collection regarding computer applications forPERT/CPM analysis and other operations, research applications, Kardexformats for storage of information, Xerographic process, documentationdetails from INSDOC, DRTC etc., including modification of cost evalua-tion programmes for rockets, elementary studies on bigger launch vehi-cle configuration and optimisation technique, studies on analogue simul-ation, work on task identification and planning of sub-systems details inPERT, finalisation of coding and classification of technical documents.

Rocket Propellant Plant (RPP)

The Rocket Propellant plant at Thumba set up for manufacturing Centauresolid propellant grains was commissioned in February 1969. The firststatic test was successfully carried out on a 40 kg block on March 2, 1969.Subsequently, a ground test on the full size booster was carried out andthe results were good. During 1969, charges were produced for theCentaure rocket.

A large number of propellant grains for RH-100 and RH-125 projects weresupplied to SSTC. Work is in progress for casting a 550 mm diametergrain for the RH-560 project.

A high-energy propellent having a specific impulse of 230 sees has beendeveloped using indigenuous raw materials. This has been success-fully static tested.

During 1970-71, work is expected to start on the expansion of RPP witha view to manufacturing large-size boosters for the first Indian SatelliteLaunch Vehicle,

Rocket Fabrication Facility (RFF), Thumba

RFF will undertake fabrication of vehicles and accessories for the Rohinivehicles now under development in SSTC. About 4,720 sq. mtrs. of built-up area is proposed for this facility including workshops, stores, mainten-ance, etc. The net cost of the project is estimated as Rs. 110 lakhs.

The setting up of this facility has been envisaged in two stages. In thefirst stage, it can take up fabrication of Centaure and Rohini vehicles upto400 mm diameter. In the second stage, the facility can be increased tocater to the needs of bigger size vehicles upto 600 mm diameter. Specialfacilities for advanced fibreglass work will be added in the second stage.

This facility is expected to be commissioned by the middle of 1970. The

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work load of this unit even as at present would be over Rs. 32 lakhs perannum making for a foreign exchange saving of Rs. 21 lakhs.

Sriharikota Range (SHAR)With a view to establishing a rocket facility on the east coast of India, theGovernment has approved the project of setting up a range at Srihari-kota in Andhra Pradesh.

SHAR has an area of about 12,141 hectares having a 20 km-coast lineand approximately 10 km maximum width. It is a forest area withoutany permanent habitation or cultivation except eucalyptus and casuarinatrees used mainly as firewood. This area forms a small island havingthe Bay of Bengal on the east and the Buckingham canal and backwaterson the west. The coast is approximately 17 km from Sullurpet RailwayStation on the Madras-Calcutta line. Out of the total area of 12,141hectares earmarked by Andhra Pradesh for this project, an area of ap-proximately 3,845 hectares lying within a radius of 5 km, has alreadybeen handed over by the Andhra Pradesh Government to the Project!authorities. The work on the lay-out of facilities has commenced. It isexpected that in six months time a sounding rocket launching facilitywould be put up and used for flight testing of new rockets being indigen-ously developed at the Space Science and Technology Centre in Thumba.Later, facilities would be added as required for satellite launching duringthe next three years.

NASCOM ProjectIn the latter half of 1968, the DAE was asked to be the convenor of anInter-Ministerial Study Group of Experts set up by the Secretaries Com-mittee to consider the possible uses of a synchronous satellite for na-tional development. This followed the initiative taken by DAE in orga-nizing the Delhi Rural Pilot Agricultural Television Project, in conductingstudies on the technical and economic feasibility of a satellite TV systemfor India, and in conducting joint studies with NASA. The Study Grouprecommended (as the joint DAE-NASA team had also recommended) thata preliminary experiment be carried out by India to test the feasibilityand the likely impact of a TV system using a synchronous satellite. Tofollow this up and conduct studies on a possible ongoing system,INCOSPAR had deputed a team of eight engineers to the U.S.A. in Feb-ruary/March 1969 to conduct joint studies with General Electric andHughes Aircraft and also to collect data from other U.S. and Canadiansources.

As part of the plan, an agreement was signed on September 18, 1969 withNASA for the use of its ATS-F satellite for a period of about one year in1972-73 to broadcast educational TV programmes to villages in India, This

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experiment called the DAE-NASA Satellite ITV Experiment, is a part ofthe NASCOM Project. The experiment envisages deployment of 5,000 TVsets in villages in various parts of the country. Of these, 2,000 will beof the direct reception type.

A special group has been set up in ISRO to look after the planning, or-ganization and management of this experiment. Development work onthe required ground equipment (which, under the terms of the agreementis India's responsibility) is to be started shortly. Planning, and preli-minary work on development has already begun

Centaure ProjectTwo of the first three Centaure rockets manufactured at the CentralWorkshops, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, were assembledand charged at Thumba in February 1969 with imported propellant. Oneof these rockets was launched on 26th February 1969 with a completelyIndia-built payload to test its performance and monitor the acceleration,temperature, rocket motor pressure, and the operation of stage separa-tion and second stage ignition as weil as scientific experiment to measurethe electron density of the upper atmosphere using a capacitance probe.It attained an altitude of 145 km with a payload of 31 kg. The rocketperformed satisfactorily.

