Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “LOS ALAMOS”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 415 records · Page 23
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2007

Chromosome Aberrations in Human Epithelial Cells Exposed Los Alamos High-Energy Secondary Neutrons: M-BAND Analysis

High-energy secondary neutrons, produced by the interaction of galactic cosmic rays (GCR) with the atmosphere, spacecraft structure and planetary surfaces, contribute a significant fraction to the dose equivalent radiation measurement in crew members and passengers of commercial aviation travel as well as astronauts in space missions. The Los Alamos Nuclear Science Center (LANSCE) neutron facility's 30L beam line (4FP30L-A/ICE House) is known to generate neutrons that simulate the secondary neutron spectrum of the Earth's atmosphere at high altitude. The neutron spectrum is also similar to that measured onboard spacecrafts like the MIR and the International Space Station (ISS). To evaluate the biological damage, we exposed human epithelial cells in vitro to the LANSCE neutron beams with an entrance dose rate of 2.5 cGy/hr, and studied the induction of chromosome aberrations that were identified with multicolor-banding in situ hybridization (mBAND) technique. With this technique, individually painted chromosomal bands on one chromosome allowed the identification of inter-chromosomal aberrations (translocation to unpainted chromosomes) and intra-chromosomal aberrations (inversions and deletions within a single painted chromosome). Compared to our previous results with gamma-rays and 600 MeV/nucleon Fe ions of high dose rate at NSRL (NASA Space Radiation Laboratory at Brookhaven National Laboratory), the neutron data from the LANSCE experiments showed significantly higher frequency of chromosome aberrations. However, detailed analysis of the inversion type revealed that all of the three radiation types in the study induced a low incidence of simple inversions. Most of the inversions in gamma-ray irradiated samples were accompanied by other types of intrachromosomal aberrations but few inversions were accompanied by interchromosomal aberrations. In contrast, neutrons and Fe ions induced a significant fraction of inversions that involved complex rearrangements of both inter- and intrachromosome exchanges. The distribution of damage sites on chromosome 3 was also compared for different radiation types. The breakpoints were randomly localized on chromosome 3 with neutrons and Fe ions exposure, whereas non-random distribution with clustering breakpoints was observed with gamma-rays exposure. The specific fingerprint of neutron radiations on chromosomal aberrations will be discussed.

Hada, M.↗
DOE OSTI2014

Monitoring Sensitive Bat Species at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Bats play a critical role in ecosystems and are vulnerable to disturbance and disruption by human activities. In recent decades, bat populations in the United States and elsewhere have decreased tremendously. There are 47 different species of bat in the United States and 28 of these occur in New Mexico with 15 different species documented at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and surrounding areas. Euderma maculatum(the spotted bat) is listed as “threatened” by the state of New Mexico and is known to occur at LANL. Four other species of bats are listed as “sensitive” and also occur here. In 1995, a four year study was initiated at LANL to assess the status of bat species of concern, elucidate distribution and relative abundance, and obtain information on roosting sites. There have been no definitive studies since then. Biologists in the Environmental Protection Division at LANL initiated a multi-year monitoring program for bats in May 2013 to implement the Biological Resources Management Plan. The objective of this ongoing study is to monitor bat species diversity and seasonal activity over time at LANL. Bat species diversity and seasonal activity were measured using an acoustic bat detector, the Pettersson D500X. This ultrasound recording unit is intended for long-term, unattended recording of bat and other high frequency animal calls. During 2013, the detector was deployed at two locations around LANL. Study sites were selected based on proximity to water where bats may be foraging. Recorded bat calls were analyzed using Sonobat, software that can help determine specific species of bat through their calls. A list of bat species at the two sites was developed and compared to lists from previous studies. Species diversity and seasonal activity, measured as the number of call sequences recorded each month, were compared between sites and among months. A total of 17,923 bat calls were recorded representing 15 species. Results indicate that there is a statistically significant relationship between bat diversity and month of the year. Future studies will be implemented based on these findings.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Los Alamos National Laboratory Floodplain Assessment for the Technical Area 8 to Technical Area 22 Natural Gas Line Replacement Project

