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to characterize the properties -and response of plasma or for chlorinated hydrocarbons chromatography detectors

develop

to Since mass spectroscopic isotope dilution techniques. much trace organic work is carried out in aqueous media, a major challenge exists in the development of techniques that wil1 interface liquid chromatography with mass spectroscopy while minimizing interference effects from the introduction of solvent ions on the mass spectrum.

If NBS is to produce the standard reference materials and reference methods that are needed for current concerns (e.g., CEQ finding that 60-90 percent of all cancer is environmentally induced; preliminary EPA findings showing the existence in U.S. drinking water of known carcinogens i.e., chlorinated hydrocarbons) then such research efforts must be undertaken. NBS research in these areas is even more essential to provide the national measurement basis for a research effort that promises challenge scientists throughout the U.S. for years to come.

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Particulate and Surface Analysis: There is a growing body of evidence that submicron respirable particles of acidic nature (e.g., sulfate aerosols) may be the air pollutant most deleterious to human health. While it is known that these secondary particles are formed via photochemical induced reactions of primary pollutant gases, the base of knowledge needed to measure and characterize these particles and their reactions is now meagre.

The Clean Air Amendments now before Congress would require studies of pollutant transformations and standards and regulatory processes for various specific forms of fine particulates. The identification and characterization of harmful asbestos fibers requires new innovative techniques. The NBS mission requires the Bureau to provide the national measurement basis for researchers who are exploring this important area. NBS outputs would be used by all of the parties in the proposed regulatory process: the regulating agencies; other Federal, state, and local agencies; and private industry.

At present, NBS has a nucleus of competence in particle analysis and surface chemistry, but additional staff specialists are needed to develop a complete program and to build the specialized equipment needed for the characterization of fine particles. Insufficient long-term NBS research in this area will undoubtedly retard the development of a sound national measurement basis for particulate and surface analysis which, in turn, will retard the

scientific and technical effort to produce the knowledge needed to ameliorate important health and safety problems.

Nonequilibrium Processes: Measurements that lead to values of thermodynamic properties of a system are useful only when local thermodynamic equilibrium conditions pertain within significant volumes of the system under investigation. Under these conditions, it is possible to relate temperature and pressure measurement to such qualities as enthalpy, chemical potential, by straight forward thermodynamic treatment.

etc.,

Modern technological advances, however, have produced numerous instances of practical systems that operate away from equilibrium conditions and demand the measurement of properties ir systems that do not have time to reach equilibrium. The validity of applying classical thermodynamic concepts, then, becomes

uncertain.

These developments raise the need for a new branch of measurement science and technology that will involve both theoretical and experimental investigations of nonequilibrium processes. Such an advanced measurement system would allow dynamic measurements in many areas not now possible, and would result in striking productivity improvement in many processes. For example:

Measurements of temperature and pressure in flames to specify the conditions associated with production of hydrogen radicals in flames important for an understanding of combustion and flame spread.

Temperature and pressure during turbulent flow of fluids (LNG) which must be metered.

NBS has a small current effort to examine the use of nonequilibrium techniques for such measurements. However, the long-term effort to develop a sound theoretical and experimental basis for this new branch of measurement science would require the combined talents of chemical physics, thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and analytical engineering. Only through the infusion of significant resources can NBS develop this opportunity for the dynamic measurement processes of the future.

Algorithmic Analysis

Demands for immediate problem-solving and very severe resource constraints at NBS for several years have prevented the Bureau from undertaking many longer-term research

for efforts in computer science that could provide the foundation solving practical problems that face Federal computer users today. One such unmet need is in the area of algorithmic analysis.

Only by studying and understanding the fundamental structure governing the construction of computer programs can the process of programming be turned from an art to an organized application of knowledge. Algorithms are the abstractions of computational processes that are realized in computer programs. Algorithmic analysis allows the theoretical determination of execution time and space requirements. By comparing the theoretical values to the measured time or space requirements of actual programs, performance measurement methods can be developed.

Such a theoretical and experimental effort would lay the foundation for approaching many practical problems on a systematic basis. For example, algorithmic analysis can indicate feasibility and estimate future performance for complicated programs before they are implemented and, more importantly, algorithmic analysis allows systhesis of new algorithms that will lead to improvements in computer programming technology.

