Identifying the Influence of Environmental Effects on Post-Detonation Chemistry and Debris Formation

Executive Summary

We are using computational and experimental approaches to investigate fundamental chemical processes that can perturb radionuclide inventory (captured in post-detonation debris) by changing the structure of (and interaction between) atoms and molecules. By developing the scientific basis necessary for improved correction and interpretation of radiochemical data, this research supports national goals in stockpile stewardship and the reduction of nuclear dangers.

Publications, Presentations, and Patents

Auner A., et al. “ACS Abstract Tantalum Oxide Investigation.” LLNL-ABS-821878.

Auner A., et al. “The Formation of Amorphous and Crystalline Cerium Sesquioxide by Pulsed Laser Ablation and Continuous Wave Laser Heating in Low Oxygen Environments.” LLNL-ABS-824589.

Auner, A. “Formation of unique crystalline sesquioxide structure via pulsed ablation and continuous wave heating.” LLNL-VIDEO-825557.

Auner, A. W., L. A. Nagel, J. C. Crowhurst, D. G. Weisz, K. B. Knight. “The Effect of Cerium Surface Oxidation on Plasma Plume Geometry Imaged After Nanosecond Laser Ablation.” LLNL-ABS-824590.

Balboni, E., et al. 2020. “Chemical associations in legacy materials from nuclear testing in carbonate environments.” NEM conference, Los Alamos, March 2020. LLNL-POST-805327.

Balboni, E., et al. 2020. “Historic Debris Analysis.” Nuclear Explosion & Environments Workshop at LLNL. Nov 30 – Dec 2. LLNL-PRES-817161.

Burton, M., et al. 2021. “Hot Nuclear Materials + Controlled Atmospheres = What.” LLNL Research Slam. LLNL-PRES-827071.

Clary, B., B. Isaac, A. Nichols, 2021. "Modeling Entrainment of Near Surface Fireball Bursts with ALE3D." NECDC 2021, LLNL-PRES-821585.

Clary, B., B. Isaac, A. Nichols, 2021. "Modeling Thermal Radiation Dynamics with ALE3D." Optical Modeling Working Group, LLNL-PRES-819703.

Cook AW, Bauer JD, Spriggs GD, 2021, "The reflection of a blast wave by a very intense explosion," Proceedings of the Royal Society. A. Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Vol: 477; Issue: 2250, LLNL-JRNL-819629.

Crowhurst, J., et al. 2020. “Laser based experiments to inform fireball chemistry and modeling​.” Nuclear Explosions & Environments Workshop at LLNL. November 30th – December 2nd, 2020.

Dardenne, Y., et al. 2020. “Chemical Fractionation is not a Constant: Revisiting Bomb Vapor Chemistry,” Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Journal, Issue 21, pp. 59-71. LLNL-JRNL-814770.

Finko, M., et al. 2020. “Kinetic Modeling of Metal Oxide Chemistry and Particle Formation in a Plasma Flow Reactor.” American Physical Society Gaseous Electronics Conference, 5-9 October 2020. LLNL-PRES-815500.

Finko, M., et al. 2021. “Refined Optimization of a Uranium Oxide Reaction Mechanism Using Plasma Flow Reactor Measurements.” American Physical Society Gaseous Electronics Conference, 4-8 October 2021. LLNL-PRES-815500.

Genda, T. et al. 2020. “Iron-Oxide Microstructure in Nuclear Explosion Aerodynamic Glass.” TMS conference, 23-27 February 2020. LLNL-PRES-805404.

Genda, T., et al. 2020. “Phase Formation in Nuclear Fallout,” Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Journal, Issue 21, pp 72-77. LNL-JRNL-814018.

Genda, T., et al. 2021. “Iron-rich microstructures records of high temperature multi-component silicate melt behavior in nuclear fallout,” Journal of Environmental Radioactivity V237, 106700. LLNL-JRNL-785243.

Goldstein, P. "Reconciling Conflicting Estimates of the Beirut Explosion Yield and Mushroom Cloud Height: Effects of an Aqueous Near Source Environment," Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Journal, 22, Spring/Summer 2021, p121-137, LLNL-JRNL-820027.

Gowardhan, A. A., McGuffin, D. L., Lucas, D. D., Neuscamman, S. J., Alvarez, O., & Glascoe, L. G. (2021). "Large Eddy Simulations of Turbulent and Buoyant Flows in Urban and Complex Terrain Areas Using the Aeolus Model," Atmosphere, 12(9), 1107. LLNL-JRNL-824266.

Gowardhan, A.A., Lucas, D. D., Alvarez, O. (2020). "An operational, fast CFD model, Aeolus, for simulating flow and dispersion in urban areas and complex terrain." In 24th Annual George Mason University conference on atmospheric transport and dispersion modeling, Fairfax, VA, USA. LLNL-PRES-817264.

Kanarska, Y., 2021. "Multi-mesh method multi-physics method for multiphase blast interaction with structural meshes." Nuclear Explosive Code Development Conference, LLNL, May 10-14, 2021, LLNL-PRES-820058.

Koroglu, B., et al. 2020. “Influence of environmental effects on post detonation debris chemistry.” American Chemical Society Virtual Meeting and Exposition. 17-20 August 2020. LLNL-PRES-813326.