Another Centaure rocket was charged with the propellant manufacturedat the Rocket Propellant Plant at Thumba and was launched on 7thDecember 1969 with a similar payload, including the first india-builtRadar Transponder to track the rocket's trajectory throughout the flight,aiongwith 2 scientific experiments to measure the electron density inthe upper atmosphere and locate and measure the density of X-raysources in the sky. This rocket also performed very satisfactorily andfulfilled all the objectives. The third Centaure rocket will be launched inAugust 1970.

Meanwhile, production of the next batch of 12 Centaure rockets at Cen-tral Workshops has already commenced. These rockets will use about60% indigenous components including special alloy steel fastenings,pyrotechnic devices and propellant.

Experimental Satellite Communication Earth Station, AhmedabadThe Station is involved in setting up the Arvi Commercial Satellite Com-munication Earth Station on behalf of the Department of Atomic Energyfor the Overseas Communication Service. The project is expected to beready during 1970. This is the first time that such a task has been under-taken by an Indian team.

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The following development tasks were undertaken by ESCES during meyear: ( l) Setting up of an antenna testing range. This comprehensivelacility has been designed and fabricated in the Ahmedabad station.Presently, the facility is available in the 4 GHZ and 6 GHZ frequencybands. It is proposed to extend the facility over other microwave fre-quency bands also. (2) The design and fabrication of a 3m-diameterparabolic reflector has been completed. It is being used by the stationas a mobile boresight facility. It is also capable of being adapted foruse on terrestrial microwave links. (3) A frequency-modulated receiverforming part of an automatic picture transmission system used by theMeteorological Department has been designed and constructed. It isnow undergoing trials at the Meteorological Station in Bombay. Modi-fications based on the results of the trials are being worked out. (4) Thestation's capability is being augmented by incorporating a VHF trackingsystem, designed and constructed at the station itself. The facility is duefor trials during 1970.

The Station conducted the third course in Satellite CommunicationsTechnology during March 1—May 29, 1969. Sixteen Fellows fromCzechoslovakia, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nigeria, Singapore and India attendedthe course.

A one-month fellowship training programme starting December 7, 1969was arranged by ESCES for Dr. M. Hoveyda, Director-General of Educa-tional Activities and Training Centre, Ministry of Communications, Iran.

Arvi Satellite Communication (ASCOM) Project

As reported last year, the Department is building India's first SatelliteCommunication Earth Station at Arvi near Poona for the Department o?Communications. The work on the earth station is now in full swing. Thestation was originally scheduled to be completed by the end of October1969 but owing to several force majeure events in the factories of thecontractors and sub-contractors for the project, both in India and abroad,the station is now expected to be commissioned by June 1970. It is ex-pected to cost much ^elow the estimated figure.

During 1969, all the civil engineering works pertaining to the station werecompleted. A large portion of the ground communication equipmenthas been installed. Fabrication of most of the components for the 30m-diameter antenna, which is being manufactured in India for the firsttime, has been completed and installation work of the Antenna and drivesystem has commenced. The installation of the multiplex equipment isalso in progress.

With the experience gained in the construction of this station, necessary

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technical expertise has been buiit up in the country to undertake the con-struction of future stations with minimum foreign exchange.

ATOMIC MINERALS DIVISIONSome of the important features of the work done during the year aregiven below :

Uranium ; Underground development work both at the Narwapahar andBhatin mining prospects in Bihar was intensified. At Bhatin, besidesexploration for uranium, investigations were continued for estimationof nickel and molybdenum mineralisation. Exploratory drilling was alsocontinued at Rajgaon, Dudra, Banadungri, Rajdah, Kanyaluka, Bhalki,Bagjata and Puran'dungri etc. in the Singhbhum Thrust Belt. The totaldrilling done aggregated about 17,212.61 running metres. Three bore-holes completed at Jaduguda during the deep drilling programme initiatedlast year to explore continuity of mineralisation at depth have givenencouraging results.

Geological and radiometric investigations for uranium were also carriedout in parts of the Himalayas as well as the Peninsular India regions.These comprised detailed investigations of the uraniferous Motur Sand-stones (Lower Gondwana) in Betul and Hoshangabad districts (MadhyaPradesh) and the. amphibolites of the Inderwa, Chitarpur areas in theHazaribagh district of Bihar. Elsewhere, during preliminary investiga-tions, radioactivity anomalies due to the presence of uranium were alsoreported in the Kolihan Copper Mine in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthanand Lotapahar in the Singhbhum Thrust Belt of Bihar.

