GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS The U.S. Geological Survey is a world leader in the development of the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the civilian sector. A demonstration project was prepared jointly by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection on the Broad Brook and Ellington 7.5-minute quadrangle areas in Connecticut. It was first presented at a meeting of the Association of American State Geologists in June 1985 and subsequently at a number of other conventions. It has become commonly used in training of the public in the ARC/INFO GIS system. In late 1986, a Geographic Information Systems Laboratory was established at Reston, VA, that is already receiving great attention from the public, and others are being established at Denver, CO and Menlo Park, CA. The U.S. Geological Survey efforts in GIS have been described in a number of places, including the U.S. Geological Survey Yearbook for Fiscal Year 1985 (available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402). The principal contact is David A. Nystrom, U.S. Geological Survey, 521 National Center, Reston, VA, 22092, telephone number 703/648-4505, FTS 959-4505. X-RAY LITHOGRAPHY SYNCHROTRON (XLS) THE TECHNOLOGY An electron synchrotron storage ring optimized for use in manufacturing high density semiconductors. This ring is the only source that is capable of supporting high resolution <0.35 micron technology for the mass production of 256 megabit and larger chips. Concurrently, industry must develop the ancillary process technology (steppers, masks, resists, aligners, etc). TECHNOLOGY RECIPIENTS United States companies who would manufacture synchrotrons and sell them to computer manufacturers are the initial benefactors. As a result of three workshops held in 1986, recommendations were forthcoming from the industrial participants to build a prototype ambient temperature light source while performing research on magnets for a cryogenic compact source. Process technology will begin at Aladdin at the University of Wisconsin while the prototype is being built and a 0.25 micro process technology effort should be centered on the optimized beam at BNL as soon as possible. At the third workshop the cost of an x-ray lithography program was estimated at $400 million over six years. Of this, only about $60 million was for the prototype synchrotron sources. One million dollars was supplied by DOD in March, 1987. A quarter of this has been spent at Wisconsin to plan for the process development activities there and the rest at Brookhaven to plan for a prototype synchrotron source. In July, 1987, as part of the Brookhaven planning study, a technology transfer workshop was convened. Nine companies with an interest in participating in the prototype program as potential suppliers attended. A consensus agreement as to the approach to be used to transfer the technology emerged from the workshop and is reported on in the workshop proceedings. Congress has included in the FY 1988 appropriations bills approximately seventeen million dollars to initiate construction of a prototype x-ray lithography synchrotron at Brookhaven. Twelve million dollars has been appropriated for a parallel effort at Louisiana State University. USES AND BENEFITS The mass produced bill, bit memory chip will become the key element for supercomputer manufacture in the mid-1990's. It will also be the basis of other large and small advanced computer applications including robotics, CAD/CAM/CAE, expert systems and artificial intelligence, and other advances that will increase productivity, assure national economic competitiveness and security while maintaining U.S. industrial leadership. If the U.S. does not have a homegrown set of process technology vendors, American chip manufacturers and large scale users will be dependent upon foreign machinery. If the U.S. is slow to start, it is quite possible that the first quality and newest high density manufacturing equipment will be available only to large vertically integrated foreign manufacturers. DOE - Brookhaven National Laboratory KDP CRYSTAL INDUSTRY LEAPS FORWARD THE TECHNOLOGY LLNL scientists are continuing to advance the state of the KDP (Potassium Dihydrogen Phosphate) crystal industry by learning how to significantly improve methods of growing, cutting and polishing the fragile material. Through a new LLNL procedure, crystals are being formed 10 times faster than the current industrial rate, and at greatly reduced cost. A closely related program seeks to produce crystals that are more resistant to damage from intense laser light. When fully developed, rapid-growth technology will be transferred to the crystal industry, which in turn is expected to continue its development of large-scale production capability. LLNL also is continuing to share its knowledge of machining KDP crystals with state of the art diamond turning machines. TECHNOLOGY RECIPIENTS Lab scientists have made countless trips around the country to share knowledge and advice about growing, analyzing, handling, machining and polishing KDP. When they began their effort, the largest KDP crystal was the size of an apple; two years later companies were growing crystals standing three feet tall and weighing several hundred pounds. Called boules, they look like giant pyramidal chunks of rock candy. Ohio's Cleveland Crystals now has the unique capability to produce the largest KDP crystals available and is recognized as the world's prime supplier. Livermore employees also have helped American crystal growers learn diamond turning machine technology to finish KDP crystals to a smoothness impossible to achieve with conventional machining techniques. This technology was formally transferred to 14 U.S. companies through LLNL-sponsored technology transfer workshops. LLNL funded the construction of diamond turning machines and related measurement equipment at Cleveland Crystals and Pneumo Precision, New Hampshire. Cleveland expanded its product line and Pneumo Precision established a new facility near LLNL. Both firms report growing sales worldwide and are continuing to work closely with LLNL to expand their technical base. USES AND BENEFITS KDP crystals improve laser fusion experiments by converting laser light to higher frequencies. American companies are now supplying KDP components to the Japanese, British and French laser fusion programs. With significant advances on the horizon from LLNL for speeding crystal growth, the industry's future looks bright. DOE - Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory ADVANCED ACCELERATOR MAY REPLACE CHEMICALS IN PROCESSING OF FOOD THE TECHNOLOGY Laboratory researchers have developed a small linear induction accelerator capable of generating a very high powered electron beam. This device could serve as a relatively inexpensive treatment source for a number of commercial processes, particularly food processing and preservation. LLNL's design uses highly reliable and efficient magnetic generators to produce high intensity burst of electrons with pulse power averaging several megawatts. The design is a spinoff of LLNL directed energy research conducted for the Strategic Defense Initiative. A 2-million electron volt machine has been successfully used in a series of food preservation experiments carried out by LLNL and the University of California at Davis. TECHNOLOGY RECIPIENTS More than 60 industry representatives have been briefed by Laboratory experts on the capability of the linear accelerator. LLNL is assisting a small corporation which has been awarded a DOE Small Business Innovative Research grant, entitled "Advanced Accelerator Development for Industrial Applications." The assistance is in the form of temporary loans of unused equipment and technical consultation and advice. In addition, negotiations are under way to license applicable patented technology to the firm. The company's goal is to develop and market commercial accelerators for food treatment and medical equipment sterilization. COMMERCIAL USES AND BENEFITS Even though farmers protect their crops with chemicals, pests and diseases still destroy one-third of the nation's annual harvest. The LLNL accelerator should provide unmatched capabilities for use against insect infestation of harvested fruits and vegetables, as well as a means to extend the shelf life of many foodstuffs, including grains. It is a safe alternative to chemical fumigants. Studies by LLNL beam energy experts show that the operating cost of processing a tone of food with their accelerator is about half of what it would cost with current chemical methods of disinfestation and fumigation. Electron doses can vary, ranging from low level to inhibit insects to high levels to sterilize for long-term preservation and the elimination of viruses. DOE Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |