Vol. 73, No. 15, Aug. 13, 2021 Computers donated 4 The hybrid Back to school 8 workplace Mileposts 10 Page 6 Laura Price 11

With redesigned ‘brains,’ nuclear warhead reaches milestone Completion of arming, fuzing and firing assembly precedes first full W88 Alt 370

By Michael Baker the first unit for the W88 Alt 370 arming, fuzing and firing, known as AF&F, assem- andia and its nuclear security enter- bly at the end of May, three days ahead of prise partners recently completed schedule. The first fully operable unit was S the first production unit of a weapon received the next day at the Pantex Plant assembly responsible for key operations of near Amarillo, Texas. That shipment was the W88 nuclear warhead. followed quickly by completion of the “The arming, fuzing and firing assem- system-level first production unit for the bly is the brains of the warhead,” said W88 Alt 370 at Pantex in early July. Dolores Sanchez, Sandia’s senior manager The W88 nuclear warhead entered the for its part of the W88 Alteration 370. stockpile in late 1988 and is deployed on “It looks for the correct code and the cor- the Navy’s Trident II -launched rect environmental signals that will unlock ballistic missile system onboard Ohio-class FULLY TESTED — Sandia performed a drop test the system, and it also ensures that it’s an ballistic missile . The weapon for the W88 Alt 370 program, designed to replicate a authorized flight. In short, it makes sure was beyond its original design life, and crane accidentally dropping the re-entry body onto a it always works when we want it to and several updates were required to address concrete surface. The test was conducted at Sandia’s never when we don’t.” aging issues and to maintain its current 185-foot Drop Tower Facility, using the same han- dling gear a crane would use to move the weapon. The Kansas City National Security state of readiness. The W88 Alt 370 to Photo courtesy of Sandia Campus completed production and shipped — CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Remote high-voltage sensor unveiled at Sandia gamma ray lab Tiny crystal safely measures powerful electric fields By Neal Singer

ver since the first time a human placed a bare hand on an uninsulated electric line, people have refrained from per- E sonally testing energetic materials. Even meters made of metal sometimes can melt at high voltages. Now, using a crystal smaller than a dime and a laser smaller than a shoebox, a Sandia team has safely measured 20 million volts without physically contacting the electrical flow at all. By contrast, the current from a home electrical outlet generally is 120 volts. “No one had directly measured voltages this large anywhere ELECTRICAL EXPERT — Sandia researcher Israel Owens holds the op- in the world before our experiment,” said Sandia scientist Israel tical sensor used to house the crystal that proved central to his team’s suc- Owens of his team’s unique work, recently published in Nature’s cessful attempts to measure very high voltages. The two red spots on each side of the crystal are due to laser light reflecting off the side mirror used to Scientific Reports. direct light through the middle of the crystal. The actual experiments used — CONTINUED ON PAGE 9 green laser light. Photo by David Bret Latter SANDIA LAB NEWS | August 13, 2021 2

TABLE of CONTENTS 1 | With redesigned ‘brains,’ W88 nuclear warhead Managed by NTESS LLC for the National Nuclear Security Administration reaches milestone continued on page 4 Sandia National Laboratories 1 | Remote high-voltage sensor unveiled at Sandia Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185-1468 gamma ray lab continued on page 9 Livermore, California 94550-0969 Tonopah, Nevada | Nevada National Security Site 2 | Sandia joins 16 national labs on transgender-inclusive, Amarillo, Texas | Carlsbad, New Mexico | Washington, D.C.

