March 2014

March 31, 2014January 28, 2019

A Brief Overview of Radiation Related Research in the Microfabrication Program at Sandia National Laboratories

SPEAKER:

MARK S. DERZON

DATE/TIME:

MON, 03/31/2014 - 4:00PM TO 5:00PM

LOCATION:

3105 ETCHEVERRY HALL

Spring 2014 Colloquium Series

Abstract:

Microfabrication offers some unique opportunities to build radiation sources as well as sensors. Recently we have proposed fabricating pulsed accelerator diode components with lithographic methods for both neutron and x ray sources. This seminar will split our time between discussion of the radiation source concepts and the detectors.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Derzon is working on new microelectronics capabilities to enhance nuclear detection and other national security missions. His team at Sandia has developed a platform for CBRNE detection and orthogonal detection of DNA/RNA/immunoassay which accepts raw samples. He wrote the US draft strategic plan for the White House OSTP on diagnostic development for CBRNE defense based on work with USAMRIID. He has led plasma physics experimental series on numerous facilities (‘Z’, PBFA, Saturn, LLNLs NOVA) and developed many of the key diagnostics. Dr. Derzon has numerous publications and over 200 internal reports documenting his efforts. He obtained his Ph.D from the University of California at Berkeley in 1987.

March 17, 2014January 28, 2019

The Great Unknownium Debate

SPEAKER:

MICHAELE (MIKEY) BRADY RAAP, PH.D.

DATE/TIME:

MON, 03/17/2014 - 4:00PM TO 5:00PM

LOCATION:

102 MOFFITT

Spring 2014 Colloquium Series

Abstract:

The US is heavily invested in the detection and interdiction of nuclear materials. Radiation monitoring at international border crossings and security stations at international ports of entry are a key defense in this area. So what happens if material is interdicted? The first priority is assuring that the immediate threat of the material is neutralized. The next question is what type of material is it and where did it come from? Nuclear forensics is the term used to describe the investigation of the “unknownium” to find evidence of its type, source and trafficking history.

Nuclear reactors produce plutonium as they operate. This plutonium could conceivably be extracted from used fuel and used for weapons. In fact, over half of the estimated world inventory of plutonium is present in the form of used fuel from reactors. There are a
number of different reactor types in use throughout the world today. Each of these reactors produce plutonium with an isotopic distribution that reflects specific operating parameters of the reactor including fuel enrichment, power density, fuel type and geometry, etc. The great debate is whether or not the differences between reactor types are significant enough and is there sufficient data to establish a unique signature for reactor types.

This presentation introduces the concepts discussed above and reviews the existing data for used fuels and programmatic efforts to establish a method for classifying reactor types in the investigation of “unknownium”.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Michaele (Mikey) Brady Raap is a chief engineer with the Nuclear Systems Design, Engineering & Analysis Group within the National Security Directorate at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, Washington. She has more than 25 years of experience in nuclear and criticality safety for plutonium processing and spent fuel systems including the design and review of benchmark experiments, safety assessments at operating facilities and integrating safety-in-design.

Dr. Brady Raap has had extensive involvement with international and national nuclear organizations. She has been the Chair of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD / NEA) Nuclear Energy Agency, Expert Group on Burnup Credit Criticality for over 20 years. She has been a key contributor to Technical Coordination Meetings organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) related to burnup credit. Dr. Brady Raap is an active member of multiple American National Standards Institute / American Nuclear Society (ANSI/ANS) Working Groups and in International Standards Organization (ISO) standards development activities. She is currently the chairman of the OECD/NEA Working Party on Nuclear Criticality Safety (WPNCS) and a member of the DOE Nuclear Criticality Safety Support Group (CSSG).

Dr. Brady Raap has been an active member of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) since joining in 1985 and has held many leadership positions for ANS including the chairmanship of both the Reactor Physics and Nuclear Criticality Safety Divisions. She has served two terms on the ANS Board of Directors and as the Treasurer (2011-2013). Dr. Brady Raap currently the Vice-President/President-Elect (2013-2014) and will assume the role of President of the ANS in June 2014.

March 10, 2014January 28, 2019

Laser Plasma Accelerators and MeV Photon Sources for Nuclear Physics

SPEAKER:

CAMERON G.R. GEDDES, PH.D.

