. CWLR - 2380 - eae } ‘THE FEASIBILITY OF USING A REACTOR AS A NUCLEAR-WEAPON SIMULATOR FOR SOIL-ACTIVATION STUDIES (U). J. H. McNeilly and E. F. Wilsey, June 1960. UNCLASSIFIED (U) The experiment described uses a nuclear reactor as a neutron source to simlate a nuclear weapon for studying the residual gamma activity induced in soils. The results obtained are then compared with results obtained from a nuclear detonation. The reactor-trradiation and muclear-detonation data are in good agreement for sodium; however, the results with manganese are between 35% The behavior of the thermal-neutron flux with relation to depth was very similar at depths greater than 15 cm. The nuclear-detonation neutron-flux data showed a peaking of the thermal flux at about 8 cm, but these peaks were not seen in the muclear-reactor data. This was explained py the neutron-spectrum differences and the lack of optimm experimental conditions because of a rainstorm during irradiation by the reactor. owe ee mre ee and 50% higher for the reactor irradiation than for the nuclear detonation. Although the feasibility of using a reactor in place of a nuclear detonation for studying neutron-induced activities in soil looks promising, it cannot be definitely established by the results of this CWLR - 2385 ~ ALPHA-CONTAMINATION STUDIES AT OPERATION PLUMBBOB AND HARDTACK (U). R. J. Smith, May 1960. SECRET-RESTRICTED DATA ww Three recent detonations which produced alpha contamination are reviewed to provide background information for the successful operation of the Chemical Corps Plucon Teams. Weapons data, ground~-zero layout, meteorological conditions, alpha-survey and air~sampling results are presented for Shots NIS-57, Operation PLUMBBOB, and Shots Quince and Hamilton, Operation HARDIACK. The effects of wind and the jet on the contamination pattern are discussed. wi: The conclusions drawn from this report are: 1. Shot NIS-57, bottom detonated on the groumd, produced a residual-hazard area which extended 1,500 ft downwind. High concentrations of respirable plutonium particles in the primary aerosol were observed at 5,000 ft downwind. WNRC eae wa nee eg eensene ne study. A soil sample with the same characteristics as the one exposed to the nuclear detonation should be irradiated by a reactor under more suitable experimental conditions than were obtained during this experiment.