Katherine Beherec, Editor [email protected] name-change process for papers Taylor Henry, Production 505-373-0775 Randy Montoya, Photographer 505-844-5605 4 | Nine high school seniors become STAR Fellows Paul Rhien, California Site Contact 925-294-6452

CONTRIBUTORS 5 | NM kids to benefit from Sandia’s computer donation program Michelle Fleming (milepost photos, 505-844-4902), Neal Singer (505-846-7078), Stephanie Holinka (505-284-9227), 6 | HR Focus: A brave new world Kristen Meub (505-845-7215), Michael Baker (505-284-1085), Troy Rummler (505-284-1056), Manette Fisher (505-844-1742), 8 | Gearing up for back to school Valerie Alba (505-284-7879), Luke Frank (505-844-2020), Michael Langley (925-294-1482), Meagan Brace (505-844-0499), Mollie Rappe (505-844-8220), Darrick Hurst (505-844-8009) 10 | Mileposts and Recent Retirees Jim Danneskiold, Manager ([email protected]) 11 | Women @ Energy features Laura Price Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell Interna- tional Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA0003525. LABNEWS Notes

Published on alternate Fridays by Internal, Digital Lab News may contain photos shot prior to current COVID-19 policies. Individuals in photos followed all and Executive Communications, MS 1468 social distancing and masking guidelines that were in place when photos were taken. LAB NEWS ONLINE: sandia.gov/LabNews Sandia joins 16 national labs on transgender- inclusive, name-change process for papers Name changes allow researchers of all genders to own their academic work By Luke Frank Image by Jenny Nuss, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

andia joins 16 other DOE national more easily from all stages of their careers. name-change requests with each publisher laboratories and many prominent Specifically, the agreement addresses the of their past papers. Many publishers have S publishers, journals and other organi- administrative and emotional difficulties been independently updating their own zations in scientific publishing in announc- some transgender researchers have experi- policies to address an increasing number ing the beginning of a partnership to support enced when requesting name changes associ- of name-change requests. name-change requests from researchers on ated with past academic work. This partnership aims to streamline past published papers. Previously, individual research- these previously ad hoc processes and This agreement will allow researchers who ers shouldered the burden, adminis- offers an official validation mechanism wish to change their names to claim work tratively and emotionally, of initiating to all involved by enabling researchers SANDIA LAB NEWS | August 13, 2021 3 to ask their respective institutions to help PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS facilitate name changes with the publish- ers and journals. Publishing organizations National laboratories “Supporting transgender authors in • American Chemical Society • Ames National Laboratory changing their names on previous pub- • American Meteorological • Argonne National Laboratory lications is a tangible way of supporting Society • Brookhaven National Laboratory our transgender employees,” said Esther • American Nuclear Society • Fermi National Accelerator Facility Hernandez, Sandia’s chief diversity offi- • American Physical Society • Idaho National Laboratory cer. “It aligns perfectly with our inclu- • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory • American Society sion and diversity goal of ensuring that for Microbiology • Lawrence Livermore all our employees are respected, valued National Laboratory • arXiv and feel that they belong. Additionally, • Los Alamos National Laboratory • Clarivate it can minimize the risk of the author • National Energy Technology Laboratory appearing less experienced if they don’t • eLife • National Renewable Energy Laboratory get credit for all publications, which • Elsevier • Oak Ridge National Laboratory might impact job opportunities.” • Hindawi • Pacific Northwest National Laboratory For researchers of all genders, and • Royal Society of Chemistry • Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory transgender researchers specifically, the • protocols.io • Sandia National Laboratories • Savannah River National Laboratory new process ensures they can rightfully • Science Journals – • SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory claim ownership of prior work without American Association • Thomas Jefferson National fear of reprisal under their lived name for the Advancement Accelerator Facility and be known in their respective fields of Science (AAAS) primarily through their merits as pub- • SAGE publishing Sandia will be developing a process to lished authors. • Scopus support name-change requests. In the near As several researchers have attested, • Springer Nature future, more information will be available by having their names updated on previous • Wiley contacting [email protected]. publications allows them to best represent their full suite of accomplishments. The ability to claim the volume of their work over time has significant implications for maintaining prominence in their area of research and for receiving credit for their academic impact. Sandia Labs has official social media accounts on several online communities to engage in conversations about our work, update followers about the latest Labs news, share opportunities, The partnership between all 17 national andSandia support Labs the has open official government social media principles accounts of transparency,on several online par ticipationcommunities and tocollaboration. engage in laboratories, major scientific publish- conversations about our work, update followers about the latest Labs news, share opportunities, Visit us on your favorite networks and join the conversation. ers, journals and other organizations and support the open government principles of transparency, participation and collaboration. represents a commitment to creating a Visit us on your favorite networks and join the conversation. more inclusive culture in STEM fields and STEM publishing. The participat- ing national laboratories will facilitate requests for name changes for any reason, including religious and marital, where supported by the policies in place at their publishing partners. The 17 national laboratories are pur- Facebook Twitter LinkedIn suing this work in alignment with their facebook.com/SandiaLabs twitter.com/SandiaLabs linkd.in/QldAO1 respective diversity, equity and inclusion Facebook Twitter LinkedIn facebook.com/SandiaLabs twitter.com/SandiaLabs linkd.in/QldAO1 initiatives, not as a result of any federal policy changes, and welcome new part- ners as the effort advances. Lawrence Instagram YouTube Flickr Giphy Berkeley National Laboratory is coordi- instagram.com/SandiaLabs youtube.com/SandiaLabs flickr.com/SandiaLabs giphy.com/SandiaLabs nating the effort. Instagram YouTube Flickr Giphy instagram.com/SandiaLabs youtube.com/SandiaLabs flickr.com/SandiaLabs giphy.com/SandiaLabs SANDIA LAB NEWS | August 13, 2021 4

