Physics Experiment 1: Chemical Explosive, Gas Tracer, Electromagnetic, and Atmospheric Experiments for Improved Monitoring of Nuclear-Explosive Testing
The challenge of monitoring low-yield nuclear explosions is being met by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the national laboratories through improved understanding and utilization of multi-physics signals generated by explosions and other sources. These research efforts develop full-physics simulation capability, new sensing methods, and advanced data analysis. All these efforts are based on and validated by experimental data. Legacy data, including historic nuclear detonations, provide critical information, but data gaps persist. The Physics Experiment 1 (PE1) fills data gaps with a series of non-nuclear experiments at and near the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) Aqueduct Mesa P-tunnel. Taken as whole, PE1 experiments generate seismic, acoustic, electromagnetic, and tracer gas signals similar to those generated by nuclear detonations in varying underground emplacement and atmospheric conditions.
On October 18, 2023, PE1 Experiment A (PE1 A) commenced with detonation of 16.3 tons (TNT equivalent) of chemical explosive in P-Tunnel. In addition to shock-related signals, the detonation released gas tracers and chemical-explosive byproducts into the cavity formed by the explosion. Near-source instrumentation in the grout confinement plug, nearby boreholes, and P-tunnel recorded the explosive shock, electro-magnetic waves, temperature, pressure, and real-time migration of gases from the explosion cavity. Seismic, acoustic, and electromagnetic waves were also recorded by instrumentation atop and around Aqueduct Mesa, at select sites within NNSS, and by regional seismic networks. Clear signals were recorded by all sensor modalities, and seismic signals were recorded to at least 250 km. Gas tracers were detected in boreholes and in P-tunnel within an hour after the explosive detonation and concentrations were monitored for several weeks. This presentation will describe the PE1 experiment series, with emphasis on Experiment A. Scientific objectives, field layout, execution, and plans for data dissemination will be presented.
Session: Advancements in Forensic Seismology and Explosion Monitoring - III
Type: Oral
Room: Tikahtnu Ballroom E/F
Date: 5/2/2024
Presentation Time: 02:15 PM (local time)
Presenting Author: Steve Myers
Student Presenter: No
Additional Authors
Steve Myers Presenting Author Corresponding Author myers30@llnl.gov Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
Michael Foxe michael.foxe@pnnl.gov Pacific Northwest National Laboratory |
Beth Dzenitis dzenitis1@llnl.gov Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
Hunter Knox Hunter.Knox@pnnl.gov Pacific Northwest National Laboratory |
Cari Cari Seifert carolyn.seifert@pnnl.gov Pacific Northwest National Laboratory |
James Fast james.fast@pnnl.gov Pacific Northwest National Laboratory |
Gordon Macleod macleod@lanl.gov Los Alamos National Laboratory |
Ethan Alger alger5@llnl.gov Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
Scott Broome stbroom@sandia.gov Sandia National Laboratories |
Christopher Strickland Christopher.Strickland@pnnl.gov Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, United States |
Daniel C Bowman dbowma@sandia.gov Sandia National Laboratories, Richland, Washington, United States |
Brad Fritz Bradley.Fritz@pnnl.gov Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, United States |
Hakim Boukhalfa hakim@lanl.gov Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, United States |
Sonia Wharton wharton4@llnl.gov Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California, United States |
Robert White whiterl@nv.doe.gov Nevada National Security Site, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
Reagan Turley TurleyRS@nv.doe.gov Nevada National Security Site, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
Ken Laintz laintz@lanl.gov Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, United States |
Alex Tafoya tafoya_a@lanl.gov Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, United States |
Miles Bodmer mabodme@sandia.gov Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States |
Christine Johnson christine.johnson@pnnl.gov Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, United States |
Chad Taguba chad.taguba@pnnl.gov Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, United States |
Souheil M Ezzedine ezzedine1@llnl.gov Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California, United States |
Walter Dekin dekin1@llnl.gov Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California, United States |
Paul Lipkowitz lipkowpj@nv.doe.gov Nevada National Security Site, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
Jose Falliner jlfalli@sandia.gov Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States |
Xavier Miller MillerXD@nv.doe.gov Nevada National Security Site, Las Vegas, New Mexico, United States |
Brian Brown BrownBS@nv.doe.gov Nevada National Security Site, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
Jessie Gaylord gaylord2@llnl.gov Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California, United States |
Lynn Wood Lynn.Wood@pnnl.gov Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, United States |
Physics Experiment 1: Chemical Explosive, Gas Tracer, Electromagnetic, and Atmospheric Experiments for Improved Monitoring of Nuclear-Explosive Testing
Session
Advancements in Forensic Seismology and Explosion Monitoring
Description