weapons

March/April 2003 I HERT I HE Microstructure I Recycling I DARHT Approval I I Stockpile Stewardship Exhibit I

Weapons Science and Engineering at Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM 87545 of Point Raymond J. Juzaitis Deputy Associate Director • View Weapons Physics

Informatics, Complexity Science, and National Security Informatics and complexity science play a critical environment, climate, and infrastructure. This abil­ role in much of what we do at Los Alamos. In­ ity requires integrating the Laboratory’s strengths formatics uses a suite of information management in computation and large-scale simulation, experi­ tools to understand, manage, and predict complex mental science, and theory and modeling. phenomena. Complexity science requires an under­ standing of the global nature of complex systems Stockpile Stewardship and crosses the boundaries that have classically Our special responsibility as stewards of the nuclear separated the scientific disciplines. stockpile changed in 1992, when President Bush initi­ ated a nuclear testing moratorium and, later, when Los Alamos has long been involved in studies of President Clinton created the Stockpile Ste­ardship complex systems, from our early work on turbu­ Program to ensure the safety, reliability, and per­ lence in the 1940s and continuing through the formance of the nuclear stockpile in the absence of pioneering work of Metropolis, Stein, and Ulam on non­ Stockpile stewardship motivates us to pursue a predictive linear systems; understanding of extremely complex systems and high-impact our research in problems such as the spread of disease chaos theory; and and the impact of global climate change. the breakthrough work of Mitch­ ell Feigenbaum in the late 1970s that led to the full-system nuclear testing. Stockpile stewardship con­ establishment of our Center for Nonlinear Stud­ stitutes the core mission of our Laboratory and is one ies in 1981. Our capabilities today in informatics of the most difficult technical challenges this nation and complexity science emerge from our core has ever faced. This program requires our weapons strengths—development of transdisciplinary ap­ scientists to formally assess the current health—safety, proaches to solving very large and complex reliability, and performance—of the warheads de­ problems; integration of theory, modeling, sim­ signed and built by Los Alamos and to base the ulation, experimentation, and visualization; our validity of complex 3-D simulations on laboratory ex­ computational capabilities; and our ability to study periments and data from prior nuclear tests. phenomena from the nanoscale to the macroscale. For 50 years, weapons designers relied heavily on These capabilities are of enormous relevance to the nuclear testing. They extrapolated their designs Los Alamos national security mission. They define from a known region of tested performance and who we are and how we approach problem solv­ tried to avoid “cliffs,” or regions of performance ing. We utilize a science-based predictive capability space that were marginal with respect to perfor­ as the fundamental tool in helping us understand mance. Our limited understanding of these cliffs complex phenomena in a number of key areas— was due to nonlinear behavior that could not be weapons, threat reduction, bioscience, energy, Continued on page 18 • 1 High- Explosive Radio Telemetry

High-explosive radio telemetry (HERT) is a system use of glass fiber obviates electromagnetic energy for monitoring high-explosive (HE) performance transmission into the HE, thereby preventing in a high-fidelity flight test unit (FTU). The high- a mechanism for premature detonation. When a fidelity FTU contains a warhead with nonfissile in detonation wave strikes the tip of a fiber sensor, place of fissile materials and with HE components a light pulse is created that travels along the fiber connected to an arming, firing, and fuzing sys­ to the telemetry unit. The sensor tip is gold coated tem—all mounted in a reentry body (RB) identical (blinded) to prevent the detonation-wave precur­ to that of an actual weapon system. The HERT sys­ sor light from prematurely reaching the telemetry. tem consists of two main elements: A thin coat of lutetium oxy-orthosilicate (LSO) (1) a set of sensors imbedded in the HE com­ is applied to the tip of the gold-coated fiber. The ponents of the FTU to monitor the performance of LSO emits a very rapid (few-nanosecond rise time), these components as they explode and very intense light pulse when struck by a shock (2) a telemetry unit that transmits these data wave. Finally, for mechanical protection and further from the FTU to receiver stations on the ground. blinding, the entire tip is coated with a layer of Kry­ lon™ black paint. The constraints on the HERT system are for­ midable. First, the sensors used in this system The current version of the HERT unit measures ap­ must be nonintrusive and safe, i.e., they must proximately 2 × 3 × 5.5 in. and weighs 1.5 lb. The be sufficiently small to not interfere with the HE light impulses from the sensors are first converted components they are monitoring, and they must to electrical impulses. The programmable logic ar­ not be capable of initiating premature detonation ray then encodes the arrival times of these impulses in these components. Second, the telemetry must into a hexadecimal (16-symbol) data format. The be small enough to fit within the limited space quadrature modulator modifies both the frequency of the RB and lightweight to not perturb the RB and amplitude (I and Q) of the carrier wave from flight characteristics. The telemetry must also be the frequency source, according to the values of extremely fast to collect data from the sensors and these hexadecimal data, and sends the modulated transmit to the ground receivers before the explod­ signal to the amplifier. Next, this signal goes to ing FTU completely disassembles. the antenna that sends it to ground receivers. This custom-designed, 16-state, quadrature-amplitude The HERT sensors consist of 0.005-in.-diameter modulation scheme allows data to be transmitted quartz fibers that extend from the telemetry to the a factor of four times faster than by using stan­ sensor tips, which are embedded in the HE. The dard binary coding with frequency-modulated

2 • transmission only. The data are Power in transmitted at 100 Mbit/s to ensure capture before the Connectors for FTU disassembles. 32 fiber sensors

The HERT system shown here is being tested as part of the Shock/vibration W76 Lifetime Extension Pro­ isolation mount gram. The first flight of this system, which will be primarily an instrumentation test, will oc­ cur on a US Navy Mk4A/D5 TM signals out submarine-launched test flight, (radio frequency) designated FCET 30, planned for November 2003. Æ HERT mod 2B telemetry unit. Erwin Schwegler, 667-2993, [email protected]

Quartz fibers (three each) Gold "blinding" coating To telemetry

Thin LSO layer

Three HERT fiber-optic shock sensors.

Transmission antenna Optical interface, program logic, and quadrature modulator

“I” Fiber array Xylinx 2 of 64 Quadrature Power (max) Programmable Amplifier Logic Array “Q” Modulator Optical to Electrical Converter 64 Ch. Frequency Source

HERT block diagram.