through similar rigorous testing to ensure W88 reaches milestone Labs Director James Peery its reliability and safety. The tests also CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 praised the completion of the ensure the AF&F assembly can be success- W88 Alt 370 first production unit in modernize the warhead primarily included fully integrated along with the W88 war- his monthly update to employees: an updated AF&F assembly and a refresh head into the full weapon system. of the conventional high explosive. Impact, vibration, drops, extreme tempera- “In July, Sandia and our partners at The AF&F assembly redesign was more tures and massive electrical impulses are just Los Alamos National Laboratory, the than a decade in the making and included some of the tests conducted to show the AF&F Kansas City National Security Campus, hundreds of people at Sandia working on assembly will operate as intended. the Pantex Plant, and others completed more than a dozen major components that The pairing of computational analysis the first production unit of the W88 needed to be refreshed and requalified and advanced computer algorithms with Alteration 370 for the Navy. Hundreds of dedicated members of the Labs because of changes in technologies over field testing data, including flight tests, staff had a role in this major warhead the past three decades, said Jed Alderete, combine to validate the AF&F design and acquisition program that ensures the manager of the W88 Alt 370 AF&F assem- its integration into the W88 Alt 370. future viability of the sea-launched bly for Sandia. The assembly includes Under the guidance of the National ballistic missile strategic deterrent. This radar, communication, guidance and other Nuclear Security Administration, several major milestone for DOE/NNSA and key safety and security components. national labs and plants have important roles DoD was completed a month ahead of schedule after more than 11 years of “It speaks to the dedication of those in the program. Sandia and Los Alamos design, development, qualification, involved throughout Sandia and the nuclear National Laboratory are the engineering and and component production. Please security enterprise for over a decade that the design labs for the W88 Alt 370. Sandia also take a minute to read more in this AF&F has been completed,” he said. “It is manufactures integrated circuits and thermal NNSA news release.” the major piece of the alteration, and it’s a batteries and serves as the technical integra- huge accomplishment for all of Sandia.” tor for the complete weapon, assuring that Assembly components and the AF&F Tests ensure AF&F assembly the system meets requirements as a whole and not just as individual parts. assembly; the Y-12 National Security works with W88 warhead Los Alamos also manufactures detona- Complex manufactures weapon compo- Reaching the first production milestone tor assemblies; the Kansas City National nents and performs reacceptance activities; for the assembly means it underwent an Security Campus manufactures poly- and Pantex is responsible for producing extensive set of tests to ensure it always mers, foams, gas transfer system compo- conventional high explosives and assem- works when authorized and never other- nents, cables, lightning arrestor connec- bling the complete W88 Alt 370 system for wise. The full-system W88 Alt 370 went tors, reentry body hardware, Joint Test delivery to the Navy. Nine high school seniors become