About 14,346 route km. were traversed during jeep borne scintillometersurveys in parts of Singhbhum (Bihar), Mirzapur, Hamirpur, Jhansi (UttarPradesh), Panna, Rewa, Chhatarpur, Sarguja, Tikamgarh, Raigarh, Bilas-pur (Madhya Pradesh) and Salem (Tamil Nadu). During this work,ground checking of anomalies located in joint survey flights conductedby the National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad and the Ato-mic Minerals Division and independently, by the "Operation Hard Rock"was also carried out. A few anomalies are being further investigated. Inaddition, data for 3,719 radioactivity anomalies reported by the "Opera-tion Hard Rock" project in parts of Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Biharwas processed before taking up these areas for ground follow-up work.

Thorium : Investigations for estimation of ilmenite. monazite and otherheavy mineral reserves in the beach, dune and teri sands in parts ofOrissa, Tamil Nadu and Kerala were continued. Investigations of thecauses of change in the composition of beach washings at Manavala-kurichi, studies of replenishment/replacement rates of heavy minerals

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and quick and effective methods for estimation of reserves to replacethe time-consuming and laborious conventional methods of grain count-ing have .also been taken up side-by-side.

Beryllium: Intensive survey and prospecting for beryl were carried outin the three Mica Belts of Bihar, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh and inparts of Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Gujarat and Mysore. This work helpedin the location of many promising beryi-bearing pegmatities in the Jam-chua, Kunkuri areas of Raigarh district of Madhya Pradesh and Dhen-kanal district of Orissa. Exploitation of some, of the beryl-bearing peg-matites in the Raigarh district of Madhya Pradesh has been commencedby the Government of Madhyn Pradesh.

Columbium-Tantalum : Survey and prospecting for columbium-tantalumbearing minerals continued, including detailed investigations of some ofthe important pegmatites viz. Khairidih, Neropahari, Doranda, Tettaria,Telodih etc. in the Bihar Mica Belt. Investigations of the pyrochlore-bearing carbonatite at Sevattur (North Arcot, Tamil Nadu) were also in-tensified. Systematic surveys and sampling for locating possible depositsof columbium-tantalum bearing minerals in favourable host rocks suchas syenites and carbonatites in various other areas e.g. Andhra Pradesh,Rajasthan and Mysore have also been taken up.

Geophysical Investigations : Electrical resistivity, self-potential and radon(soil gas) surveys etc., were carried out in the Udaisagar-Debari area(Udaipur, Rajasthan), Lotapahar and the Western Extension of' Narwa-pahar (Hitku) as well as many other localities in the Singhbhum ThrustBelt of Bihar. Favourable indications obtained at some of the places arebeing followed up.

Geochemical Investigations : Geo-chemical exploration for uranium wascarried out in the Inderwa-Chitarpur-Salaiddih area (Hazaribagh, Bihar),Vinukonda (Guntur, Andhra Pradesh), Villupuram (South Arcot, TamilNadu), Dhakni-Seharwani-Boranda (Bhandara, Maharashtra), Delehari,Pandra area (Narsinghpur, Madhya Pradesh) and Umra-Udaisagar (Udai-pur, Rajasthan). The data obtained is being processed.

Supporting Facilities : At the Petrology Laboratory at New Delhi, 793samples were investigated. These included 178 samples by usual petro-graphic methods, 525 by spectrography, 36 by X-ray and 54 by a combi-nation of all these methods. Amongst the interesting minerals identi-fied from various field samples were thorite as inclusions in barite in thesyenites and monzomtes of Kuddamandapatti (Salem, T. N.), chrysoberylfrom Nanguliabera pegmatite (Orissa), nagatelite (a phosphorian allanite)and hielrnite (a stanno-niobate of yttrium) in the pegmatites of Mohan-

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gaon and Kulad (Bolangir and Dhenkanal, Orissa), germanium (46 ppm)in the topaz rock from Degana Wolfram Mines (Nagpur, Maharashtra). TheLaboratory at Kasmahal (S.T.B., Bihar) carried out investigations on 142samples from the Singhbhum Thrust Belt of Bihar and identified variousminerals/rock types.

In the Chemicai/Geo-chemical Laboratories at New Delhi and Bangalore,7,246 estimations were made, of which 5,866 were for uranium and 1,380for other radicals. The Chemical Laboratory at Sundernagar (STB, Bihar)carried out a total of 5,120 estimations which were mostly for Ni andMo.

In the Physics Laboratories, 27,940 samples were radiometrically analysedfor eU3OB) UaOb/ThO. and Be O etc., which included about 3,078 samplesanalysed by beta/gamma-ray spectrometry and photo-neutron methods.A total of 38,051 running m. in boreholes were logged for radioactivityand 8,612 m. of drilled core assayed. About 1,871 running m. of irenchlogging was carried out.

During development work at Bhatin and Narwapahar mining prospects,work regarding radiometric control of developmental headings, main-tenance of grade control of ore etc. by way of shot-hole logging, shield-ed-probe logging, G.M./Scintillation arches etc., continued. Statisticalevaluation of ore grades at Narwapahar, Keruadungri, Bagjata, Rajgaonareas of the Singhbhum Thrust Belt was aiso carried out.