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is proposing new construction that crosses through upper Pajarito Canyon and upper Starmer Canyon from Technical Area (TA) 8 to TA-22 at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The project proposes to install a new 12 inch natural gas line to replace the existing 70+ year old natural gas line. Replacement will prevent loss of service to several LANL TAs and Bandelier National Monument. The project activities within the 100- year floodplains include 1) new natural gas line installation to replace and existing aging gas line, 2) relocating a section of fence and 3) three construction equipment and materials storage areas. NNSA has prepared this floodplain assessment in accordance with 10 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1022 Compliance with Floodplain and Wetland Environmental Review Requirements (10 CFR Part 1022) (CFR 2003) which was promulgated to implement DOE requirements under Executive Order 11988 Floodplain Management (EO 1977). A floodplain is defined in 10 CFR 1022 as “the lowlands adjoining inland and coastal waters and relatively flat areas and flood prone areas of offshore islands,” and a base floodplain as “the 100-year floodplain, that is, a floodplain with a 1.0 percent chance of flooding in any given year (CFR 2003).” This floodplain assessment evaluates potential impacts to floodplain values and functions from implementation of the proposed action, identifies alternatives to the Proposed Action, and allows for meaningful public comment.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Chemostatic behavior of major ions and contaminants in a semiarid spring and stream system near Los Alamos, NM, USA

Recent studies have focused on the relationship between solute concentrations and discharge in streams, demonstrating that concentrations can vary little relative to changes in discharge (chemostatic behavior). Chemostatic behavior is dependent on catchment characteristics (e.g., lithology, geomorphology, and vegetation) and chemical characteristics of the solute (e.g., availability, reactivity, and mobility). An investigation of three springs and a stream near Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA, reveals that springs can behave in a chemostatic fashion as stream systems tend to do. Another unique finding of this study is that the anthropogenic contaminants barium and the high explosive RDX (hexahydro-1,3,5- trinitro-1,3,5-triazine) can also behave chemostatically. The chemostatic behavior of a contaminant has important implications for the residence time of contaminants in a system as well as having a major control on contaminant flux and mass transport. Redox (reductionoxidation) and biogeochemically sensitive analytes (e.g., Fe, SO 4 , & NO 3 ) display a combination of chemostatic and chemodynamic behavior, showing the influence of temporally variable conditions on stream and springs chemistries.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

The Career of Paul P. Whalen at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Paul P. Whalen is truly an extraordinary weapon scientist, having pioneered an unprecedented breadth of significant weapon physics advancements during his sixty years at the Laboratory, and he is renowned within the nuclear weapons community for his expertise in these areas. As described herein in some detail, the disciplined approach that Paul brought to nuclear weapons research pervades the culture of the Los Alamos nuclear weapons community today. It is a major factor in enabling the Laboratory to be viewed as a trusted source of nuclear weapon knowledge, design and expertise.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Environmental Programs at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Summary of this project is: (1) Teamwork, partnering to meet goals - (a) Building on cleanup successes, (b) Solving legacy waste problems, (c) Protecting the area's environment; (2) Strong performance over the past three years - (a) Credibility from four successful Recovery Act Projects, (b) Met all Consent Order milestones, (c) Successful ramp-up of TRU program; (3) Partnership between the National Nuclear Security Administration's Los Alamos Site Office, DOE Carlsbad Field Office, New Mexico Environment Department, and contractor staff enables unprecedented cleanup progress; (4) Continued focus on protecting water resources; and (5) All consent order commitments delivered on time or ahead of schedule.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