STEM STARS — Sandia hosted a virtual science, technology and research camp for nine recently grad- STAR uated high school students. During this two-week program, the students completed mentored projects including Introduction to , EM Image Analysis and Advanced Computing Data. They also learned about STEM careers at Sandia. Students who participated in the camp were nominated by their teachers Fellows to be part of the 2021 class of STAR Fellows. Photo courtesy of Cheryl Garcia SANDIA LAB NEWS | August 13, 2021 5 NM kids to benefit from Sandia’s computer donation program Story by Manette Newbold Fisher Photos by Lonnie Anderson

epresentatives from 17 schools around New Mexico visited Sandia R to pick up used desktop computers, laptops, tablets, keyboards and other equip- ment as part of the Labs’ K-12 Computer Donation Program. Reapplication team lead Joey Branch said the event on Monday, Aug. 2, went smoothly with more than 1,700 items donated to schools and nonprofits. Sandia has donated 10,377 comput- ers since 2012, Branch said, adding that BIG MOVE — Reapplication team members Marisol Segura and Bernadette Bazen load computers into a large vehicle for one of the schools. the amount in donations since 2012 totals more than $24 million. The Labs can give used computer equipment to schools through Executive Order 12999, signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996. The program is carried out by Sandia’s Property Management and Reapplication team. Due to COVID-19, the teams were unable to invite schools to pick up com- puter supplies in 2020. Meeting with school representatives this year was a suc- TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER — Reapplication PAYING IT FORWARD — Reapplication cess, Branch said, with some driving multi- team members Anthony Gonzales and James team member Semiramis Novak moves equip- Vigil helped schools gather computers, monitors, ment during the K-12 computer donation event. ple hours from Truth or Consequences and keyboards and other equipment during the K-12 The used supplies will benefit kids throughout Silver City. computer donation event at Sandia. New Mexico.

KEYS TO SUCCESS — More than 1,700 desktop computers, laptops, iPads and keyboards were MONITORING — Reapplication team member donated to schools and nonprofits during the event. Anthony Gonzales tracks inventory during the event. SANDIA LAB NEWS | August 13, 2021 6 HR Focus A brave new world By Amanda Armenta Tip: Add call-in options names and preferred pronouns often cre- to meetings ates a more personalized experience and improves human connection. s states open and more Sandians Meetings can pose additional chal- return to on-site work, we brace lenges, but with the right planning and Tip: Fully ‘virtual’ meetings ourselves for yet another tran- A preparation, hybrid meetings can be suc- You can equalize the playing field by sition: learning to work together in a cessful. When working on a hybrid team, hybrid work environment. Here are asking on-site employees to join it is courteous to include a virtual option in the meeting virtually from their desks. some practical tips on how to thrive in meeting invites. With our busy schedules, someone may the brave new hybrid world. It is also important, for security rea- join a meeting late or need to leave early. Our approach to the hybrid work- sons, to start the meeting by confirming In those cases, it is helpful to do a quick place requires us to continually lean into who is on the call, especially when meet- recap during or after the meeting to ensure Sandia’s Core Values, particularly the ing participants join as guests or by phone. the person feels included. Whether attend- values of Respect Each Other and Team Participants should anticipate techni- ing a meeting in person or online, raising for Great Results. There are many les- cal issues in a hybrid setting and practice your hand before speaking is a respectful sons learned from the past year, and we patience with both physically present and way to ensure everyone gets a chance to expect to learn new lessons that help us virtual attendees. speak and be heard. navigate a successful path forward. Inclusivity is also critical, especially during hybrid meetings. This looks like Tip: Shorten meetings Sandians primarily work together checking in periodically to ensure all to accommodate during meetings and through email and voices are heard and perspectives shared. on-site employees instant messaging. These activities are Video calls allow us to see virtual partici- When scheduling meetings, shave a lit- necessary to collaborate and communi- pants, but not everyone is comfortable on tle time off the end to allow those on-site cate, but they are even more essential in camera. It’s important to know and respect to travel to and from meetings and give all a hybrid workplace. others’ comfort levels. Using others’ attendees a chance to breathe and rest. Tip: Customize your email signature Many employees have added clever disclaimers to their email signatures that communicate their nontraditional work hours and set expectations with the recip- ient that they may not respond immedi- ately. For example: I’m currently working from home and caring for a little one. There may be delayed responses and odd working hours. For immediate concerns, call or text my work cell at 505-555-5555. Tip: Update your away message Employees have also personalized their instant messaging away messages with similar statuses. This lets coworkers AROUND THE CLOCK — Since the beginning of the pandemic, many Sandians have been working know when you are working from home or from home. This presents new challenges, like caring for young children, so many employees have on-site. adopted nontraditional work schedules. SANDIA LAB NEWS | August 13, 2021 7