DATE/TIME:

MON, 03/10/2014 - 4:00PM TO 5:00PM

LOCATION:

3105 ETCHEVERRY HALL

Spring 2014 Colloquium Series

Abstract:

Laser-plasma accelerators (LPAs) produce GeV electron beams in centimeters, using the plasma wave driven by the radiation pressure of an intense laser. Such compact high-energy linacs are important to applications ranging from future high energy physics to monochromatic sources of MeV photons for nuclear material security, for which beam quality and efficiency are crucial. Operation principles of LPAs and photon source applications will be reviewed. Control over the laser optical mode and plasma profile has extended the acceleration distance to produce efficient acceleration. This includes electrons above 200 MeV from 10 TW and up to 4.25 GeV from <400 TW. Recent experiments will be discussed which use the beat
between ’colliding’ lasers to control injection, producing bunches with energy spreads below 1.5% FWHM and divergences of 1.5 mrad FWHM. Separate experiments recently demonstrated 0.1 mm-mrad emittance from self injected LPAs using betatron radiation, and stable beam performance. The combination of low energy spread and emittance with production of 200 MeV energies from 10 TW lasers, which are now transportable, is important to applications including MeV photon and other light sources, and to high energy LPAs for HEP. Designs for MeV photon sources utilizing the unique properties of LPA beams, and their applications to nuclear physics and interrogation, will be discussed.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Geddes is a staff scientist in the LOASIS program of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, investigating use of laser driven plasma waves to build compact next generation particle accelerators and photon sources. These accelerators sustain much higher accelerating fields than conventional devices. Applications include extending the future reach of high energy physics accelerators, and compact sources of near-monochromatic MeV photons for nuclear interrogation. Geddes received the Ph.D. in 2005 at the University of California, Berkeley, supported by the Hertz Fellowship, receiving the Hertz and APS Rosenbluth dissertation prizes for the first laser plasma accelerator producing mono-energetic beams. He received the B.A. from Swarthmore College in 1997, and the APS Apker and Swarthmore Elmore prize for thesis work on Spheromak equilibria. Previous research included Thomson scattering measurement of driven waves in inertial confinement fusion plasmas (1997-99, LLNL), wave mixing (1999, Polymath), small aspect Tokamaks (1995, Princeton/U. of Wisconsin), and nonlinear optics (1993-95).

March 3, 2014January 28, 2019

Delivering Britain’s Low-Carbon Nuclear Renaissance

SPEAKER:

KIRSTY GOGAN, MSC

DATE/TIME:

MON, 03/03/2014 - 4:00PM TO 5:00PM

LOCATION:

3105 ETCHEVERRY HALL

Spring 2014 Colloquium Series

Abstract:

For the last ten years, government policy in Britain has sought to re-invigorate nuclear power as a major contributor to meeting the ‘energy trilemma’; how to produce a stable, affordable and clean source of power sufficient for a country of 60 million people. Working with both government and industry, Kirsty Gogan has had extensive experience in helping to deliver Britain’s ‘nuclear renaissance’. From running the national public consultation for new nuclear sites, reviewing government policy in the wake of Fukushima, to building alliances with environmental groups, her work has helped to re-position nuclear power in the public debate. In this talk she will share her insights into Britain’s experience of redefining nuclear for the 21st century.

About the Speaker:

Kirsty Gogan sees nuclear power as an essential component for meeting critical challenges of climate change, air pollution and universal access to energy. Leading the Government’s public consultation into the UK’s new build programme she addressed public concerns about nuclear power. Later, as communications director for the UK’s Nuclear Industry Association, she created the Low Carbon Alliance with other low carbon technology trade associations representing more than 1,000 businesses. In addition, Kirsty launched the first UK chapter of the global Women in Nuclear network and creates innovative solutions to challenge popular misconceptions about nuclear energy.

Kirsty Gogan (MSc) is currently a Visiting Researcher at the Dalton Nuclear Institute at the University of Manchester, UK. She is a former Deputy Head of Strategy for the Office of Nuclear Development in the UK Government’s Department for Energy and Climate Change and Head of Communications for the UK Nuclear Industry Association.