[en] A new program for fundamental research on metal--hydrogen systems was initiated. The general formalism of the band theory technique to be used in the evaluation of the metal hydrides is described. The self-consistent plane wave-Gaussian method is being compared with the Hartree--Fock method on test cases of Li and LiH. An EPR spectrometer, transportable gas rack, and devices for studying kinetics of metal--hydrogen systems are described. Measurements of the magnetic moments and spin-lattice relaxation times at room temperature were made for several titanium hydride samples of different stoichiometries. (U.S.)