Remember time zones and core working them to make team or work adjustments activities can get the energy flowing, hours when scheduling meetings. Meetings as needed. allow for more personal connections are more effective when an agenda or These practices are even more criti- across screens and lines, and ultimately, desired outcomes are established ahead cal for newer team members and student make for more productive conversations. of time. When possible, avoid acronyms interns, many of whom have onboarded Expect an adjustment to that can be misinterpreted or take time to completely virtually. Tenured Sandians Tip: define them. This clarification can also can help these folks build their network on-site work save time and questions. While it may be and comfort level with virtual or in-per- Employees working on-site may want challenging, avoiding scheduling back-to- son lunch or coffee breaks. The goal is to to create new routines to incorporate back meetings so that all participants are avoid missed opportunities for connection changes they experienced over the last refreshed and mentally present. due to limited peer discussion and social year. Figuring out a commute, deciding Tip: Frequent team check-ins networking. Regardless whether we chat what to wear, planning meals and remem- in person or online, it’s a good idea to bering where to store our devices will Leaders should periodically check in start conversations by checking on each require some adjustment. with team members to understand how other and seeing how others are doing Employees returning on-site should things are going in the hybrid work- before diving into work topics. Other expect to plan for these new routines, but place. For example, asking employees to best practices include virtual lunch hours it’s important to give ourselves grace as we rate their hybrid work experience on a or starting meetings with an ice breaker, adjust and navigate when things don’t go scale of 1 to 10 can help the leader gather especially for teams that are matrixed or according to plan. Thinking ahead for the quick, actionable feedback and allow do not frequently work together. These next day could save some stress,such as accounting for unexpected traffic or other obstacles. Tip: The Device Macarena To avoid accidentally taking your mobile device This is into secured space, con- sider doing the Device Macarena: create your own why I got TikTok-inspired dance to check bags and pockets for sneaky devices that some- vaccinated. times feel like an extension of ourselves. While we still have mask- ing and social distancing requirements in place, be sure to respect each other’s decisions about vaccinations. By applying the les- sons we’ve learned, we can blend the best of both worlds to create a great work environment that combines the flexibility and comfort everyone needs to do their best work. The last year has shown that Sandians are resilient. We pivot when needed, rise to the challenge and will con- They’re safe. They keep you safe. They keep others safe. coronavirus.sandia.gov tinue to do so in this brave new hybrid world. SANDIA LAB NEWS | August 13, 2021 8 Gearing up for back to school Sandia equips New Mexico and California students with backpacks, mentoring and more SANDIA SHOWS UP

By Amy Tapia Marie Strangio, prin- cipal of Lew Wallace tudents, parents and teachers are pre- Elementary, thanked paring to start another school year, Oasis and shared Swith both anticipation and uncer- several heartfelt sto- tainty. In keeping with our culture, Sandia ries of students who and our employees are generously provid- struggled to stay ing resources to better prepare underserved connected to school students to achieve academic success in the upcoming school year. through online learn- ing but found con- School supplies nection with their

