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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 1980)
THE BATTALION Page 9 THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 1980 OUST IS ot bottle ^TWJU m tfto6tlES&\ OFF etv device shows promise for nuclear fusion fpsa-nTd^?^ lating r ten reac- But if ; last show M; niter it re- /pro- rs to efore xecu- efuDv United Press International LOS ALAMOS, N.M. — Scien- ists at the Los Alamos Scientific aboratory are making final adjust- nents on a device they hope will ake them one step closer to de velopment of a virtually limitless iupply of energy. The device is a 7-foot wide, lonut-shaped tube wrapped by 12 nagnetic discs the size of truck tires indfed by a seemingly endless sup- )ly of electric cables. It is called imply “ZT-40. ” Technically, ZT-40 is a “torraidal nagnetic bottle,” a device which in arger fonn may be used to ixiwer mdear fusion reactors. Scientists throughout the world are currently working on several dif ferent approaches to achieve con trolled fusion reactions. Fusion reactions like those in the sun occur when two light elements collide, fuse under intense pressure and heat to fonn a heavier element, eleasing energy in the process. In [heory, that energy would lie used :o heat water and then power a steam turbine to produce electric ity. Unlike the atom-splitting fission reaction used in today's nuclear power plants, nuclear fusion is con sidered cleaner and less dangerous. Scientists see tremendous poten tial in fusion reactors. The basic elements which will be used to fuel fusion reactors are deuterium and tritium, different forms of the ele ment hydrogen. “The potential payoff in this pro gram is so enormous for civilization that we can’t allow this possibility to go untried, said Dr. Harry Dreicer, head of the LASL Con trolled Thermonuclear Research Division. ZT-40 is just one step in many aimed at developing a workable fu sion generating plant. But the steps remaining are difficult ones and best estimates are that the ultimate de vice won t be operating until the early part of the 21st century. The key problem facing develop ment is that fusion reactions only occur at extreme temperatures, up to 100 million degrees centigrade, making it impossible for the reaction to come in contact with any material known to man. ZT-40 is an experiment to contain the reaction within a magnetic field and keep it away from the walls of the chamber where the reaction oc curs. Dreicer said the first injection of reactants into the ZT-40 was made Oct. 5. He said the device currently is undergoing testing and debug ging. It is hoped that the preliminary work can be completed so that by April 1 “we can have a more or less full-fledged operation, he said. Sa'Hirdav^ lO-.OO- lo'-OO enio-iwo 3801 Ibwn Counrtrv) Shopping Cervter -75/ Cans On Is* 1 GSA official charged with bribery United Press International WASHINGTON — A former high-ranking government adminis trator was charged with bribery as a result of an investigation into charges that he and others cheated taxpayers out of more than $415,000 by setting up inflated or phony General Services Adminstration contracts. Named in felony “information charges filed in U.S. District Court Tuesday was Robert Stevens, a former contracts specialist at the GSA Region III headquarters in Washington. Assistant U.S. Attorney William S. Block, who filed the charges, said they involve $850,0(X) in contracts for which only $435,000 in work was actually performed. Of the of the more than $415,000 in alleged fraud, government employees al legedly received $350,000 in cash and gratuities. Sources said the filing of “ infor mations,” rather than the return of grand jury indictments against the 11 men involved, was an indication they have agreed to plead guilty and to tell what they know about other corruption within the agency in re turn for more lenient treatment. Sun Theatres CINEMA 1 MANOR EAST 3 * 7:30 H fWTo/7 Prtire 1 □□ dolby irrarau UNIVERSITY SQUARE SHOPPING CENTEF- 1> DAN AYKROYD NED BEATTY . JOHN BELUSHI TIM MATHESON MURRAY HAMILTON HELD OVER THE ELECTRIC HORSEMAN jPGW 7:15 CAMPUS _ i RRt fcaa-g— —ci 333 University 846 The only movie in town Double-Feature Every Week 10 a.m.-2 a.m. Sun.-Thurs. lO a.m.-3 a.m. FH.'Sat. No one under 18 Ladles Discount With this Coupon BOOK STORE & 25c PEEP SHOWS 846-9808 EAT HEARTY. DRINK FREE. You already know how wonderful Swensen’s Ice Cream is. Did you realize we have fabulous food to go with it? To introduce you to this scrumptious fare, we’re offering a delicious bribe. When you order a Swensen’s SANDWICH or HAMBURGER OF YOUR CHOICE, HAVE AN ICE CREAM SODA OR A TREASURE ISLAND FLOAT. FREE! Save *1.15 *1.45 Culpepper Plaza •College Station 693-6948 Mon -Thurs. 1 1:30 AM-1 0:30 PM Fit & Sat 11:30AM-11 PM # Sun 1 2 noon-10:30 PM SWENSEN’S OFFER NOT GOOD WITH KIDDIE CORNER ITEMS^^ I ITEMS OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY OTHER DISCOUNT lAICtK 7:40 STAMAlMG (IN AA P*tA»r T ICAA OAOCR) s’** EASEtfS MEL FERRER GLENN FORD LANCE HENRIKSEN JOHN HUSTON JOANNE NAIL SAM PECKINPAH SHELLEY WINTERS^..r^-oPAIGE CONNER PASTA S SAYS WELCOME BACK AGGIES!! PIZZA SPAGHETTI LASAGNE WE’RE HAVING OUR SECOND ANNUAL PIZZA FEST JUST FOR YOU. ALL THE PIZZA YOU CAN EAT AND BEVERAGE YOU CAN DRINK. Thursday, Jan. 17 (6 p.m.-10 p.m.) PIZZA — y 2 LB. 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