Work relating to development,- design/fabrication of equipments requir-ed for field use continued. This comprised work on portable scinttl-lometers, a density logging probe, a high sensitivity gamma-ray spectro-meter, a high sensitivity beta-gamma set-up, a hign sensitivity alpha-ray spectrometer, proton precision magnetometer, helium magnetometer,an assembly for neutron activation analysis, construction of a 14-MeVneutron generator, field berylometers, scintallation core scanner, G. M/scintallation arches, radon detectors, electromagnetic survey instruments,mass spectrometer etc.

In the Mineral Technology Laboratories at New Delhi and Bangalore,beneficiation and ieaching tests under varying laboratory and field con-ditions on ore samples from different areas continued. Bacterial leach-ing was also commenced on low grade ores in collaboration with theIndian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. The results of micro-bial leaching obtained on Bhatin and Keruadungri ores were encourag-ing. Application of these methods on the low grade carbonaceous claysamples from Neyveli (Tamil Nadu) and the phosphorite samples fromSahasradhara (U.P.) is being tried. Experimental heap leaching testsin the field were carried out on ores at Udaisagar, Umra and Chhinjra.

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The Division continued to collaborate with and render assistance invarious investigations undertaken by other organisations such as theGeological Survey of India, the Indian Bureau of Mines, the NationalGeophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, Indian Copper Corporationetc. Help was also provided to private parties, universities and otherorganisations interested in the search for uranium by providing techni-cal information and advice, lending G. M. counters and analysing sam-ples free of charge.

The Division continued to depute its officers under various schemes fortraining abroad in the field of survey, prospecting and development ofuranium ore deposits. Two officers of the Division participated in train-ing under IAEA and Indo-French Technical Cooperation Programmesheld in Australia and France respectively, and one officer attended the"International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environments", heldin the U.S.A.

INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONSIndian Rare Earths Limited

Though the recession in the rare earth market continued, the Companyturned the corner in the last quarter of the financial year when a two-year contract for the sale of substantial quantities of rare earths to theUnited States was concluded.

The main products of the Company, namely, rare earths chloride in the'Rare Earths Division and ilmenite in the Minerals Division, have been fullycommitted for sale. In the former case till 1971-72, with an option for1972-73, and in the case of ilmenite till 1973-74, with an option for1974-75 onwards. No difficulty is anticipated in the disposal of theother products of these Divisions, either locally or abroad.

The diversification programme undertaken by the Company progressedsatisfactorily. A plan to expand the capacity of the plant at Alwaye toprocess monazite, which had been held over due to the setback inthe market for rAre earths chloride, was put through in view of the en-couraging trends. The erection of the rutile-zircon plant at Chavarawas completed while erection of the main mineral sand separation plantand zirconium opacifier plant at Chavara and the zirconium oxide plantat Manavalakurichi progressed. These plants are expected,to be onstream early in 1970-71.

The total turnover of the Company registered an overa! increase as com-pared to the previous year. Profits, however, did not rise corresponding-ly because of a lower rate of production in both the Minerals and the

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Rare Earths Divisions, which resulted in higher unit cost of production,as well as higher overheads, depreciation, increase in handling andforwarding charges on exports and increase in royalty rates in the caseof minerals.

The Company continued to operate the thorium plant at Trombay onbehalf of the Government of India. The question of changing the pro-cess for the manufacture of thorium nitrate in the thorium plant is underconsideration.

Uranium Corporation of India Limited

The uranium mine and the mill at Jaduguda, which were commissionedin May 1968 and November 1968 respectively, have now almost reachedtheir rated capacity. Concentrates of the value of approximately Rs. 335lakhs were produced during 1969-70, as against production valued atRs. 180.83 lakhs in 1968-69.

The Government of India have invested Rs. 745 lakhs in the share capi-tal of the Company. In addition, a long-term loan of Rs. 277 lakhs fromthe Government of India is currently outstanding against the Company.

Electronics Corporation of India Limited

The year 1969-70 is the third year of incorporation of the Company andthe second full year of operation. In the initial years, the activities of theCorporation were mainly connected with the construction of factory build-ings and the setting up of facilities. During the year 1968-69, the factorybuildings of the Power Reactor Instrumentation Division and Resistorsand Capacitors Division were completed and occupied, while the build-ings of Servo Controls Division and Nuclear and Allied Instruments Divi-sion were completed and occupied in the early part of 1969-70. Workin respect of the factory buildings of the two remaining Divisions, theCommon Facilities buildings and the Administration building is in pro-gress. The entire programme of buildings except the Administrationbuilding is expected to be completed by the middle of 1970.

The revised project estimates envisage capital expenditure of Rs. 364.44lakhs, comprising Rs. 158.15 lakhs on buildings and Rs. 206.29 lakhs onplant and machinery. The gross block as on the 31st March 1969 wasRs. 12853 lakhs, as against Rs. 51.35 lakhs on 31st March 1968. Thetotal number of employees on 31st October 1969 was 1408.

The value of production and sales during 1968-69 was Rs. 80.92 lakhsand Rs. 31.53 'akhs respectively. The targets for 1969-70 have beenset at Rs. 125.00 lakhs for production and Rs. 92.00 lakhs for sales.