• 3 Microstructural Characterization of High-Explosive Materials

Microstructural aspects of HE materials are known range of length scales, several techniques must be to influence both shock and nonshock initiation incorporated: polarized light microscopy, scanning events and are thus of great interest from both electron microscopy, and small-angle scattering safety and performance perspectives. Differences techniques. We combine these techniques to create in particle size and the number and size of defects a comprehensive description of the microstructure (cracks, pores, etc.) can dramatically affect HE over length scales ranging from 10-10 to 10-2 m. performance. Microstructural changes may be Here, we present a brief description of these three induced during formulation and processing, may techniques and examples of their application. be generated by aging, or may result from physi­ cal or thermal insult. A quantitative description of Polarized light microscopy (PLM) studies allow us these features is important for advanced computer to probe relatively large features (1 µm to 10 mm) modeling of HE material properties and hence the of HE materials. For PLM analysis, the HE mate­ predictability of weapon performance. rial is mounted in a low-viscosity epoxy, then cured and polished. The samples are examined in reflected A complete description of HE microstructure re­ light and photographed with a high-resolution digi­ quires the ability to probe features with sizes that tal camera. Historically, one of range from millimeters to angstroms. Because no the inherent weaknesses of PLM has been the quali­ single characterization method can cover this entire tative nature of the results. To extract quantitative

4 • details from the PLM images, such as area percentages and crystal size distributions, we are employing commercial image-processing software that uses customizable routines that involve varying levels of color thresholding and geometric con­ straints to differentiate between microstructural components.

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is used to probe micro­ structural features ranging in size from 10 nm to 1 mm. We have recently acquired a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). With a conventional SEM, nonconductive materials must be coated with a conduc­ tive material to prevent charging and damage under high electron SEM image of typical HMX crystals before pressing. beam voltages. However, the Microstructural Characterization FESEM allows imaging at rel­ these contributions, allowing page 6. By using these various atively low voltages (200 eV to for quantitative assessment of imaging tools, we have quanti­ of High-Explosive Materials 30 keV), and in many cases even microstructural features. Due fied the decrease in the average nonconductive materials can be to the penetrating nature of neu­ size of the HMX crystals with imaged without applying a con­ trons and x-rays, SAS techniques increasing pressure and have ductive coating. In addition, are highly applicable to the study found variations of induced we employ both an energy-dis­ of porosity in pressed and plas­ crystal damage across a pressed persive x-ray spectrometer (EDS) tic-bonded systems, as well as pellet. and a wavelength-dispersive x-ray loose HE powders, and allow for spectrometer (WDS) to further a direct correlation between in­ We have also exposed samples identify, quantify, and map el­ sult and microstructural changes. of PBX 9501 to linear thermal emental compositions. gradients and measured the re­ We have recently applied these sults by using SAS techniques. Small-angle scattering (SAS) techniques to study the micro­ With increasing temperature, techniques, employing neutrons structure of the HE formulation we found that pores formed and (SANS) or x-rays (SAXS), are PBX 9501, which is composed grew due to the thermal insult used to probe length scales from of regions of crystalline high at small length scales. Parallel 10 Å to 1 µm. In a SAS exper­ explosive (HMX), polymeric analysis of PLM images showed iment, each microstructural binder, voids, and interfaces. an increase in both the overall feature (interface, pore, particle, During pressing of PBX 9501, crystal percentage within the ma­ etc.) contributes to the total significant cracking and frac­ terial and the average crystal size, observed scattering. Additional turing of HMX crystals occurs, at longer length scales, between methods are used to separate as shown in the PLM image on 163 ºC and 175 ºC. Above

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further microstructural damage. microstructural further

temperature, a new distribution of pores develops and grows, indicating indicating grows, and develops pores of distribution new a temperature,

PBX 9501 that was exposed to a linear thermal gradient. With increasing increasing With gradient. thermal linear a to exposed was that 9501 PBX

Volume fraction of pores having radius R, measured by SAS techniques, in in techniques, SAS by measured R, radius having pores of fraction Volume

lanl.gov

Paul Peterson, 667-9622, pdp@ 667-9622, Peterson, Paul

lanl.gov;

Joe Mang, 665-6856, jtmang@ 665-6856, Mang, Joe

materials. materials. Æ

molecular composite (MIC) (MIC) composite molecular

- inter metastable nanoscale of

systems and the characterization characterization the and systems

areas such as the aging of binder binder of aging the as such areas

applying our techniques to other other to techniques our applying

composed of fine particles of HMX and polymeric binder. polymeric and HMX of particles fine of composed the PBX 9501 system as well as as well as system 9501 PBX the

pressing. The darker regions between the larger crystals in the image are are image the in crystals larger the between regions darker The pressing. of studies our continuing are

nificant cracking and fracturing of the HMX crystals that occurred during during occurred that crystals HMX the of fracturing and cracking nificant

We systems. weapon

PLM image of a pressed piece of the high explosive PBX 9501, showing sig showing 9501, PBX explosive high the of piece pressed a of image PLM -

the performance and safety of of safety and performance the

of damage and how it relates to to relates it how and damage of

50 m µ

standing standing r unde our aid will tion

­ informa This materials. HE of

structure structure o micr the in insult of

ferent types types ferent f di to due changes tify

­ quan to ability our demonstrated

analysis techniques, we have have we techniques, analysis

Using this combination of of combination this Using

thermally induced detonation. induced thermally

nisms that may occur prior to to prior occur may that nisms

­ mecha chemical and physical the

These results suggest some of of some suggest results These

average crystal size decreased. decreased. size crystal average

of crystals in the material and the the and material the in crystals of

ºC, the overall percentage percentage overall the ºC, 176 Recycling and Pollution Prevention

Closing the FeCl3 Loop An audit of hazardous waste disposal records in Recycling spent FeCl3 helps to fulfill the Labo­ ratory’s goals to reduce waste. In addition, the FY2000 identified spent ferric chloride (FeCl3) solution as the single, largest, routine hazardous recycling option is about $250 cheaper per waste stream produced at Los Alamos National 55-gal. drum than the traditional hazardous waste Laboratory. disposal method—even considering transporta­ tion costs to California. During the first year of the

DX-1 uses FeCl3 solution to etch copper found project, the Laboratory realized a net savings of ap­ in flexible detection cables. A counterflow chamber proximately $8,000. system in the process helps maintain the appro­ priate concentration of FeCl3 for each step, while DX-1 recycles approximately 1,100 gal. of spent minimizing the amount of concentrated FeCl3 FeCl3 solution annually, representing about 20% solution that is added to the system. Despite this of the total routine hazardous waste generated at technology, every drum of concentrated FeCl3 used the Laboratory every year. Since November 2001, ultimately creates about three drums of spent FeCl3 DX-1 has eliminated approximately 9,000 lb of solution. This spent solution was formerly treated spent FeCl3 solution per year from the hazardous as hazardous waste, but now it is recycled. waste stream by recycling and reusing all that the group produces. This project is very successful,

DX-1 buys concentrated FeCl3 solution from Phi­ and DX-1 expects to recycle all spent FeCl3 solu­ brotech, a California company that also recycles tion for as long as it is used in operations. Æ spent FeCl3 solution. Phibrotech removes the cop­ Joe Bonner, 665-5053, [email protected] per and aluminum from the solution for reuse in other applications and regenerates concentrated

FeCl3 solution to resell. DX-1 closed the loop on its former waste stream by sending its spent FeCl3 Dry Machining Plutonium solution to Phibrotech and then buying back the Pat Montoya and Steve Boggs of NMT-5 won a concentrated FeCl3 solution. Hazardous Waste pollution prevention award from the Laboratory Transportation Services coordinates shipping be­ for inventing a process to machine plutonium parts tween the Laboratory and Phibrotech so that when without using cutting oil. Unlike the standard new FeCl3 solution is delivered to DX-1, spent wet-machining process, which uses cutting oil,

FeCl3 is picked up at the same time for shipment the dry-machining process does not generate back to Phibrotech. any waste.