Development of the Los Alamos National Laboratory Cryogenic Pressure Loader

Targets for inertial fusion research and ignition at OMEGA, the National Ignition Facility, LMJ, and future facilities rely on beta-radiation-driven layering of spherical cryogenic DT ice layers contained within plastic or metal shells. Plastic shells will be permeation filled at room temperature then cooled to cryogenic temperatures before removal of the overpressure. The cryogenic pressure loader (CPL) was recently developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory as a testbed for studying the filling and layering of plastic target shells with DT. A technical description of the CPL is provided. The CPL consists of a cryostat, which contains a high-pressure permeation cell, and has optical access for investigating beta layering. The cryostat is housed within a tritium glovebox that contains manifolds for supplying high-pressure DT. The CPL shares some design elements with the cryogenic target handling system at the OMEGA facility to allow testing of tritium issues related to that system. The CPL has the capability to fill plastic targets by permeation to pressures up to 100 MPa and to cool them to 15 K. The CPL will accommodate a range of targets and may be modified for future experiments.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Uncertainty quantification and global sensitivity analysis of the Los Alamos sea ice model

Changes in the high-latitude climate system have the potential to affect global climate through feedbacks with the atmosphere and connections with midlatitudes. Sea ice and climate models used to understand these changes have uncertainties that need to be characterized and quantified. We present a quantitative way to assess uncertainty in complex computer models, which is a new approach in the analysis of sea ice models. We characterize parametric uncertainty in the Los Alamos sea ice model (CICE) in a standalone configuration and quantify the sensitivity of sea ice area, extent, and volume with respect to uncertainty in 39 individual model parameters. Unlike common sensitivity analyses conducted in previous studies where parameters are varied one at a time, this study uses a global variance-based approach in which Sobol' sequences are used to efficiently sample the full 39-dimensional parameter space. We implement a fast emulator of the sea ice model whose predictions of sea ice extent, area, and volume are used to compute the Sobol' sensitivity indices of the 39 parameters. Main effects and interactions among the most influential parameters are also estimated by a nonparametric regression technique based on generalized additive models. A ranking based on the sensitivity indices indicates that model predictions are most sensitive to snow parameters such as snow conductivity and grain size, and the drainage of melt ponds. Lastly, it is recommended that research be prioritized toward more accurately determining these most influential parameter values by observational studies or by improving parameterizations in the sea ice model.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

Comparison of Uncertainty of Two Precipitation Prediction Models at Los Alamos National Lab Technical Area 54

Meteorological inputs are an important part of subsurface flow and transport modeling. The choice of source for meteorological data used as inputs has significant impacts on the results of subsurface flow and transport studies. One method to obtain the meteorological data required for flow and transport studies is the use of weather generating models. This paper compares the difference in performance of two weather generating models at Technical Area 54 of Los Alamos National Lab. Technical Area 54 is contains several waste pits for low-level radioactive waste and is the site for subsurface flow and transport studies. This makes the comparison of the performance of the two weather generators at this site particularly valuable.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories Code-to-Code Comparison of Inter Lab Test Problem 1 for Asteroid Impact Hazard Mitigation

The NNSA Laboratories have entered into an interagency collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to explore strategies for prevention of Earth impacts by asteroids. Assessment of such strategies relies upon use of sophisticated multi-physics simulation codes. This document describes the task of verifying and cross-validating, between Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), modeling capabilities and methods to be employed as part of the NNSA-NASA collaboration. The approach has been to develop a set of test problems and then to compare and contrast results obtained by use of a suite of codes, including MCNP, RAGE, Mercury, Ares, and Spheral. This document provides a short description of the codes, an overview of the idealized test problems, and discussion of the results for deflection by kinetic impactors and stand-off nuclear explosions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2019