S A N D I A

Children need school supplies, and reading mentors. EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE IN OUR COMMUNITIES many families struggle to purchase the During the pro- needed backpacks, notebooks, pens and gram, one student, calculators. As of Aug. 10, the annual who previously kept Stuff the Bus Back to School sup- his camera off and ply drive raised $10,000 to support the mumbled, asked to Albuquerque Public Schools Clothing Bank and School Supply Barn. Sandia is skip the fifth-grade VIRTUAL SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE a longtime partner with APS, and Stuff water balloon party the Bus is part of APS’s citywide drive to to say goodbye to STUFFED BUS — Through the annual Stuff the Bus supply drive and other support Albuquerque students. his mentor. Another back-to-schoolJULY outreach, 26 Sandia donated- AU more thanGU $10,000ST to equip local13 students with supplies. Additionally, NTESS, on behalf of Sandia, gave more student said com- Academic enrichment programs than $400,000 in grant awards this summer. Many local organizations are ing to school in the looking for volunteers. Kids need basic needs met to be able spring was the sec- School is about to start and our to learn. NTESS, on behalf of Sandia, ond-best thing about school that happened gave more than $400,000 in grant awards local students needVOLUNTEER supplies OPPORTUNITIES to succeed. this summer as part of its corporate con- all year — the first was time with his read- ing mentor. The Oasis program was a true tributions program. Sandia’s grants to Sandia’s long-standingIf you are interested back in to helping school nonprofits focus on improving family bright spot for many kids and mentors. supply driveunderserved is all students virtual make – the most stability and educational success. Family Scientific Adventures for Girls, a of this school year, here are a few stability grants fund food insecurity, California nonprofit, receivedlet’s a grant stuff for theorganizations bus that with are currently cash! housing, workforce development and ser- $22,000 and is partnering with Sandia to recruiting volunteers. Some volun- vices for families in temporary crisis. sponsor eight upcoming virtual Family teer opportunities are eligible for Educational success programs support STEAM Nights. The STEAMVISIT nights THE will COMMUNItYpaid time off. INVOLVEMENT the academic achievement of underserved be available to families in California and New Mexico K-12 students. With uncertainty about New Mexico and designed aroundWEBSITE a fun TO • MAKEOasis Intergenerational A DONATION. Tutoring in-person volunteering, some grant recip- theme. Families will have the opportu- • Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor 2.0 ients plan to continue successful virtual nity to do STEM projects and watch an • Albuquerque Reads programs that they developed last year. exciting demo at each event. Event infor- • Junior Achievement One organization that benefitted, theOasis California mation will be available in September on Intergenerational Tutoring Program in • Citizen Schools the Sandia Daily News, California Daily New Mexico, received a $10,000 grant. Last • Scientific Adventures for Girls Announcements and the Community year, they pivoted to provide training, support • Techbridge Girls sessions and mentoring sessions online. Anne Involvement website. SANDIA LAB NEWS | August 13, 2021 9