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has special design and operation techniques. It It techniques. operation and design special has machining process process machining - dry the Creating States. United

Facility designed this distillation column, which which column, distillation this designed Facility facture and import of freon was banned in the the in banned was freon of import and facture

Technology Group, the staff at the Plutonium Plutonium the at staff the Group, Technology ­ manu the after developed be to had process new A

the Plutonium Facility. Together with the Atlanta Atlanta the with Together Facility. Plutonium the parts. plutonium machining for agent ing

now the liquid is sent to the distillation column at at column distillation the to sent is liquid the now in 1987, the Laboratory used freon as the lubricat­ the as freon used Laboratory the 1987, in

Treatment Facility (RLWTF) for treatment, but but treatment, for (RLWTF) Facility Treatment mented mented e impl was process machining - dry the Before

was transferred to the Radioactive Liquid Waste Waste Liquid Radioactive the to transferred was

the Plutonium Facility. Previously, the distillate distillate the Previously, Facility. Plutonium the was extremely significant in minimizing waste. waste. minimizing in significant extremely was

These salts are later stabilized by cementation at at cementation by stabilized later are salts These

machining process process machining - dry the to advance the tonium,

3

and water distillate from residual salts. salts. residual from distillate water and HNO ­ plu machining for agent lubricating a as oil cutting

these processes go to evaporators that separate separate that evaporators to go processes these plutonium parts as Rocky Flats and did not use use not did and Flats Rocky as parts plutonium

dissolution processes. Effluents from from Effluents processes. dissolution - plutonium of

Although the Laboratory never produced as many many as produced never Laboratory the Although

3 55 for a variety variety a for 55 - TA at used is ) (HNO acid Nitric

be $1.8 million annually. annually. million $1.8 be

eliminated. the cost for treatment and disposal would would disposal and treatment for cost the

contaminated nitric acid waste stream has been been has stream waste acid nitric contaminated mate mate i est we stream, waste Flats Rocky the to plied

a result, nearly all of the Laboratory’s plutonium plutonium Laboratory’s the of all nearly result, a disposal practices and prices were ap were prices and practices disposal - waste current ­

55. As As 55. - TA at Facility Plutonium the at ning n­ ru difficult and expensive waste streams to treat. If If treat. to streams waste expensive and difficult

tem (NARS) implemented by NMT Division is is Division NMT by implemented (NARS) tem contaminated with plutonium is one of the most most the of one is plutonium with contaminated

­ Sys Recycling Acid Nitric winning - award The carbon tetrachloride and plutonium. Cutting oil oil Cutting plutonium. and tetrachloride carbon

Recycling Nitric Acid Nitric Recycling

cutting oil contaminated with with contaminated oil cutting waste of L 10,000

and annually generated generated annually and parts plutonium ricate

machining process to fab­ to process machining - wet a used Plant Flats

Steve Boggs, 665-3786, [email protected] [email protected] 665-3786, Boggs, Steve Between the 1950s and the late 1980s, the Rocky Rocky the 1980s, late the and 1950s the Between

Pat Montoya, 667-2372, [email protected]; 667-2372, Montoya, Pat

chining process. process. chining process developed at Los Alamos. Los at developed process Æ

Plutonium part being created with the dry-machining dry-machining the with created being part Plutonium ma - dry this by generated is waste plutonium no ­

for reuse after the part is finished. Therefore, Therefore, finished. is part the after reuse for

glovebox airtight the from collected

and all the valuable plutonium shavings are easily easily are shavings plutonium valuable the all and

since it is manufactured, not naturally occurring, occurring, naturally not manufactured, is it since

involved. Plutonium is very expensive to produce produce to expensive very is Plutonium involved.

surface of the plutonium parts because no liquid is is liquid no because parts plutonium the of surface

a lubricant. No chemical changes take place on the the on place take changes chemical No lubricant. a

ricate plutonium parts without using cutting oil as as oil cutting using without parts plutonium ricate

machining system allows machinists to fab to machinists allows system machining - dry The ­

gen or an inert gas like argon. like gas inert an or gen

kept below 0.2% by filling the glovebox with nitro with glovebox the filling by 0.2% below kept ­

a pyrophoric material, the oxygen level is usually usually is level oxygen the material, pyrophoric a

reaches 2%. Because plutonium is is plutonium Because 2%. reaches

that would sound when the oxygen concentration concentration oxygen the when sound would that

parameters, and airtight gloveboxes with alarms alarms with gloveboxes airtight and parameters,

velopment of new tools, procedures, machining machining procedures, tools, new of velopment

took approximately 18 months and included de included and months 18 approximately took ­ is located­ inside a facility, in contrast to industrial units that are much larger and located outside. Dif­ According to the White House Task ferent controls are required, too, because the unit Force on Waste Prevention and must be started and shut down each day; industrial Recycling, although recycling often distillation columns operate for days, weeks, or has environmental benefits, it can be months without shutting down. difficult to locate quantitative information about those benefits; The distillation column separates the HNO3 from the following awards recognize the water by removing almost pure water with no that hard-to-find benefit. plutonium from the top of the column, allowing us to reclaim concentrated HNO3 from the bottom of the column for onsite reuse. The traces of pluto­ The Office of the Federal Environmental nium and other actinides are removed and recycled Executive promotes sustainable environ­ with the concentrated acid. mental stewardship throughout the fed- eral government by focusing on six areas, one of which is waste prevention and Retaining the HNO at the Plutonium Facility helps 3 recycling. The Closing the Circle Award the RLWTF by reducing the concentration of ni­ recognizes achievement in this category. trates that need treatment. Eliminating HNO3 waste that enters the RLWTF is especially valuable since permitted concentrations of nitrates in outfalls of The DOE Pollution Prevention treated water have been decreasing over time. If the Program defines pollution prevention

HNO3 waste were not significantly reduced as the use of materials, processes, and at the Plutonium Facility, the RLWTF would have to practices that reduce or eliminate the engage in a costly process to degrade nitrates on site generation and release of pollutants, con- to maintain compliance with their outfall permit. taminants, hazardous substances, and wastes into land, water, and air. Results from the NARS are excellent so far. The DOE also states that two waste tech- Plutonium Facility now purchases about 80% less niques, waste segregation and recycling, are key to reducing total amounts of new concentrated HNO3 than before the NARS was implemented, and the distillation column decreases waste as well as additional treatment and disposal. the volume of waste HNO3 contaminated with plu­ tonium by over 99%. The return on investment for the NARS project was calculated to be 128%; the approximately $2 million capital ex­ penditure was recovered within a year.