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The Computer unit of the Electronics Division of the Bhabha AtomicResearch Centre, which has successfully designed and built the firstprototype TDC-12 Computer, has since been shifted to Hyderabad andconstituted as the Computer Division of the Company for commercialscale production of computers. The target figure of production is 10analogue and 10 digital computers a year. A Microwave Division willalso be set up shortly for the manufacture of microwave test equipmentand components.

The Department of Atomic Energy is setting up a composite HousingColony at Hyderabad for the officers and staff of the Nuclear Fuel Com-plex, ECIL and the TIFR.

Nuciear Fuel Complex

The Nuciear Fuel Complex being established at Hyderabad will consistof the following:

a) A Uranium Oxide Plant, with an initial capacity to produce 125tonnes/annum of ceramic and nuclear grade uranium oxide(UO^), from the Jaduguda uranium concentrates.

b) A Zirconium Plant, with an initial capacity to produce 50 ton-nes/annum of finished zircaloy components, required for the fuelelement sheathing and the reactor core, starting from Indianzircon. (This plant will be made up of three constituent units,viz. Zirconium Oxide Plant, Zirconium Sponge Plant and theZircaloy Fabrication Plant).

c) A Ceramic Fuel Fabrication Plant, with an initial capacity toproduce 100 tonnes/annum of finished fuel elements, for theCandu type reactors.

d) An enriched Uranium Oxide Plant, with a capacity to produce 25tonnes/annum of ceramic grade enriched UOL. powder, from im-ported enriched uranium hexa-fluoride.

e) An Enriched Uianium Fuel Fabrication Plant, with a capacity toproduce 20 tonnet>/«unum of zircaloy clad enriched UO- fuelelements, for the Tarapur Atomic Power Station.

f) The Special Materials Plant to produce a variety of high puritymetals and materials for the electronics industry; and

g) Ancillary facilities and external utilities (Common Plant Facili-ties), to serve the above plants.

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Inclusive of the Enrichment Plants, the total capital outlay for NFC isestimated at Rs. 1,384 lakhs. It has been estimated that with the com-missioning of the Complex, there will be annual foreign exchange sav-ing to the extent of about Rs. 5.5 crores, and a net annual saving of aboutRs. 3.0 crores.

The Uranium Oxide Plant, the Zirconium Oxide Plant, the ZirconiumSponge Plant and the Ceramic Fuel Fabrication Plant are expected \obe commissioned by the end of 1970, while Special Materials Plant willbe operational by mid-1971. The Zircaloy Fabrication Plant will be com-missioned in stages and regular production of zircaloy calandria tubesis expected to commence by mid-1971, while production of fuel tubesand coolant tubes will start towards the end of that year. The EnrichedFuel Plants will go into operation during 1972.

A preliminary project proposal for the manufacture of seamless alloysteel tubes (Specially in stainless & high alloy steels) at the ZircaioyFabrication Plant has been prepared and approved. The proposal isunder detailed examination.

A substantial portion of the equipment (including the extrusion press con-signment for the Zircaloy Fabrication Plant) has been received at site.

The entire stainless steel tank fabrication work for the Uranium OxidePlant, about 75 percent of the work for the Zirconium Oxide Plant and85 percent of the work for the Zirconium Sponge Plant have been com-pleted at the Central Workshops of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre,Trombay.

Pilot Plant programmes on the following were continued at Trombay:—

(a) The production of hafnium-free nuclear grade Zirconium Oxide,from Indian Zircon, (b) Conversion of nuclear grade ZrOj to ductileZirconium sponge metal (in 15 kg batches) by the cloride process (c)Arc melting and extrusion of zirconium alloys (d) Continuous produc-tion of ceramic grade UOj powder, from the crude di-uranate (sup-plied from the Uranium Corporation o. India, Jaduguda) (e) Produc-tion of sintered UO-_. pellets to CANDU specifications, and completefabrication of the 19 element-cluster Zircaloy-clad UOL. fuel bundles(corresponding to RAPP fuel design), and (f) Processing of Indiancolumbite-tantalite ore for the production of pure tantalum pndniobium intermediates, sodium reduction of KTaFT to produce 10micron size capacitor-grade tantalum powder, production of sinteredtantalum anodes, to ECIL specifications (for further conversion toelectrolytic tantalum capacitors by ECIL), for electron-beam meltingand wire drawing of tantalum.

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Equipment prototypes were successfully tested, and adequate operationaldata collected. These will be useful in the commissioning of the variousproduction units of the Complex.

Heavy WaterDevelopment of the site for the 100 tonnes/year Heavy Water Plant be-ing set up in Rajasthan alongside the Rajasthan Atomic Power Projecthas commenced.

Another plant for the production of heavy water is being set up atBaroda based on the Ammonia-Hydrogen exchange process, with acapacity of 87.2 tonnes of heavy water per annum. A contract for thesupply of equipment, engineering and design, supervision of erectionand commissioning of this plant has been entered into with a FrenchConsortium. The Project is scheduled to be completed early in 1973-74.