World's Finest Gold Specimen Probed With Los Alamos Neutrons

Using neutron characterization techniques a team of scientists have peered inside one of the most unique examples of wire gold, understanding for the first time the specimen's structure and possible formation process. The 263 gram, 12 centimeter tall specimen, known as the Ram's Horn, belongs to the collection of the Mineralogical and Geological Museum Harvard University (MGMH). "Almost nothing other than the existence of the specimen is known about wire gold," said Sven Vogel, a physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory's neutron science center, LANSCE, a half-mile-long particle accelerator that provides high- and low-energy protons and neutrons for a wide variety of scientific research. Found in 1887 at the Ground Hog Mine in Red Cliff, Colorado, mysteriously shaped like a twisted bunch of wires instead of the more recognizable golden nugget, the Ram's Horn has baffled mineralogists since its discovery. The unknown: what is its fundamental structure and how did it form? "Some native metals, a metal or metal alloy found in nature can occur in what is called wire morphology," said John Rakovan, Professor of Mineralogy at Miami University in Ohio. "Much more common in silver, the wire morphology is rarely seen in gold samples and this specimen is without question the finest known example."

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Oxidizer Testing on Alternative Absorbents for Los Alamos National Laboratory - 18656

In the summer of 2016, during glovebox operations in TA-55, cheesecloth, a cellulosic material, was used to clean up a small spill of 9.8 molar nitric acid (oxidizer). Because cellulosic materials and oxidizers are incompatible, this prompted a chemical compatibility evaluation of the waste in TA-55 to determine if this waste was Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) ignitable waste (D001) or RCRA reactive waste (D003). After testing and consulting with the Carlsbad Field Office in Carlsbad (CBFO), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) NPI-7 decided to look for alternative absorbents to use in the gloveboxes that would not create an incompatibility issue with an oxidizer. While small spills are infrequent, they do happen and LANL wanted to be proactive and search for a material that would be compatible with an oxidizer. In December 2016, LANL NPI-7 requested LANL-Carlsbad's (LANL-CO) Difficult Waste Team to perform compatibility testing on potential alternative wipes for disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). The purpose for testing was to meet the Operational Experience Level 3 (OE-3) requirements that states 'any proposed use of organic absorbents or engineered absorbents in combination with potentially oxidizing TRU waste, wet or dry, should be evaluated and approved by the National TRU Program, Carlsbad Field Office' [1]. LANL NPI-7 requested LANL-CO to perform these tests because they were the group that performed all of the oxidizer testing for CBFO for the Basis of Knowledge (BoK) [2]. LANL NPI-7 chose nine fabrics and KMI Zeolite to be tested. The testing in Carlsbad took approximately 2 months to prepare the procedures, test plans and for the procurement of items. The burn rate testing was done in accordance with the requirements discussed in the BoK and approved by the LANL-CO Difficult Waste Team. Each absorbent was tested for 1) capacity limiting tests, 2) verifying the non-oxidizer threshold concentration of the oxidizer and 3) establishing the non-oxidizer concentration based on the experimental results. The effect of rinsing cheesecloth samples that have absorbed an oxidizer was also tested [3]. The burn rate testing provided three potential alternative absorbents (Spilfyter Hazmat Sorbent SM Pads Premium, Kimtech Pure W4 Wipers and Polybenzimidazole (PBI) Staple fiber) that produced a non-oxidizer result as defined by the BoK. Two wipes Spilfyter Hazmat Sorbent SM Pads Premium and Kimtech Pure W4 Wipers were able to absorb the highest concentration of potassium nitrite and still produce a non-oxidizer. TA-55 has used Spilfyter Hazmat Sorbent SM Pads Premium for a number of years in several of the processes and has ordered Kimtech Pure W4 Wipers for use in the facility. PBI fabric passed at 25 wt. % solution. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2023

Chelation Model Validation: Modeling of a Plutonium-238 Inhalation Incident Treated with DTPA at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Accidental inhalation of plutonium at the workplace is a non-negligible risk, even when rigorous safety standards are in place. The intake and retention of plutonium in the human body may be a source of concern. Thus, if there is a suspicion of a significant intake of plutonium, medical countermeasures such as chelation treatment may be administered to the worker. The present work aimed to interpret the bioassay data of a worker involved in an inhalation incident due to a glovebox breach at Los Alamos National Laboratory’s plutonium facility. The worker was treated with intravenous injections of calcium salts of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) in an attempt to reduce the amount of plutonium from the body and therefore reduce the internal radiation dose. It is well known in the internal dosimetry field that the administration of chelation treatment poses additional challenges to the dose assessment. Hence, a recently developed chelation model was used for the modeling of the bioassay data. The objectives of this work are to describe the incident, model the chelation-affected and non-affected bioassay data, estimate the plutonium intake, and assess the internal radiation dose.

