Ground-Satellite Communications Interferences from Nuclear Detonations

David Hooper Headshot
David Hooper Headshot
SPEAKER:
David Hooper

Senior R&D Staff Member at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Group Leader of the Incident Modeling and Computational Sciences Group of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Division

DATE/TIME:
MON, 09/30/2024 - 3:00PM TO 4:00PM
LOCATION:
3105 ETCHEVERRY HALL

Abstract:

As new methods are being developed for quantum communications links between satellites and ground stations, a question was raised about the sensitivity of such systems to potential nuclear weapons effects. To answer this question, ORNL assembled a multidisciplinary team to investigate the interaction between quantum optical communications channels and nuclear effects such as incident debris, secondary luminescence ("redout") or the production of artificial radiation belts in the upper atmosphere. This presentation summarizes the duration and significance of these effects over a variety of theoretical scenarios.

Bio:

David Hooper is a Senior R&D Staff Member at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Group Leader of the Incident Modeling and Computational Sciences Group of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Division. His current research focuses on post-detonation nuclear forensics modeling and analysis, nuclear facility accident risk and consequence assessment, and health effects of radiological/nuclear debris. Prior to joining Oak Ridge, David earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wyoming in 2001. He then taught at the Nuclear Power School for the Navy before earning a M.S. and Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering, along with a M.S. in Statistics, from the University of Tennessee. His work experience ranges from nuclear debris modeling, analysis, and forensics, to nuclear safeguards modeling and application.

 

Let’s be an Awesome Future’s Past

Ross Koningstein
Ross Koningstein
SPEAKER:

Ross Koningstein

Engineer, Director Emeritus, Google Research

DATE/TIME:
MON, 09/23/2024 - 3:00PM TO 4:00PM
LOCATION:
3105 ETCHEVERRY HALL

Abstract:

When it comes to climate change and human development, what few things can make our future dramatically different and better than today? Why are these important, yet challenging to approach? Then, focusing on forms of nuclear energy, what has Google done to accelerate technology options, and what’s the project at Berkeley?

Bio:

Ross joined Google in 2000 as its first Director of Engineering after an entrepreneurial early career. He was one of the early inventors of Google’s AdWords, the main revenue driver for the company. He contributed to the design of Google’s breakthrough high-efficiency data center in The Dalles, Oregon. Driven by learnings from his efforts on Google’s RE less-than C (renewable electricity cheaper than coal), Ross started an advanced energy research group to explore what Google could do to accelerate future nuclear-derived energy, a part of the solution to climate change.

 

Analysis of small samples of spent nuclear materials for interpreting reactor operating history

Brett Isselhardt
Brett Isselhardt
SPEAKER:

Brett Isselhardt

Nuclear Engineer, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
DATE/TIME:
MON, 09/16/2024 - 3:00PM TO 4:00PM
LOCATION:
3105 ETCHEVERRY HALL

Abstract:

Interpreting the operating history of a nuclear reactor is a key question in safeguards, non-proliferation, and studies of environmental contamination. It can help answer questions related to the amount and quality of Pu or other radioactive materials that were produced during the irradiation. Traditional approaches to characterizing spent nuclear fuels rely either on radiometric counting and/or mass spectrometry, usually relying on chemical purification of the specific analyte to increase precision and accuracy. We present an approach using resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS) to precisely analyze small, solid samples of spent nuclear materials to characterize isotope ratios of multiple elements simultaneously, without prior chemical separation. Dispensing with chemical separation avoids the addition of chemistry “blanks” (background), measuring multiple elements from the same volume allows the correlation of multiple irradiation characteristics, and working from small samples decreases the radioactive hazards in the laboratory.
We have applied Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s Laser Ionization of Neutrals (LION) instrument to several samples of spent nuclear material. This presentation will explain how we can analyze nearly any combination of 3 elements including U, Pu, Am, Sr, Rb, Mo, Zr, Nd, Ba, Cs simultaneously, during a single measurement, usually with enough material remaining to analyze the others in a subsequent analysis. We will show how connecting multiple isotope ratios across elements and comparing those analytical results to computational models provide an improved understanding of the operating history of a nuclear reactor.

Bio:

Brett Isselhardt is a Staff Scientist in the Trace Isotopic and Elemental Signatures Group at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. He earned his Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley and has a B.S. in Physics from Westmont College. His primary technical research focuses on applying Resonance Ionization Mass Spectrometry to characterizing nuclear material samples. With this goal, he established the LION (Laser Ionization of Neutrals) facility at LLNL in 2015, this facility now analyzes complex samples of nuclear material routinely. He has experience leading several small teams to perform cutting-edge R&D in materials signatures and new method development for application to nuclear forensics, nonproliferation, and national security. Over the last two years he has expanded his research efforts to modernize Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation (AVLIS) methods for the domestic production of enriched isotopes.

Here comes the sun: Harnessing inertial fusion energy

Tubman_Ellie_headshot (1)
SPEAKER:

Ellie Tubman

Assistant Professor, UC Berkeley Department of Nuclear Engineering
DATE/TIME:
MON, 09/09/2024 - 3:00PM TO 4:00PM
LOCATION:
3105 ETCHEVERRY HALL

Abstract:

Fusion research is an ongoing, worldwide effort to meet the demand for clean energy resources with a ubiquitous fuel source. There are several paths being explored to achieve fusion, one of which has been successfully demonstrated by the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in December 2022 using laser driven inertial confinement fusion (ICF). However there are further challenges to be addressed to optimise yields and this talk will present some exciting questions being researched by both the ICF and MagLIF communities.

Bio:

 Dr. Ellie Tubman graduated with a master’s degree in physics from the University of Sussex, UK. She went on to the University of York, UK, completing her PhD in 2016. She then took subsequent post-doctoral positions within the Magpie pulsed power group at Imperial College London from 2017-2019 and at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory on the National Ignition Facility 2020-2023. In April 2023 Ellie took up a position at Imperial College London as a lecturer in experimental high-energy-density plasma physics before joining UC Berkeley as an assistant professor in August 2023.

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