A Board designated as the "Heavy Water Projects Board" has been con-stituted to deal with nil aspects of the production of heavy water.

ATOMIC POWER

Tarapur Atomic Power Project

Reactor No. 1 of the Tarapur Atomic Power Station became critical onFebruary 1, 1969, while Reactor No. 2 reached the stage on February 27.Power began to flow into fhe power systems of Gujarat and Maharashtrafrom April 1, 1969. Then followed the post-operational and startup test-ing phase which is necessary in all atomic plants. This operation wassuccessfully completed by September 1969. The Station was fully readyon Gandhi Jayanti Day and continuous commercial operation be-gan from October 3, 1969. Formally, however, the Station was takenover from the prime contractors on October 28, 1969. Since then itis being run entirely by Indian personnel at a high availability factor.By March 15, 1970, 1,225 million units of power had been generated fromthe Station. On January 19, 1970 the Station was formally dedicatedto the people by the Prime Minister.

Interconnected operation of Gujarat and Maharashtra power system iscontinuing.

Work at the switchyard — erected, operated and maintained by the Maha-rashtra State Electricity Board, was completed. However, there werea few breakdowns in the switchyard due to hot clamps, insulator flash-over etc.. which were attended to by the Maharashtra State ElectricityBoard. Continuous full power operation of the Station from both the

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units of Tarapur together will depend upon improvements effected in theswitchyard.

Rajastan Atomic Power Project

Civil work on the Main Plant building of Unit 1 of the Station was sub-stantially completed and installation of equipment is in progress. Majorreactor equipment like Calandria, Dump Tank, Shield Tank, CoolantChannel Assemblies, have been already installed. Setting up of auxiliaryreactor equipment like Fuelling Machine Carriages, Dousing Water Tank,Piping system, etc. is in progress. Erection of the turbogenerator set andauxiliaries has been taken up while erection of the 220 KV Switchyard issubstantially over. A portion of the switchyard was energised at 132KV for supplying commissioning power. With the receipt of instrumenta-tion and control racks and junction boxes, installation and wiring of thesame are in progress. Instrumentation and control equipment are beingmanufactured at the Electronics Corporation of India Ltd., Hyderabad.

Construction of Reactor Building No. 2 and extension to the turbine build-ing is on. With the completion of fabrication of the Reactor Building struc-tural steel, erection of the same has commenced. Fabrication of majorreactor equipment like thermal shield plates, access doors, fuelling ma-chine vault rails, fuelling machine carriages, calandria, end shield, endshield ring, boilers, etc. is in hand. Arrangements have been made toinitiate bulk procurement of electronic components required for themanufacture of electronic instruments at the Power Reactor Instrumenta-tion Division of the Electronics Corporation of India Ltd. Satisfactoryprogress has been made in the manufacture of circulating water andprocess water pumps.

Madras Atomic Power Project

All the land required for the power station and the township has beentaken over. The permanent township and laying of an infiltration galleryin the Palar river and a pipe line to the Reactor site over a distance ofabout 17 km. for supply of fresh water have been completed.

The Plate Rolling Shop has been commissioned while construction ofthe Component Assembly Shop is in progress.

Work in the Project workshop is gaining momentum and about 2300embeded parts for the Reactor Building have been fabricated.

Work is in progress on the construction of the reactor and turbine build-ings for the first unit of 200 MWe capacity. A double wall type of con-tainment for the reactor building, consisting of an inner prestressed

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concrete wall and an outer rubble masonry wall is being adopted. Asuppression chamber will be incorporated inside the reactor buildingbelow basement level as part of the safety system. A unique aspect ofthe construction is that the reactor building will be the first fully pre-stressed concrete nuclear containment structure in India.

Sea water will be used for cooling the condenser, and for cooling theclosed circuit process water. The station, with an installed capacity of400 MWe, will require about 3,190 million litres of water per day. Atunnel under the sea-bed connected to an intake structure, about 500metres long, is being considered. A single tunnel for the two units ofthe Station is envisaged. This type of sea water intake structure involv-ing an undersea tunnel is being attempted for the first time in India. Thelocation and size of the pumphouse and outfall have been finalised andmodel studies concerning optimisation of the tunnel and intake structureare in progress.

Optimisation studies on moderator heat exchangers and process waterheat exchangers have been completed while those for the condenserand main steam piping are in progress. Design and preparation of speci-fications for the remaining items are in progress.

Power generated at the Station will be stepped up to 230 KV and fed intothe grid. Network studies have been conducted to determine the charac-teristics of the interconnections to the grid.

Special measures are under way to identify and develop new capacityfor manufacture and fabrication within the country of as much of theequipment as possible not only to reduce foreign exchange expenditurebut also to create a national capability over a wide range of technology.Orders have beeii piaced for indigenous manufacture of nuclear equip-ment like the calandria, end shields, end shield rings, end fittings, fuel-ling machine cable carts, shielding plugs, shield tank, dump tank, pri-mary coolant pumps, moderator pumps, etc. On the conventional side,an order for the supply of the turbo-generator has been placed on HeavyElectricals (India) Ltd., Bhopal.