The NARS project won two major awards in 2002: a DOE Pollution Prevention Award and a White House Closing the Circle Award. The latter award is the most prestigious pollution prevention award in the nation, and NARS is only the second proj- ect submitted by the Laboratory to receive this honor.Æ Don Mullins, 665-4689, [email protected]

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MeV for longer than 400 ns. 400 than longer for MeV Rollin Whitman, 667-7542, [email protected] 667-7542, Whitman, Rollin

–1,150 A at 12.45 MeV ± 0.1 0.1 ± MeV 12.45 at A –1,150 5 1,02 achieved drodynamic experiments using both axes. axes. both using experiments drodynamic Æ

>12.0 MeV for longer than 350 ns. The beam beam The ns. 350 than longer for MeV >12.0 rays of hy of rays - x D - 3 - quasi first the provide will facility ­

at kA >1.0 of requirement the ed out underground testing. The completed test test completed The testing. underground out

­ exceed accelerator the when 2002, 21, cember continued certification of stockpile weapons with weapons stockpile of certification continued ­

4d). This milestone was achieved on De on achieved was milestone This 4d). - (CD ­ used to validate the computer codes needed for for needed codes computer the validate to used

Demonstration of the 2nd axis accelerator accelerator axis 2nd the of Demonstration •

be will axes two these from data

required to meet the milestone. the meet to required graphs. The The graphs. o radi sequenced - time D - 2 three and

This was almost five times the beam current current beam the times five almost was This D radiograph radiograph D - 3 - quasi one provide will axes Both

1.22 kA and at a peak energy of 2.77 MeV. MeV. 2.77 of energy peak a at and kA 1.22 axis) is designed to produce four pulses over 2 µs. µs. 2 over pulses four produce to designed is axis)

at beam electron an produced injector the ray pulse; the 2nd axis (at a right angle to the 1st 1st the to angle right a (at axis 2nd the pulse; ray - x

ment of >250 A and >2.0 MeV. The next day day next The MeV. >2.0 and A >250 of ment weapons systems. The first axis will produce a single single a produce will axis first The systems. weapons

­ require the exceeded injector the when 2002, D radiographs of nonnuclear mockups of nuclear nuclear of mockups nonnuclear of radiographs D

4a). This milestone was met on July 2, 2, July on met was milestone This 4a). - (CD - 3 - quasi resolved, - time provide will completed),

Demonstration of the 2nd axis injector injector axis 2nd the of Demonstration •

late 2004 (after commissioning of the 2nd axis is is axis 2nd the of commissioning (after 2004 late

of the project have been achieved. been have project the of in operational fully when facility, DARHT The

decision (CD) milestones for closeout closeout for milestones (CD) decision - critical major

celerator that met all of the major criteria. All four four All criteria. major the of all met that celerator tory (MIT Lincoln Laboratory). Lincoln (MIT tory

by transporting an electron beam through its ac its through beam electron an transporting by ­ ­ labora DoD one and LANL) and LLNL, (LBNL,

mier facility passed a major technical hurdle hurdle technical major a passed facility mier

managed national laboratories laboratories national managed - UC three of oration

On December 21, 2002, the 2nd axis of this pre this of axis 2nd the 2002, 21, December On ­ ­ collab design strong the demonstrates technology,

which incorporates complex and innovative innovative and complex incorporates which

sary celebration. sary The success of the milestones on the 2nd axis, axis, 2nd the on milestones the of success The

April 22, is part of the Laboratory’s 60th anniver 60th Laboratory’s the of part is 22, April ­

dedication of the DARHT facility, scheduled for for scheduled facility, DARHT the of dedication experiments. experiments.

the national hydrotesting program. The formal formal The program. hydrotesting national the air air - open performed currently from

is therefore a national asset and a cornerstone for for cornerstone a and asset national a therefore is Use of this facility will reduce future emissions emissions future reduce will facility this of Use

DARHT systems. weapons of walled containment vessels. vessels. containment walled - single from debris

nuclear mockups mockups nuclear n no of experiments on capability ity will provide for the cleanout of experimental experimental of cleanout the for provide will ity

LANL have exercised DARHT’s full radiographic radiographic full DARHT’s exercised have LANL ­ facil This 2003. 10, February on achieved was

Stewardship Program since 2000. Both LLNL and and LLNL Both 2000. since Program Stewardship 4c). This milestone milestone This 4c). - (CD Facility Preparation

cility and has provided pivotal data to the Stockpile Stockpile the to data pivotal provided has and cility Completion of the construction of the Vessel Vessel the of construction the of Completion •

­ fa test hydrodynamic advanced most world’s the is ray images over 2 µs. 2 over images ray - x quality

axis 1st The approval. NNSA/DOE - high four of capture the allow will system era

completed within budget on March 26, 2003, with with 2003, 26, March on budget within completed achieved on February 6, 2003. This new cam new This 2003. 6, February on achieved ­

(DARHT) facility construction project was officially officially was project construction facility (DARHT) 4b). This milestone was was milestone This 4b). - (CD system camera

Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test Test Hydrodynamic Radiographic Axis - Dual The Completion of the delivery of the 2nd axis axis 2nd the of delivery the of Completion •

oves appr NNSA Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen To generate x-rays, we need three Magnetic fields focus and steer discovered x-rays on Novem- things: (1) a source of electrons; the stream of electrons down the ber 8, 1895, and it wasn’t long (2) a means of increasing their length of the accelerator. Elec- before he began using these new energy, or accelerating them; and trical energy is added along the rays to look deep into objects (3) a target to stop way by a series of circular metal and into the human body. His the electrons and, as a result, plates with high electric fields wife held her hand between produce the x-rays. between them. The electrons pass through holes in the plates his x-ray source and a sheet of In an accelerator, an electron and pick up energy from those photographic film for 15 min source, called an injector, pro- electric fields, gathering kinetic to produce a picture of the duces electrons that are then energy as they speed toward bones in her hand and a ring on accelerated. DARHT’s injector their target. As the electron her finger. Not long after that, essentially consists of two plates beam leaves the accelerator, it Roentgen produced an x-ray between which a pulsed, high is refocused with magnets onto image of his hunting rifle. That electric field is introduced. The a target made of tantalum. image revealed a flaw inside the flood of electrons emitted by the metal of his gun—the first time a first plate is accelerated across When the beam of electrons is hidden structural flaw had been the gap between the plates. A stopped in the tantalum target, exposed without first destroying magnetic field then focuses the result is an intense burst of the flawed object. those electrons through a hole x-ray radiation. At DARHT, we use intense bursts in the second plate to produce A dentist uses a similar process of x-rays to produce images of an electron beam that is injected to produce x-rays of teeth. But our dynamic into the accelerator at nearly since a dentist is interested in experiments. the speed of light. looking at stationary teeth— not rapidly imploding heavy met- als—the dentist’s x-rays

Blumlein pulse-forming line for are much less intense and are very fast electrical energy transfer Tantalum atom from capacitor to accelerator produced over a much longer nucleus (+) time than the x-rays used at Electron (–) DARHT.