Sensor unveiled CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“When you have a high voltage over short distances, sensors break down,” said Sandia manager Bryan Oliver. “Israel’s diagnostic can survive these high electric fields and thus enable us to determine the voltage in an environment where that was previously not possible.” The achievement, which multiplies every electrical field reading by the same constant to read the voltage, opens a door to a number of possible applications. The work took place at Sandia’s High- Energy Radiation Megavolt Electron Source, or HERMES III, where the build- CRYSTAL LIGHTS — This laser-illuminated crystal, less than a half-inch long, is supported by a ing-sized accelerator converts powerful plastic retaining structure inside the metal sensor housing. In the actual experiment, the light is initially pulses of electricity into energetic photons extinguished by crossed polarizers. When the accelerator fires, the polarized light is rotated so that it leaks through the second polarizer. The leaked amount is directly proportional to the electric field strength. called gamma rays. Photo by Israel Owens “Being able to measure the output voltage of Hermes III instead of only calculating it allows us to accurately Because nuclear weapons also generate gamma rays, creating them define the energies of the gamma rays,” said Israel. “And our crys- in a lab can determine if military and civilian structures could continue tal-laser system does it without disturbing the measurement envi- to function when exposed to those energy streams. ronment as it would if we required radioactive tools like X-rays.” Accurately achieving the desired output of gamma rays requires Benefits of precise generation of gamma rays calibration with the voltages that produced them; thus, the need for a sensor that can measure the high voltages without being destroyed. The HERMES accelerator generates a high-energy electron The idea of using lasers as a remote measurement tool is not new, beam that in turn generates streams of gamma rays — the most said Israel. Laser infrared sensors are used at a distance to safely mea- energetic part of the electromagnetic spectrum — when passed sure forehead temperatures. Laser range finders can determine the size through certain materials. These rays have a wide variety of uses, of a room without the owner pacing the distance. including sterilization of hospital equipment, pasteurization of “Our procedure is a little different: we’re not pointing the laser food, medical imaging, smoke detectors, thickness gauges for thin directly at an object to measure its voltage,” he said. “We determine materials and more. that information by using our laser simply to interrogate a secondary object, a lithium nio- bate crystal.” The crystal, placed where conve- nient for the experi- menters, can remain undamaged because the electric field it measures decreases by the square of its distance from the high-voltage source. Tiny crystals altered by huge energy fields The crystal, less HANGING OUT AT HERMES — Technologists Chris Kirtley, top, and former Sandian JJ Montoya adjust the gamma ray gener- than a half-inch ator HERMES accelerator for its next shot. Photo by Randy Montoya from the archives long, is placed so SANDIA LAB NEWS | August 13, 2021 10 that the electrical field passes through it pass through it. But those that get through amount of light entering the photodetec- broadside, at right angles to the polar- modify the crystal’s capability to transmit tor. The photodetector converts the laser ized laser beam traveling along the crys- light by causing its photons to travel at dif- beam’s intensity into a simple voltage tal’s axis. ferent speeds in the polarized beam’s ver- that can be read on an oscilloscope. The crystal does not allow many of the tical and horizontal directions. This causes “The voltage measured on the oscil- conflicting energies of the electric field to the polarized light to rotate, changing the loscope is directly related to the original applied voltage that created the intense electric field,” Israel said. “In our experi- ments, tens of emerging megavolts trans- Mileposts lated into hundreds of millivolts on the oscilloscope.” (A megavolt is a million volts; a milli- volt is a thousandth of a volt.) “The signal is already in the correct form, and we just need to add in a fixed constant. There is also no need to per- form any tedious calibrations or compli- cated post-processing to determine the electric fields and voltages,” he said. The high voltages measured with the Mark Hedemann 40 Carol Manzanares 30 Julio Marchiondo 25 Marcellea Davis Sneddon 20 new sensor agreed closely with what was expected through calculations and other indirect measurements that could only infer the intensity of the emerging high voltage at HERMES, Israel said. Accurate gamma ray production might be only one of the benefits of the new measuring technique, Israel said. “At the moment, this is a laboratory device for research, but as its develop-

Randy Wells 20 Angel Martinez 20 Roxanne Trujillo-Shiplet 15 Scott Nance 15 ment progresses it could find its way into accelerator facilities where a series of crystals could give nanosecond voltage readings,” he said. Recent Retirees The technique also would work for the power transmission industry, auto manu- facturers, lightning research centers “or anywhere one wants to remotely measure or monitor a very high energy source,” Israel said. The device also could “see” an electrical short in a wall from a distance due to the disruption in the electromag- Mark Greenslete 41 Dale Van Dongen 33 netic field surrounding the current-carry- ing wire, which would allow non-invasive detection of a fault in the circuitry. “For measuring most large voltages, the technique is safe, efficient and inex- pensive,” he said. The research was funded by NNSA. Other Sandia authors of the paper are Chris Grabowski, Andrew Biller, Ben Ulmen, Nathan Joseph, Ben Hughes, Sean Coffey, Carol Adkins 33 Nenita Walther 29 Kelly Gomez 26 Rita Betty 20 Debra Kirschner and Ken Struve. SANDIA LAB NEWS | August 13, 2021 11 Women @ Energy features Laura Price Sandia engineer recognized by DOE STEM Rising site for work in Advanced Nuclear Fuel Cycle Technologies

SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL DISPOSAL — Throughout her career at Sandia, Laura Price has primarily focused on disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste. Laura has been recognized by DOE’s Women @ Energy: STEM Rising website. Photo courtesy of Laura Price