Certain essential preliminary civil works for the second unit of the stationhas commenced and the construction of the diaphragm wall and foundationwork is in an advanced stage.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSThe Department continued to participate in all important activities of theInternational Atomic Energy Agency. For the thirteenth time in succes-sion since the inception of the International Atomic Energy Agency,

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India was designated a member of its Board of Governors as the coun-try most advanced in atomic energy in South Asia.

Under the auspices of the Department of Atomic Energy and ihe Inter-national Atomic Energy Agency, a two-week programme of lectures,practical demonstrations and group discussions in food irradiation washeld at the Food Irradiation and Processing Laboratory of the BhabhaAtomic Research Centre, Trombay (during October 27-November 7, 1969)for a team of scientists from South East Asian countries.

An Agreement for Cooperation in the peaceful uses of atomic energybetween India and the Philippines was signed in Manila on March 14.1969. The Agreement envisages full and free exchange of unclassifiedinformation concerning peaceful uses of atomic energy.

Under a Protocol on exchange of scientists and specialists between theUSSR State Committee for the Utilisation of Atomic Energy and the IndianAtomic Energy Commission signed on April 30, 1968, three groups ofSoviet scientists viz. an Isotope Group consisting of eight scientists, aReactor Group consisting of four scientists, and a Physics Group con-sisting of four scientists, visited India in 1969 to acquaint themselves withthe scientific research being carried out in India in the respective fieldsand to identify specific areas of collaboration.

OTHER ACTIVITIESTechnical Liaison Mission

The Technical Liaison Mission of the Department was established inParis (with headquarters in Bombay), for locating suppliers of nuclearequipment in Europe, and for processing the requirements of the Depart-ment and its constituent units. Processing foreign supply indents of theMadras Atomic Power Project is the principal work of the Mission al-though requirements of other projects such as the Heavy Water Plant,Fuel Reprocessing Plant, the Space Research Programme and FastReactor Programme are also being attended to by it.

By establishing personal contacts, the Mission has been able to provideclarifications on technical matters and interest competent manufacturersin Europe to participate in our tenders for requirement of special mate-rials. The Mission also provides valuable information to user divisionsby carrying out factory evaluation and product survey of different sup-pliers and inspection of equipment on order.

Reactor Research Centre

The Reactor Research Centre planned near Kalpakkam, the site of theMadras Atomic Power Station will have the following facilities : i) Auxi-

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liary laboratories like Heat Transfer and Liquid Metal Technology Labo-ratories, Material Research Laboratories, Fuel Reprocessing and FuelFabrication Facilities, a Zero Energy Fast Reactor Facility, and (ii) A smallFast Breeder Test Reactor which would incorporate maximum possibleparameters of a large prototype power reactor.

The Laboratories are expected to be commissioned some tima towardsthe end of 1970.

The Atomic Energy Commission has approved the preparation of a de-tailed project report, on the Fast Breeder Reactor which constitutesPhase II of the project, in collaboration with the French Commissariat AL'Energie Atomique. The preparation of the report will be the responsi-bility of the Indian Atomic Energy Commission. It will detail the designand specifications of all plant components as a guide for firm financialestimate for concluding contracts, and also for carrying out certain de-tailed studies and tests necessary tc define the characteristics of thereactor. An Agreement has been concluded with the French Commis-sariat A L'Energie Atomique for this purpose, the salient features of whichare :

i) The responsibility for the whole project, including the construc-tion of the reactor will iie with the Indian Atomic Energy Com-mission.

ii) Every effort will be made to have maximum Indian content in theengineering of the project and supply of materials and equipmentby Indian industry.

lii) The French Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique will receive ateam of 30 Indian engineers, scientists and technicians for work-ing on the detailed design of the prototype reactor which wouldbe completed in 12-18 months.

The Indian team is already in France and the project report is expectedlo be ready by June 1970.

The foreign exchange expenditure involved in the preparation of thedetailed project report is being met out of the French credit.

Variable Energy Cyclotron

The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay has been entrusted withthe setting up of the Variable Energy Cyclotron Project. The fabricationof the various parts of the machine is being done at the Research Centre.

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The Heavy Engineering Corporation, Ranchi, and Heavy Electricals (India)Ltd., Bhopal will be undertaking fabrication of the steel core and of thecoils of the main magnet of the cyclotron. !t is hoped that the Projectwill give a stimulus to these and other industrial establishments in thecountry to undertake the manufacture of sophisticated research equipment.The work of fabricating various components ^nd sub-assemblies of thesesystems has been undertaken in BARC laboratories and workshops. Forsome major items, subcontracts have been given to local manufacturers.

Programme Analysis Group

A Programme Analysis Group (PAG) was formed as a unit of the AtomicEnergy Commission. This unit is intended to serve the entire DAE familyas a resources group in the fields of Management, Socia, Sciences andPolicy Planning. The need for such a Group has been felt increasinglyfor the past few years as the activities of the Commission have expandedrapidly over several areas of advanced technology like Electronics andSpace Research in addition to Nuclear Power, in some of which iheDepartment's responsibility extends right from pure research to indus-trial operations.