238Pu↗
DOE OSTI2021

The Manhattan Project Nuclear Science and Technology Developments at Los Alamos: A Special Issue of Nuclear Technology

The year 2020 marked the 75th anniversary of the Trinity experiment, the world’s first nuclear explosion, on July 16, 1945, near Alamogordo, New Mexico. Trinity was a vital proof step toward the culmination of the Manhattan Project and the end of World War II. The technical accomplishments made by scientists and engineers from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada (some originating in Germany, Hungary, Italy, France, and other countries) were recognized by many events in 2020, including a visit to New Mexico’s Los Alamos National Laboratory by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) dignitaries; historical documentaries. The importance of Trinity as a foundational accomplishment for the broad nuclear science and engineering community is clear; indeed, New Mexico’s chapter of the American Nuclear Society (ANS) is referred to as the Trinity Section. The events surrounding Trinity have even entered into high culture with recent performances of John Adams’s opera Doctor Atomic in San Francisco, Amsterdam, Chicago, New York, and Santa Fe.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

LA-UR-14-27684, Analysis of Wildland Fire Hazard to the TWF at Los Alamos National Labs

Wildfires represent an Anticipated Natural Phenomena Hazard for LANL and the surrounding area. The TWF facility is located in a cleared area and is surrounded on three sides by roadway pavement. Therefore, direct propagation of flames to the facility is not considered the most credible means of ignition. Rather, fires started by airborne transport of burning brands constitute the most significant wildland fire threat to the TWF. The purpose of this document is to update LA-UR-13-24529, Airborne Projection of Burning Embers – Planning and Controls for Los Alamos National Laboratory Facilities, to be specific to the TWF site and operations.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

A shared mission: U.S. Navy members visit Los Alamos

During the week of Veteran’s Day (Nov. 8–11), Santa Fe was full of something we don’t see a lot here in the high desert — sailors! In honor of Santa Fe Navy Week, sailors and personnel from a number of U.S. Navy vessels, commands, and other programs visited Northern New Mexico to give residents an opportunity to learn about the U.S. Navy and its importance to national security. On Nov. 8, the Associate Laboratory Directorate of Weapons Production (ALDWP) invited a group of the U.S. Navy visitors up to Los Alamos to honor our shared mission.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Los Alamos National Laboratory: Request for Information (RFI) – Call for Commercialization Partners on behalf of the Department of Energy’s Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) L’Innovator Pilot Program

The purpose of the L’Innovator is to assemble unique, state-of-the-art IP bundles developed at the national labs that aggregate synergistic technologies in furtherance of the emerging hydrogen and fuel cell market. The first L’Innovator IP bundle consists of Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) Catalyst technology developed at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), combined with Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) technology developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2014

Los Alamos Explosives Performance Key to Stockpile Stewardship

As the U.S. Nuclear Deterrent ages, one essential factor in making sure that the weapons will continue to perform as designed is understanding the fundamental properties of the high explosives that are part of a nuclear weapons system. As nuclear weapons go through life extension programs, some changes may be advantageous, particularly through the addition of what are known as "insensitive" high explosives that are much less likely to accidentally detonate than the already very safe "conventional" high explosives that are used in most weapons. At Los Alamos National Laboratory explosives research includes a wide variety of both large- and small-scale experiments that include small contained detonations, gas and powder gun firings, larger outdoor detonations, large-scale hydrodynamic tests, and at the Nevada Nuclear Security Site, underground sub-critical experiments.

42 ENGINEERING↗