Koroglu, B., et al. 2020. “Plasma Flow Reactor experiments to study speciation and environmental influences.” Nuclear Explosions & Environments Workshop at LLNL. Nov 30 – Dec 2, 2020. LLNL-PRES-817243.

Lucas, D. D., D. McGuffin, A. Gowardhan, B. Koroglu, M. Finko, S. Wagnon, C. Saggese, P. Goldstein, J. Morris, and K. Knight (2020). "Particle Microphysical Timescales in Hot Atmospheric Clouds." American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, December 2020, LLNL-PRES-816887.

Lucas, D. D., N. Gunawardena, D. McGuffin, and O. Alvarez (2021). "Probabilistic Characterization of Nuclear Detonations Using Machine Learning." Proposal for DOE NNSA NA-22, LLNL-PROP-821605.

Lucas, D. D., P. Goldstein, D. McGuffin, and A. Gowardhan (2020). "Advancing computational capabilities for atmospheric simulations of post-detonation fallout microphysics." Nuclear Explosions & Environments Workshop at LLNL, Nov 30-Dec 2 2020, LLNL-PRES-816889.

McGuffin, D. and D. D. Lucas (2021). "Super-droplet coagulation algorithm verification." Meeting with the Atomic Weapons Establishment, March 3, 2021. LLNL-PRES-820774.

McGuffin, D. and D. D. Lucas (2021). "Super-droplet method update." Meeting with the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Jan 25, 2021. LLNL-PRES-825251.

McGuffin, D. and D. D. Lucas (2021). "Super-droplet method." Meeting with the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aug 2, 2021. LLNL-PRES-818647.

McGuffin, D., D. D. Lucas, J. Morris, and K. Knight (2021). "Super-droplet Method to Simulate Lagrangian Microphysics of Fallout Particles." Abstract for the American Association for Aerosol Research and International Aerosol Modeling Algorithms, LLNL-ABS-821892.

Morris, J. P., et al., 2020, "Challenges in simulating ground interact...," Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Journal, Issue 21, p128-144, LLNL-JRNL-814197.

Morris, J., 2021, "Influence of Thermal and Dust Layer upon Early Cloud Development: Study of the Grable Atmospheric Test," LLNL Internal Report, LLNL-TR-819561.

Morris, J.P., Nichols, A.L., Isaac, B.J., Clary, B., Decker, C.D., Kanarska, Y., Shestakov, A., Spriggs, G. and Knight, K., 2021, "The Influence of Coupled Thermal and Geomechanical Processes Upon Post-Detonation Fireball Entrainment." The 55th US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium held in Houston, Texas, USA, 20-23 June, 2021., ARMA 21–2162, LLNL-CONF-820037.

Myers, A. H., G. D. Spriggs, A. W. Cook, 2020, "New Yield Estimates for Nuclear Detonations Over Water," Nuclear Science and Engineering, 194, LLNL-JRNL-804822.

Neuscamman, S. J., G. D. Spriggs, 2020. "Reanalysis of U.S. Nuclear Weapon Test Data and Films." Meteorology for Nuclear Emergencies and Nonproliferation Exchange Meeting, LLNL-PRES-805162.

Neuscamman, S. J., G. D. Spriggs, 2021, "Nuclear Cloud Behavior at Early Times," LLNL Internal Report, LLNL-TR-827199.

Neuscamman, S. J., G. D. Spriggs, K. B. Knight, L. G. Glascoe, 2021. "Using historical data to improve analysis of nuclear testing." CTBT Science and Technology Conference, LLNL-PRES-822691.

Nichols, A., 2021. "Initialization for Large Scale Hydrodynamic Calculations." NECDC 2021, LLNL-PRES-821437.

Nichols, A., Clary, B., Isaac, B., McNenly, M., Saggese, C., Wagnon, S., Morris, J. , 2021. "ALE3D Framework Development." Nuclear Explosions & Environments Workshop (LLNL internal workshop) , LLNL-PRES-817169.

Rodriguez, K., et al. 2021. “Vapor phase synthesis and evolution of cerium oxide nanoparticles.” American Association for Aerosol Research Conference, 18-22 October. LLNL-PRES-1042424.

Spriggs, G. D., S. J. Neuscamman, J. S. Nasstrom, K. B. Knight, 2020, "Fallout Cloud Regimes," Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Journal, Issue 21, p103-113, LLNL-JRNL-813959.

Spriggs, G., Bauer, J., Cook, A., Decker, C., Lloyd, C, Neuscamman, S., Shestakov, A., 2021. "Technical Area: Historic Film Analysis." Nuclear Explosions & Environments Workshop (LLNL internal workshop), LLNL-PRES-817057.

Weisz, D. 2021. “Spectroscopic and other analytical methods to study high temperature chemistry.” NSSC Alumni Speaker Series March 2021. LLNL-PRES-820347.

Weisz, D., et al. 2020, “Spatially-Resolved Characterization Techniques and implications for Nuclear Debris Formation,” Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Journal, Issue 21, pp 118-127. LLNL-JRNL-814284.

Weisz, D., et al. 2020. “Spatially-Resolved Elemental Associations in Post-Detonation Debris.” SciX Conference Virtual Presentation. October 12-15, 2020. LLNL-PRES-814876.