Electron path When the burst of x-rays is directed toward an object, some X-ray (emitted photon) of the rays are absorbed, some Electron beam are deflected, and others pass through. Where the object is thin, more x-rays pass through, When a negatively charged and the result is a brighter area electron passes close to the on the radiographic image. positively charged nucleus of Capacitor Where the object is thick a tantalum atom, the strong or dense, fewer x-rays pass attractive electric forces cause through, and the result is a a change in the electron’s tra- darker area on the image. jectory. Whenever a charged particle undergoes High-voltage a change of motion, it emits electrical connections energy. Accelerator Experimental So the electron radiates a Magnetically focused mockup high-energy photon (an x-ray) electron beam Tantalum and that loss of energy causes target

the electron brake. This elec- X-rays tromagnetic energy is called bremsstrahlung radiation.

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participation keeps LANL organizations informed informed organizations LANL keeps participation systems issues. Projects Projects issues. systems - security and force, tective

tion, and Integrated Nuclear Planning. Their Their Planning. Nuclear Integrated and tion, ­ ability, pro ability, t accoun and control materials analysis,

Institutional Siting, Site Planning and Construc­ and Planning Site Siting, Institutional nerability nerability l vu address to structured team support a

sentatives to Laboratory committees such as as such committees Laboratory to sentatives e repr as well as member, staff countability

planning planning - security assigning are projects on tation ­ ac and control materials nuclear special trained

Other methods of ensuring security represen­ security ensuring of methods Other Category I nuclear materials will require a highly highly a require will materials nuclear I Category

ments; for example, projects associated with with associated projects example, for ments; n assig

March 2002 are examples of this process in action. in process this of examples are 2002 March issues and security requirements in making these these making in requirements security and issues

ratory since since ratory o Lab the at initiated projects 50 Nearly ing or other barriers. The team considers potential potential considers team The barriers. other or ing

assign a security representative to their project. project. their to representative security a assign ­ fenc and controls, access areas, protection certain

because project managers now ask S Division to to Division S ask now managers project because certification, sensor design and installation for for installation and design sensor certification,

identify many projects at the preconceptual stage stage preconceptual the at projects many identify ments, such as vault vault as such ments, e requir security coordinate to

$500K. This requirement has helped S Division Division S helped has requirement This $500K. assigned to serve as the single point of contact and and contact of point single the as serve to assigned

assigned at the earliest stages of all projects over over projects all of stages earliest the at assigned For each new project, a security representative is is representative security a project, new each For

project leaders to have security representatives representatives security have to leaders project Establish Contact Establish

a LIR that requires requires that LIR a Management, Project struction

­ Con is process evolving this behind driver key A awareness across the institution. the across awareness

Identify the Project the Identify for DX and ESA Divisions also facilitate security security facilitate also Divisions ESA and DX for

ners ners n pla strategic are who representatives “campus”

(ISSM). to each Laboratory associate director, and with with and director, associate Laboratory each to

tegrated Safeguards and Security Management Management Security and Safeguards tegrated with the senior security advisors who are assigned assigned are who advisors security senior the with

enhance the Laboratory’s implementation of In of implementation Laboratory’s the enhance ­

tion with the Security Help Desk, Desk, Help Security the with tion a c i mun m Co

grammatic projects. This evolving process will will process evolving This projects. grammatic o pr

struction and and struction n co Laboratory in awareness curity matic work, or mission changes. mission or work, matic

a support process to improve safeguards and se and safeguards improve to process support a ­ gram­ o pr modification, facility construction, involve

oping oping l deve is 1 - S in Team Planning Strategic The about new and ongoing projects—whether they they projects—whether ongoing and new about

bringing ISSM to construction projects construction to ISSM bringing Security & Project Management Project & Security that do not involve classified matter or nuclear material do not require such complicated lines of communication and support from the security standpoint. In some cases, an initial review reveals no security issues other than property protection or DefineDefine Ensure WWorkork access controls. Performance

Start the Project Work Analyze For complex projects of high consequence, Safely & Hazards the team conducts a formal, security project initia­ PPerferformorm Securely & Threats WWorkork tion meeting, at which representatives from various security disciplines interface with the project leaders DeDevelopvelop and project manager. At this meeting, we establish ContrControlsols the “links” and lines of communication for total se­ curity support—security systems, physical security, information and personnel security, material control and accountability, secure communications, internal security, operations security, and cyber security.

Resolve Issues Throughout the project, the security representative coordinates and facilitates the resolution of issues and tracks these issues until the identified activities have been completed. In addition to supporting specific projects, the Strategic Planning Team ad­ dresses issues that span multiple projects such as the concurrent fire alarm and security alarm replacements. Project managers, project leaders, schedulers, and program and line managers are in­ volved resolving potential conflicts among projects, and they work together with a standing security team from S Division.

Close the Project Closing out a project and reviewing operational readiness gives the security team an opportunity to identify any lessons learned that may have been overlooked during the life of the project. The process continues to evolve, and this jour­ ney benefits ISSM and helps Laboratory project managers­ to succeed. Æ Cam Campbell, 665-1467, [email protected] John F. Harvey

• 13 Director’s Safety Initiative focus on working safely

Interim Laboratory Director Pete Nanos recently 4. Slow or no response – Workers view responsive­ instituted a Director’s Safety Initiative—an exer­ ness to safety concerns as slow or nonexistent. cise to focus employees’ attention on explanations 5. Inadequate worker involvement – Workers want and solutions for the current upward trend in the to be included in solutions to safety problems. Laboratory’s injury and illness rates. The exercise 6. Facility condition – Remediation of facility haz­ started with Nested Safety and Security Committee ards must be completed or operations will be (NSSC) meetings at the team level and culminated shut down until improvements are made. with the Director’s Central Safety and Security 7. Work control – Work control processes must Committee (DCSSC). lead to increased worker safety. 8. Traffic, parking, and walking – Managers need to reinforce and exhibit safe driving, and plan­ I want the best safety record ners must consider driving, parking, in the world. and pedestrian access before demolition Pete Nanos or construction. 9. Schedule pressure – Managers must be aware At the NSSC meetings, employees discussed a spe­ that schedule pressures at the expense of safety cific set of questions: model wrong behavior and contribute to • What barriers do you see to doing your work worker stress. safely? 10. Leased space – Safety and security services • What can be done to further enhance worker provided by landlords for leased space are in­ involvement to improve workplace safety? consistent with services provided on Laboratory • What could your team leader or group leader property. do differently to improve workplace safety? Owners and corrective actions for these institution­ • What could your senior managers do differ­ al issues are being identified.Æ ently to improve workplace safety? Ron Geoffrion, 667-0300, [email protected] • What can be done, and what will you do, to reduce workplace injuries? Laboratory Laboratory Answers to these questions were carried forward Director DCSSC Director through groups, divisions, and directorates to the DCSSC. Ten institutional categories of concerns Directorate were identified at their February 13 meeting: 1. Model behavior – Managers should look for, support, and demonstrate safe performance Problems Division Information Information Decisions of work. Potential Solutions 2. Ergonomics – Employees want a no-fault sys­ Group tem for diagnosis, treatment, and work-station improvements. Team 3. Stress – Managers must ensure safe perfor­ All Employees All Employees mance of work while meeting programmatic Nested Safety and Security Committees