By Sarah Jewel Johnson Texas before joining Sandia as a mem- nuclear fuel and high-level waste, specif- ber of the radioactive waste disposal ically assessing the safety of waste dis- andia chemical engineer Laura Price team in 1988. After a move to Florida in posal over geologic time scales. She worked has been recognized by DOE’s 1992, Laura worked as a Sandia subcon- on the Yucca Mountain project, where S Women @ Energy: STEM Rising tractor through the Science Applications she was exposed to a multitude of scien- website, which honors women in STEM International Corporation, during which tific and technical disciplines involved in fields throughout the DOE complex. time her research focused on defining a safety assessment. Laura’s work on Yucca Laura works on nuclear fuel cycle clear disposal path for radioactive wastes. Mountain gave her an opportunity to learn technologies. She has a bachelor’s and She was then hired as a Sandia employee new things and a newfound appreciation master’s in chemical engineering from in 2007, telecommuting from Arizona, for how complicated assessments can be. Rice University in Houston, Texas. where she still lives. When the Yucca Mountain project ended in Laura started her career at Celanese Throughout her career, Laura’s work 2010, Laura’s focus shifted to studying dis- Chemical Company in Corpus Christi, has primarily focused on disposal of spent posal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level SANDIA LAB NEWS | August 13, 2021 12 waste in generic repositories, expanding National Survey of College Graduates in Q Do you have tips you’d recommend her experience with a new and different 2015 showed that, in the 29 and younger for someone looking to enter your set of physical processes that could affect age group, 56% of those employed in field of work? repository performance. STEM jobs were women. For all work- Learn how to write well. When I Laura was recently interviewed for ers less than 75 years old, 48% of those was in college, I did not appreciate the her feature on the DOE Women @ employed in STEM jobs were women. It importance of not only producing inter- Energy website. appears the efforts our country has taken esting and useful results, but also com- Q What inspired you to work in toward engaging more women in STEM municating them to others. I dreaded STEM? jobs have been effective. having to write lab reports, and it wasn’t I always liked math and science, so when One underrepresented group consists until later that I realized that while doing it came time to pick a major, engineering of those STEM-minded students who go good technical work was necessary, it seemed an obvious choice, as it combined to underperforming schools, where only was not enough. Most of what I do is both math and science. I liked chemistry, so about 20% of the students are proficient in write and contribute to reports, and it is chemical engineering also seemed like an math and reading. As a country, we can do important to be explain to others why obvious choice. It didn’t hurt that my uncle better at finding new and creative ways for the technical work was done, why it is was also a chemical engineer in the pharma- these students to receive a good education important and what it means. ceutical industry, pioneering ways to pro- and learn basic math, reading, writing and duce life-saving medication and creating science. One idea for how to do this would Q When you have free time, what are industrial standards. be to provide opportunities for people in your hobbies? Q What excites you about your work STEM jobs to mentor and tutor children When I have free time, I like to play the at DOE? who are in these situations, thereby piano, bake, volunteer at my church, ski, One of the things that excites me providing role models and promoting travel and stay in touch with our four adult about my work at Sandia is that it sup- STEM proficiency. children and their spouses. ports the use of nuclear energy in the United States, even if indirectly, by find- ing technical solutions to the problem of waste disposal. Our nation’s infrastruc- ture requires stable, dependable, safe and carbon-free sources of energy — and nuclear energy is one of those sources. Another thing that excites me is that my area of work involves many tech- This is nical disciplines and has thus provided the opportunity to expand my knowl- why I got edge base well beyond what I learned in school. I always found nuclear energy to vaccinated. be fascinating, so being able to work in that field, even indirectly, is satisfying. Q How can our country engage more women, girls and other underrepre- sented groups in STEM? The U.S. Census Bureau’s report on women in STEM seems to indicate that the number of women engaged in STEM jobs has increased over the last 50 years or so. As indicated in this report, as of 2019, women comprised 65% of social scientists, nearly half of the math and life and physi- cal sciences occupations and about 20% of the computer science and engineering work force. These percentages are all higher than they were 50 years ago. In another They’re safe. They keep you safe. They keep others safe. coronavirus.sandia.gov study, the National Science Foundation’s