Energy conservation actions can be economically rational responses to the energy crisis. But these actions may be hindered by social and institutional barriers. The nature of these barriers is explored and a taxonomy of barriers is proposed. Results of a series of interviews providing examples of the different types of barriers are reported. Strategies for overcoming barriers are examined and some criteria for evaluating such strategies are developed. The importance of considering not only the efficiency of strategies in achieving the goal of energy conservation, but also their impacts on others, possibly competing, social and economic goals is emphasized. The need for both increased efforts aimed at overcoming barriers and further research into the nature of barriers and further research into the nature of barriers is discussed. I • J This report was done with support from the Department of Energy. Any conclusions or opinions expressed in this report represent solely those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of The Regents of the University of California, the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory or the Department of Energy. Reference to a company or product name does not imply approval or recommendation of the product by the University of California or the U.S. Department of Energy to the exclusion of others that may be suitable.

A high-power, Q-switched, neodymium-doped glass laser was used to create a blow-off plasma at surfaces of solid materials. Measurements of the ensuing stress pulses and the associated phenomena are discussed.

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Thin metal targets were irradiated with a Q-switched neodymium laser. The absorption of the laser energy produced a high-temperature and -pressure plasma which drove stress waves into the targets. In some cases the plasma was confined using the technique developed by Anderholm and it was found that the magnitude of the stress increased with confinement. The histories of the deformations were measured using quartz and single-slit diffraction gauges and two distinct deformation modes were discovered. The first occurred on a time consistent with the acoustic transit time through the target and the second occurred in terms of transit times, up to an order of magnitude later. This latter late-time deformation mode resulted in the permanent deformation of the targets.