milestones. • 14 7.00

6.00 LANL combined injury and illness rates reflect 12-month rolling 5.00 averages normalized to 200,000 h, which equal 100 full-time 4.00 employees. The TRC line documents the total recordable 3.00 cases; DART data include days 2.39 away from work, restricted 2.00 work activity, or transfers 1.42 to another job. 1.00 cases per 200,000 hours worked TRC DART 0.00 Dec-Mar-Jun-Sep-Dec-Mar-Jun-Sep-Dec-Mar-Jun-Sep-Dec-Mar-Jun-Sep-Dec-Mar-Jun-Sep-Dec-Mar-Jun-Sep-Dec 96 97 97 97 97 98 98 98 98 99 99 99 99 00 00 00 00 01 01 01 01 02 02 02 02

What are NSSCs?

“Nested Safety and Security Committees reside within the line organizations as conduits for shar­ ing information and communicating decisions. Directorates, divisions, group-level, and team-level organizations have NSSCs. Every employee should be a member of a first-level team or group committee. The leaders of each level become members of the next level in continuous succession to the DCSSC.” —Laboratory Integrated Safety Management (ISM) Description Document Section 3.8.6. (LA-UR-98-2837, Rev. 4)

The Laboratory ISM Description Document directs the use of NSSCs; safeguards and security is­ sues were added to their charter in a January 2002 letter from John Browne to NNSA. The Nested Safety Committee Expectations (July 2, 2001) explained that NSSCs should • meet at least monthly at team, group, and division levels, and bimonthly at directorate and institutional levels; • be the principal vehicle for communication and problem solving; • include information on injuries, illnesses, incidents, and audit reports; and • be the line organization’s mechanism and process for managing environment, safety, health, and security in the organization.

Does every worker have to participate? Yes—NSSCs are designed to involve all workers (UC employees and subcontractors) at all levels in opportunities to discuss and help solve safety and se­ curity issues.

The International Atomic Energy Agency Safety Reports Series No. 11, Developing Safety Culture in Nuclear Activities: Practical Suggestions to Assist Progress, Section 5.7, Employees’ Contribution to Improving Safety Performance, states, “All employees have a primary responsibility to contribute to their personal safety [and security] and to that of their fellow employees. Many organizations have found by experience that this contribution is best facilitated by encouraging employee involvement since individuals tend to take a personal interest in matters related to their personal safety.”

NSSCs are a mechanism to expedite solutions that can be implemented at the team or group level or to escalate those problems to a higher level for resolution.

• 15 Stockpile Stewardship & the Bradbury Science Museum Informing the public about the Laboratory’s national security mission

The Bradbury Science Museum recently opened a large-scale exhibit on stockpile stewardship and its importance to our national security mission. The Weapons Engineering and Manufacturing and Weapons Physics Directorates collaborated with the Museum to develop the exhibit, which show­ cases the new filmMission: Stockpile Stewardship in a theater designed specifically for this exhibit. A weapons corral shows casings, specifications, Richard C. Robinson and delivery mechanisms for four weapon systems, Chain-link fence topped with concertina wire separates and eight stations include interactive exhibits for the visitor’s experience of the exhibit into two sections: “outside the fence” and “behind the fence.” visitors to learn more about science and technology in the nuclear weapons program at Los Alamos.

Outside the Fence Four large panels and interactive displays focus on the world community and set the Laboratory and our nuclear weapons mission in a global con­ text. • Nuclear weapons: A global reality and a national priority • Understanding how a nuclear weapon works • Changing times and changing numbers in the US stockpile • Stockpile stewardship and our mission Jay B. Tracy

16 • Stockpile Stewardship & the Bradbury Science Museum

Behind the Fence By using a badge reader, visitors go behind the fence, where four stations invite learning about specific aspects of the Los Alamos stockpile stewardship program. • Aging materials • Hydrodynamic testing • Test readiness at NTS • Modeling and Andrea M. Gaskey

Bradbury Science Museum http://www.lanl.gov/museum The Bradbury Science Museum serves as a (2) promotes greater public understanding of bridge between the Laboratory and the com- the Laboratory’s role in national security pro- munity by helping to improve science education grams; (3) assists the public in making informed and science literacy. The Museum presents the judgments in these matters; and Laboratory’s history and current research in (4) contributes to visitors knowledge of science many exhibits that are interactive and feature and technology and improves the quality of videos, computers, and science demonstrations. math and science education in northern The Museum (1) interprets Laboratory research, New Mexico. activities, and history to official visitors, the general public, and Laboratory employees;

• 17

• 18

edge from huge quantities of data. These tools are are tools These data. of quantities huge from edge

. laboratory national a of effort dedicated the of ­ knowl extract to tools visualization new developing

based scientific challenge is truly worthy worthy truly is challenge scientific based - broader edge from exceedingly large data sets. We are are We sets. data large exceedingly from edge l know

our Stockpile Stewardship Program. In fact, the the fact, In Program. Stewardship Stockpile our ence capability, and they require us to decipher decipher to us require they and capability, ence

bility are applicable beyond beyond applicable are bility a cap this ping o devel ­ matics challenge to building a predictive sci predictive a building to challenge matics r info

mental data. The numerous challenges we face in in face we challenges numerous The data. mental These vast quantities of data present a major major a present data of quantities vast These

and generate, analyze, and understand vast experi­ vast understand and analyze, generate, and duced by these machines are significant. are machines these by duced

problems with an acceptable degree of uncertainty; uncertainty; of degree acceptable an with problems ­ pro data the archiving and understanding with

impact impact - high of simulations produce subsystems; real stockpile issues. But the challenges associated associated challenges the But issues. stockpile real

of nuclear weapons—with its own set of complex complex of set own its weapons—with nuclear of yield, and we are using these to tackle and resolve resolve and tackle to these using are we and yield,

grated behavior of a system—like the performance performance the system—like a of behavior grated lations of our systems from initiation to nuclear nuclear to initiation from systems our of lations