The PAG assists the Commission in its policy making function. Currentlyth«j Group is engaged in manpower planning, design and initiation ofR&D Management Practices and formulation and implementation ofDolicy options in the areas of Electronics and Space Technology.

The Group members come from diverse backgrounds like NaturalSciences, Engineering, Management and Social Sciences.

Publicity

All available media were used for explaining the activities and achieve-ments of the Department. To reach out to students and the lay public,a mobile exhibition project was started 18 months ago. The exhibitionhas travelled to important cities in North and Central India during thisperiod and has proved very popular, particularly with students. Duringthe forthcoming year, it is planned to cover important cities in the restof the country. The Department is also participating in Expo 70 inOsaka, Japan.

In addition to arranging exhibitions and conducted tours for pressmenaround atomic energy establishments, the Department brings out amonthly magazine Nuclear India which reports activities and develop-ments in the various scientific and technical units of the Department. Themagazine is distributed free to Members of Parliament, journalists, uni-versities, industrial organizations in the public and private sectors, scien-

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tific and research organizations in India and abroad, and Indian em-bassies and consulates. Nuclear India is the main source of informationon Atomic and Space Research activities appearing in Newspapers.Besides Nuclear India, the Department brings out popular-level pam-phlets in English and Hindi which are distributed at exhibitions as hand-outs and mailed in response to requests.

Estate Management

A new unit known as the Directorate of Estate Management has beencreated with effect from Aprs! 1, 1969. The Directorate is responsiblefor all work connected with the maintenance and management of landsand buildings owned by the Department of Atomic Energy in GreaterBombay and outside excluding those covered by the security area ofthe Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. In respect of the excluded area,the unit is responsible only with regard to matters connected with theacquisition of land. The Directorate has also been entrusted responsi-bility for the maintenance and management of all land and buildingsowned by the Department of Atomic Energy at Hyderabad including thebuildings in the Housing Colony which is being set up there.

Financial Assistance

The Department extended financial assistance to the extent of Rs. 12.50lakhs during the year to universities and research institutions for workon projects related to nuclear science and allied disciplines.

Two new Advisory Committees, one for Electronics and the other forMathematics have been constituted by the Department.

It continued to grant fellowships for research in Nuclear Physics, CosmicRays, Electronics, and Life Sciences, though the scholarship scheme wasdiscontinued.

Financial support was continued to institutions and organisations con-cerned with higher mathematics. Some of the organisations falling underthis category are: The Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Madras:The Bombay Mathematical Coloquium, Bombay; The Indian Mathema-tical Society, Delhi; and the Calcutta Mathematical Society, Calcutta.

Financial assistance was also given to the Hyderabad Science Society,Hyderabad, for running an Isotope Centre.

A block grant was given to the Bose Institute, Calcutta, for work on "In-vestigations in Nuclear Physics using neutrons and photons".

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The Department organised the following symposia during the year :(i) Symposium on Isotopes and Radiations in Mutation Breeding, at theBhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, during September 26-291969. (ii) Symposium on Cosmic Rays, Particle Physics, Astrophysicsand Geophysics held at Delhi during October 7-11, 1969. (iii) Sympo-sium on Chemistry held at Chandigarh during September 23-26, 1969. (iv)Symposium on Macromolecules in Storage and Transfer of BiologicalInformation held at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, duringDecember 15-17, 1969. (v) Symposium on Nuclear Physics and SolidState Physics held at Roorkee during December 28-31, 1969.

A Symposium on Materials Science and Research at Bangalore wasorganised in February 1970.

The Department gave financial assistance to other organisations forholding the following Symposia : (i) Symposium on the Chemistry andMetabolism of Lipids and Related Subjects by the Vailabhbhai PatelChest Institute, Delhi; (ii) Symposium on Nuclear Medicine by the Societyof Nuclear Medicine, India, Bombay; and (iii) the IIIrd International Con-gress on the Global Impacts of Applied Microbiology.

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Abbreviations

A EC

AMD

HA RC

ECIL

i.SCES

I At. A

INCOSPAR

ISRO

MAPP

NIC

PPED

PRL

RAPP

ssrc

TAPP

TERLS

77/7?

VCIl.

UNDP

VEC

Atomic Energy Commission

Atomic Minerals Division

Bliabha At(>mic Research Centre

Electronics Corporation of India Ltd.

Experimental Satellite Communication Earth Station

International Atomic Energy Agency

Indian National Committee on Space Research

hu'icn Space Research Organisation

Madras Ahunic Power Project

Nuclear luel Complex

Power Projects Engineering Division

Physical Research Laboratory

Rajasthan Ati>tnic Powsr Pn>ject

Space Science & Technology Centre

Tarapur Atomic Power Project

Thumha Equatorial Rocket Launching Station

Tata Institute of Fundamental Research

Uranium Corporation of India Ltd.

United Nations Development Programme

Variable Energy Cyclotron

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