BCLR
PAGE TWO
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
15. Which of the following statements is true?
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1949
University Atom Smasher Will Aid Physics Study
Bv EDWARD J. CHAPIN
A three million-volt stream of positively charged atom "bullets" will be shot at nearly one-tenth the speed of light to chip off the sides of other atoms in the University's atom-smasher in Blake annex A. L. W. Seagondollar, assistant professor of physics, explained today.
The machine has only begun to function the pass two weeks and is still operating at relatively low voltages. It is estimated that a half-million volts is the highest reading to date, but it is expected that the maximum will be rescued in the next two months.
"We're not going to do research on atom bombs or anything connected with them. Rather, we hope to add to the general fund of nuclear physics," said Dr. Seagondollar, who has directed the building of the atom-smasher since 1947.
Dr. Seagoddollard smiles when the wierdiest-shaped machine with its maze of control panels and circular insulating rings is called an atom-smasher. Nuclear physicists prefer the less dramatic term "electrostatic generator." Nevertheless, the machine was designed to penetrate the layers of atoms in the battery in a way that they give off various kinds of radiation. Special detecting equipment records the result on photographic film.
To smash the target atoms, the machine delivers an electrical charge riding on a fast-moving belt, like an escalator carrying persons from one floor to another, or an aluminum ball. A high positive voltage is built up. This voltage is used to drive another stream of charged particles down an insulated tube.
"One of the unexpected qualities of the machine is its ability to attract hair." Dr. Seagondollar said. "If your hair suddenly begins to point toward the machine—you are too close."
At the end of the tube, the reactions of target atoms are watched with panels of instruments. While the machine is operating, many dials are read through telescopes.
Four-foot sparks jump off the high voltage shell where millions of volts are built up. The sparks are losses since they escape from the high-focus beam. To lessen the voltage losses, the machine is moved into a circular insulating tank of air inside the high pressure chambers around the central tube that carries the focused beam also cut down voltage losses.
One of the difficulties in controlling the radiated X-rays is that the rays will not reflect from a surface, but penetrate all materials. Lead and concrete are efficient insulators when thick enough.
Exposure to the radiation from the machine is dangerous. Geiger count tests will be made in the area around Blake hall to determine the amount of radioactivity. Frank E. Hoecker, associate professor of physics and Biochemistry at University Health service, will work together to make the area safe.
"We believe the walls of Blake hall and the annex will give sufficient protection to students in Blake," Dr. Seagondollar explained. The more concrete is needed, we will make the walls thicker."
A red light on the annex building
University Daily Kansan
Mail subscription: $3 a semester, $4.50
*earn*, in *Lawrence* bill $1.00 a semester
postage). Published in Lawrence, Kans.,
every afternoon during the University
of Kansas except day and examination
versity days and examination periods.
Entered as second class matter Sept. 17,
1910, at the Post Office at Lawrence,
Kans., under act of March 3, 1879.
Expert Watch REPAIR
Electronically Timed Guaranteed Satisfaction
1 week or less service.
WOLFSON'S 743 Mass.
warns when the machine is operating. Graduate students and faculty members wear radiation measuring devices while working with the machine.
J. D. Stranathan, professor of physics, and Khalr Khane, assistant professor of physics, helped construct the machine. Much of the heavy work was done in Fowler shops. The General Electric company markets a similar machine for almost one million dollars.
The fireman who steers the rear end of a hook and ladder truck is called a Tiller man.
Read the Want Ads Daily.
Dr. L. W. Seagondollar, assistant professor of physics, checks instruments near the "target area" of the University's three-million-volt atom smasher in Blake hall annex A.
Mademoiselle Picks Seven
Mademoiselle, fashion magazine has selected seven University women to serve on its college board for 1949-50. Those who have been selected and the material on which they wrote are as follows:
Marian Rippeau, the Jayhawk; Ruth Keller, William Aller White School of Journalism and Public Information; Axi Neville, Quill club; Nancy Gemmil, Western Civilization; Daryl Burton, David Date; and Dorothy Hudson, sorority pinnings, and Virginia Frost, International Relations club.
They are among 850 chosen from the 4,000 who entered the competition. They will report campus news, fads, and fashions, and complete three magazine assignments during the college year.
These assignments will be used as a basis for choosing 20 guest editors who will be brought to New York City for four weeks in June to help write and edit Madmoiselle's 1950 August college issue.
FOR STUDENTS OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
CARBON MONOXIDE... FRIEND OF MAN Thanks to high-pressure synthesis, it now leads a useful life
To the man on the street, carbon monoxide is just a poisonous gas that sometimes causes tragic deaths when it escapes from the exhaust of an automobile or from a poorly tended furnace.
Outside of the chemical field, few people are aware that, properly used, it is a very real friend of man. In the last 25 years, during which catalytic
and high-pressure chemical techniques have been highly developed, carbon monoxide has become a keystone of industrial synthesis.
A. H. Emery, Jr., M.S. Ch.E., M.I.T., '49 ana M. J. Roedel, P.D. Org., Michigan '40 inspecting a high-pressure batch reactor taken from the shaker tube assembly after a run to make 3,5,5-trimethylhexanol.
Scientists have found that under the proper conditions of high pressure and temperature, carbon monoxide, in combination with other substances, can be converted to a variety of useful products. These or their derivatives range from an acid used in tanning hides to the sparkling plastics in milady's boudoir.
You'd hardly associate carbon monoxide with anti-freeze. But at temperatures from 300 to 450°C, and under pressures of 1500 to 15,000 pounds per square inch, carbon monoxide and hydrogen unite to form methanol—a colorless liquid from which is made "Zerone" anti-rust anti-freeze for automobiles. From methanol and carbon monoxide as raw materials, ethylene glycol for "Zerex" anti-freeze is produced.
Plastics and Anti-Freeze
Methanol is used also to make a large number of compounds such as formaldehyde and methyl methacrylate. The former goes into urea and phenol-formaldehyde plastics for light fixtures, radio cabinets, hardware, utensils, and electrical equipment. The latter is the basic material for "Lucite" acrylic resin with its many uses.
R. L. Stearns, B.S. Ch.E., Yale '49 and H. Peterson, B.S. Ch.E., Northeastern Univ. '42 checking a multi-stage carbon monoxide compressed use in semi-works operations.
The reaction of methanol with carbon monoxide leads to acetic acid, which is a well-known industrial chemical. By the same synthesis but substituting ethanol for methanol, propionic acid is obtained. From it come the "Mycoban" sodium and calcium propionates that retard mold and rope in bakery products.
Synthesis in the Future
Today Du Pont manufactures some 120 different items that are partly or wholly dependent upon elevated
A. J. Hill, Jr., Ph.D. Org., Yale '44 and F. F. Holub, Ph.D. Org., Duke '49 carrying out an experiment on a new method for purifying carbon, monoxide. The large furnace in this apparatus operates at $1200^{\circ}C$.
pressures. However, the possibilities have by no means been exhausted. Just recently, for example, chemists have been learning how to use carbon monoxide in "up-grading" certain petroleum hydrocarbons to give interesting alcohols. One of these, 3,5,5-trimethylhexanol, is prepared from diisobutylene by reaction with carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
College-trained men and women interested in working in this field at Du Pont may share in discoveries as outstanding as any yet achieved.
Because of the wide scope of Du Pont's activities,young graduates in many different fields have opportunities to select the careers that prove to suit them best as their abilities and interests develop.
Entertainment Informative - Listen to "Cavalcade of America" Tuesday Night, NBC Count to Coast