We must develop an understanding of the inte­ the of understanding an develop must We ­ resolution simu resolution - high astonishingly offer that codes

gram. We now have computer hardware and new new and hardware computer have now We gram.

mance. to Los Alamos and to the nuclear weapons pro weapons nuclear the to and Alamos Los to ­

of remanufactured components on weapons perfor weapons on components remanufactured of ­ tied intimately is computing of development

capabilities are also required to evaluate the impact impact the evaluate to required also are capabilities braries, and computing languages. The history and and history The languages. computing and braries,

formance. Similarly, these enhanced assessment assessment enhanced these Similarly, formance. r pe ­ li scientific databases, visualization, as such tools,

in a weapon’s condition on safety, reliability, and and reliability, safety, on condition weapon’s a in software, and programming expertise—and other other expertise—and programming and software,

and to determine the effect of observed anomalies anomalies observed of effect the determine to and putational infrastructure—hardware, architecture, architecture, infrastructure—hardware, putational

late the performance of aging nuclear weapons; weapons; nuclear aging of performance the late creation of a powerful and comprehensive com­ comprehensive and powerful a of creation

accurately predict complex phenomena; to simu to phenomena; complex predict accurately ­ One element in developing this approach is the the is approach this developing in element One

the precision of experiments. Our goals are to more more to are goals Our experiments. of precision the

the physics models, the numerical methods, and and methods, numerical the models, physics the the certification of a previously tested system. tested previously a of certification the

­

tion by improving improving by tion allows us to maintain maintain to us allows

interactions.

­ based predic based - science and uncertainties that that uncertainties and

simulated and evolving, coupled, hydrodynamic and radiation radiation and hydrodynamic coupled, evolving, and simulated

requires us to extend extend to us requires tive metric of margins margins of metric tive

a full-color, 3-D movie of the temperature or density field of of field density or temperature the of movie 3-D full-color, a

Program Program Stewardship ­ quantita a provide to × 2-m stereo display—can immerse weapons scientists in in scientists weapons immerse display—can stereo 2-m 4 a

Stockpile Stockpile our of cess of this assessment is is assessment this of The new Los Alamos PowerWalls—each of which provides provides which of PowerWalls—each Alamos Los new The

­ suc the weapons, nomena. The result result The nomena.

mance of nuclear nuclear of mance ­ phe microphysical of

­ perfor integral the accurate simulations simulations accurate

imentally validate validate imentally to allow coarser but but coarser allow to

longer able to exper­ to able longer up) up) - (scale science

Because we are no no are we Because pursue multiscale multiscale pursue

solution errors and and errors solution

lifetime. to quantify numerical numerical quantify to

design design its beyond ters. We develop tools tools develop We ters.

­

the stockpile ages ages stockpile the model or its parame its or model ­

respond to issues as as issues to respond in the choice of a a of choice the in

tools to predict and and predict to tools bound uncertainties uncertainties bound

and computational computational and ulations and to to and ulations m si

our predictions. We need improved experimental experimental improved need We predictions. our design our experiments to constrain theories and and theories constrain to experiments our design

limits of applicability, and degree of confidence in in confidence of degree and applicability, of limits physical understanding of those discrepancies. We We discrepancies. those of understanding physical

with more rigorous estimates of levels of accuracy, accuracy, of levels of estimates rigorous more with observations and simulations, and the search for a a for search the and simulations, and observations

ulations ulations m si predictive scale - large on relying by pon plete data, discrepancies between between discrepancies data, plete m inco lence),

understand and predict the performance of a wea­ a of performance the predict and understand in complex systems (e.g., instabilities and turbu and instabilities (e.g., systems complex in ­

limited number of nuclear tests. Now we must must we Now tests. nuclear of number limited about the systemic net of causal relationships relationships causal of net systemic the about

accurately calculated or easily measured, given the the given measured, easily or calculated accurately These challenges include a lack of knowledge knowledge of lack a include challenges These

Point of View from page 1 page from View of Point being used to present the huge volumes of informa­ for our primary national security mission, it tion produced by a weapon simulation in ways that provides the foundation for virtually all of our pro­ scientists can quickly grasp. During this past year, we grammatic work. completed the first 3-D simulation of a full W76 nuclear weapon system explosion by using For example, trying to understand the extra­ Livermore’s 12-TeraOPS White computer. This cal­ ordinary complexity and diversity of life presents culation represents the first time that we have been a significant scientific challenge. This complex able to compute a fully coupled primary and second­ system extends over an enormous range of scales ary explosion to analyze weapon performance. It from the microscopic nanoscale to macroscopic represents a breakthrough for the program and offers plants and animals. Nanoscience—a field defined unprecedented detail for designers and analysts. The by the integration across scientific disciplines, next five years hold the promise of extending these length scales, experiment, and theory—is one fo­ simulations to even higher resolution with greatly cus of our efforts in basic science that is closely improved speeds. coupled with complexity and offers great promise for the development of technologies that will be However, these simulations must be meticulously critical to our national security mission. validated with experimental laboratory data that test the physics models of these complex systems As an example of our work at the interface of and allow us to better understand the results of nanoscience and bioscience, scientists at the Labo­ prior nuclear tests. Without this validation, the ratory are trying to understand the basic physics simulation can fool us with respect to its repre­ of protein folding—one of the great mysteries sentation of connected phenomena that cannot be of computational biology. Proteins are the basic fully tested in a laboratory environment. Neither building blocks of life, and protein folding is the the simulations nor the experiments alone are suf­ foundation of cellular growth and the health of ficient to understand these systems. Ultimately, we a biological system. It is the process by which must apply these tools to manage technical risks proteins reconfigure themselves and adopt a well- of certification by ensuring that uncertainties as­ defined structure. When proteins incorrectly fold, sociated with predicting key weapon performance the malfunction can give rise to a variety of dis­ metrics do not overwhelm the margins designed eases. Although the protein-folding problem was into the system. This assessment would be applied postulated in the 1960s, we have yet to understand to weapon systems that have aged past their in­ the chemical and physical principles that guide the tended lifetimes. folding process.

The challenge of stockpile stewardship is to main­ Theoretical biophysicists at Los Alamos and UC tain the US nuclear stockpile without nuclear San Diego have now created the first computer testing. Whether we can maintain the safety and simulation of full-system protein folding. As reliability of the existing weapons indefinitely with­ part of the checkout phase of the new, second out nuclear testing probably cannot be answered. 10-TeraOPS part (called QB) of the ASCI Q ma­ If the nation requires different nuclear weapons to chine, six extremely complex and computationally meet the threats of the 21st century, the challenge intensive unclassified “science runs” becomes even greater. For either the existing weap­ have been conducted before QB is put into clas­ ons or new weapons, we will need the tools of the sified mode. One of those simulations is the Stockpile Stewardship Program to succeed with or dynamics of protein folding. Atomic simulations without nuclear testing. were conducted to study the process of insertion and folding of a protein fragment into a biological Fundamental Science lipid membrane. Protein insertion into biologi­ Not only does our work in basic science and re­ cal membranes is the first step in many important search strengthen the technical capabilities needed biological processes (transport, cell signaling).