Modern Fluid Mechanics Modern requirements for the rapid transfer of complex bulk fuilds such as liquified natural gas under adverse conditions are placing demands on field fluid flow measurement--and corrolary traceability to NBS measurements--that are beyond the state-of-the-art. Traditionally, the accuracy of field fluid metering has been assured by traceability to NBS via NBS calibration of industry's fluid flow meters. The increasing role of fluids in the Amrican and international economy, especially in rapid transfers of fluid materials, requires a new approach to making these essential measurements and to establishing the essential traceability.

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assure traceability to national measurements, NBS must develop an extensive modeling capability that will allow the accurate prediction of fluid flow around obstructions and in the presence of adverse conditions. Research is required to develop a detailed understanding of fluid characteristics for difference regions of the flow and for different Reynold's numbers. These findings must then be carefully correlated through experiments.

By advancing the theory of fluid flow and developing the needed data, models can be built that will be directly applicable to a wide range of other fluid problems and will also provide for the

design of instruments that are more sensitive and accurate and, at the same time, nore rugged.

Wear of Materials At present, there is a serious lack of understanding of the material properties that determine wear resistance. Efforts to develop improved materials for high wear applications are hampered by poor or inadequate wear test methods and, further, material standards for use in wear test programs are not available. The opportunities for a significant and critical input to this problem from a properly constituted NBS research program are great.

Wear of materials is one of the principal causes for the failure of materials in a wide variety of technological applications. Estimates of the cost of wear throughout the economy have been in excess of $20 billion per year. Mechanical wear, very often exacerbated by environmental effects, is a critical problem in such areas as machinery bearings and electrical contacts, sliding surface contacts, solid and liquid handling pumps, and transfer lines. Often, even though the amount of material lost through wear is small, the proper function of the equipment is impaired or destroyed because of necessarily narrow dimensional tolerances of components.

A small nucleus of competence in material wear now exists at NBS; additional specialists are required to conduct theoretical and experimental research on the mechanisms of wear in mcdern, complex materials. This will lead to full utilization of improved materials and more efficient materials performance.

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Fracture of Structural Metals Optimum design of such structure as bridges, pipelines, and large pressure vessels (e.g., nuclear reactors) is dependent on sound theory and accurate data related to fracture mechanics. At present data on the fracture properties of ductile metals, design criteria for structures, and relevant test and measurement methods all are inadequate to need. Judgements of lifetime (durability) and safety of complex structures are now frequently made using predictions fracture mechanics. based on Federal regulatory agencies, the American industry have all in assessing the validity of

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standards and the measurement technology for dealing with fracture mechanics applications. NBS should be conducting research into fracture mechanisms, relating the the theory of theory to experimental applications and developing appropriate measurement standards. Current NBS resources do not allow additional sta: f capability to carry out such a program (e.g., mechanical engineers trained in fracture mechanics, materials science and mechanical testing; solid state physicists with experience in Computer simulation and analytical modeling relate stress and plasticity to crack growth.)

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Free Electron laser in the Infrared Intense narrow-band sources of radiation are a necessity for high-resolution spectroscopic experiments. For many experiments, these sources must also be tuneable through the spectral region of interest. Lasers and masers that depend on quantized processes in atoms or molecules are generally tuneable only over very limited regions around certain discrete frequencies. Although a class of tuneable lasers has been developed using liquid dye media, these lasers operate only in the visible region of the spectrum, are limited in power, and are unsuitable for high-resolution investigations without some additional stablization. The availability of tuneable laser sources in all regions of the spectrum would allow significant improvement in NBS measurement standards and reference methods in such areas as laser chemistry, isotope separation, and kinetic studies.

A recently reported experiment at Stanford University presents the possibility for development of a laser-like system using a beam of electrons from a linear accelerator. This system could be made to emit narrow band light at any desired frequency. Much of the equipment and many of the experimental talents needed to pursue development of this type of device already exist at NBS. However, the NBS linear accelerator, will require considerable modification to produce a beam of electrons with sufficient energy to observe the effect, and to develop a spatially periodic magnetic field. Without additional resources, another opportunity to advance the state of measurement science will be lost.

Understanding

the Macroscopic World from the Properties of Atoms and Molecules Detailed correlation between the orbital structure of atoms and molecules governs the way in which they interact with the real world. Slight differencess in structure can often make in physical behavior. Efforts to understand

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