• 19

• 20

high melting explosive melting high HMX

Security Nuclear National NNSA

telemetry spectrometer

Technology Group Technology radio explosive - high HERT ray - x dispersive - wavelength WDS

Component Weapon 5 - NMT

high explosive high HE University of California of University UC

Technology Division Technology

flight test unit test flight FTU total recordable cases recordable total TRC

Materials Nuclear NMT

electron microscope electron operations per second per operations

system

scanning emission field FESEM point - floating trillion TeraOPS

recycling acid nitric NARS

Applications Division Applications microscopy

Technology

and Sciences Engineering ESA electron scanning SEM

of Institute Massachusetts MIT

spectrometer ray scattering ray - x angle - small SAXS

composite (material) composite

ray - x dispersive - energy EDS

intermolecular metastable MIC angle scattering angle - small SAS

Technology Group Technology

orthosilicate - oxy lutetium LSO scattering

and Science Detonation 1 - DX

neutron angle - small SANS

National Laboratory National

Division

Livermore Lawrence LLNL Group

Experimentation Dynamic DX

Programs and Plans Security 1 - S

Requirements

US Department of Energy of Department US DOE

Implementation Laboratory LIR Division

US Department of Defense of Department US DoD Safeguards and Security S

National Laboratory National

and Security Committee Security and Berkeley Lawrence LBNL Treatment Facility Treatment

Safety Central Director’s DCSSC Waste Liquid Radioactive RLWTF

Laboratory

transfers to another job another to transfers National Alamos Los LANL reentry body reentry RB

or activity, work restricted

Security Management Security polarized light microscopy light polarized PLM

work, from away days DART

and Safeguards Integrated ISSM

plastic bonded explosive bonded plastic PBX

Test Hydrodynamic

Management

Radiographic Axis - Dual DARHT Nevada Test Site Test Nevada NTS

Safety Integrated ISM

DOE critical decision critical DOE CD committee

Division

security and safety nested NSSC

Computing Initiative Initiative Computing Protection Radiation

Strategic Accelerated ASCI and Safety, Health, HSR Administration

Acronyms and Abbreviations and Acronyms

eling, and simulation of systems with multiscale multiscale with systems of simulation and eling,

cations for a wide variety of technologies. technologies. of variety wide a for cations of materials and biology; in melding theory, mod theory, melding in biology; and materials of ­ Æ

­ impli have that engineering and science complex of in conducting science and research at the interface interface the at research and science conducting in

weapons) to work in multiple areas areas multiple in work to weapons)

distinctive capabilities of Los Alamos and Sandia Sandia and Alamos Los of capabilities distinctive

mass destruction (chemical, biological, and nuclear nuclear and biological, (chemical, destruction mass be a national resource and will bring together the the together bring will and resource national a be

tionally done on countermeasures for weapons of of weapons for countermeasures on done tionally will that Nanotechnologies Integrated for Center

we are extending the research that we have tradi have we that research the extending are we ­ of new technologies. The DOE is developing a a developing is DOE The technologies. new of

And as our role in threat reduction accelerates, accelerates, reduction threat in role our as And promise for science, research, and the development development the and research, science, for promise

ronmental remediation or global climate change. change. climate global or remediation ronmental The future of complexity science holds enormous enormous holds science complexity of future The

to critical infrastructures, and the impact of envi of impact the and infrastructures, critical to ­ On the Horizon the On

such as the spread of diseases, possible threats threats possible diseases, of spread the as such

impact problems facing the nation and the world, world, the and nation the facing problems impact tein/membrane interactions. tein/membrane

- high involve that those especially systems, complex ­ pro of understanding the toward advance major

a predictive understanding of other extremely extremely other of understanding predictive a protein/membrane systems and may represent a a represent may and systems protein/membrane

to develop capabilities and expertise to pursue pursue to expertise and capabilities develop to calculations are the most extensive simulations on on simulations extensive most the are calculations

The Stockpile Stewardship Program motivates us us motivates Program Stewardship Stockpile The

but the code scaled well to 1,024 CPUs. These These CPUs. 1,024 to well scaled code the but

tions efficiently with sets of 512 CPUs, CPUs, 512 of sets with efficiently tions

in developing fabrication technologies. fabrication developing in ­ simula perform to able were We QB. the on hours

phenomena; in characterizing materials; and and materials; characterizing in phenomena;

application has used about 200,000 processor processor 200,000 about used has application This ­ storage tanks totheeastof personnelusedthe water Project addition tothehouse,Manhattan wasassembled. In plutonium core the where cleanroom, dust-free intoa wastransformed bedroom heavy items.Inside,themaster for hangingahoisttounload ranch house,aframewaserected wallatthe oftherock In front notice.” and unnecessary heat both blisteringdesert ning afterdarktoavoid eve leftLosAlamosevery trucks July 16,1945, The Trinity Story, to cording to Trinity Site forassembly. Ac LosAlamos components from various buses—delivered trucks, Many typesofvehicles—cars, Santa FeandAlbuquerque. drivingthrough have required thatwould a 300-milejourney Los AlamostoTrinity Site— from sembled atomicbombdirectly thefullyas in 1945totransport that theinfamoussedanwasused tinues anongoingmisconception youtothisphotoandcon directs car” (ratherthan“bombcore”) for“bomb asearch where ternet, bytheIn ispromulgated error Another house, whichisincorrect. unloading the“bomb”into and itstatedthatthemenwere Arrives,” captioned “BombCore At somepoint,thephotowas fusion. ranch househavegeneratedcon sedan outsidetheMcDonald photograph ofa1942Plymouth Over theyears,captionsforthis A Backward Glance

Reach totheUnknown: “As manyasten

- -

- - - -

TR00244 colorized photo TR00312 colorized photo house anddriventhefewmilesto wasassembledattheranch core isthattheplutonium is certain unclear. walkingremains are What inwhichthey nents, thedirection contains theplutoniumcompo theventilatedboxthat carrying Daghlian LehrandHarry Herbert Although thephotoaboveshows swimming pool. and theyfilledonetanktouseasa home—it wasalonghotsummer, http://www.wsmr.army.mil/paopage/pages/trinst.htm http://www.lanl.gov/worldview/welcome/history.shtml For more information: - Æ heldeachAprilandOctober.are biannual tourstoTrinity Sitethat ofthe 1945, andopeneditaspart house toitsconditiononJuly12, theMcDonaldranch vice restored In 1984,theNationalParkSer first atomicbombwastested. July 16,the atTrinity zero ground Site.On

-