Department of Energy FY 2012 Congressional ... - The FIRE Place

• Primary Assessment Technologies: As the Quantification of Margins and Uncertainty (QMU) tools
and methodology are validated, they will be used in assessment work required to support DSW
activities. Primary assessment also designs the experimental program that supports primary
assessment and certification, and validates the ASC codes and the physics-based models that support
QMU development and application. Using the QMU methodology, the laboratories will continue to
identify and quantify technical areas with the largest uncertainties and impact to stockpile
performance, and focus future efforts to reduce these uncertainties and quantify margins. Two major
LLNL-specific products of these efforts are program plans for the LLNL Hydrotest Program and
Plutonium Experiments program. These plans are coordinated with Los Alamos National
Laboratory (LANL) in the National Hydrotest Plan and the National Primary Assessment Plan.
Also, LLNL will continue efforts on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) experiments;
• Dynamic Materials Properties: The LLNL work in this subprogram extends key experimental
capabilities, data analysis, and materials models (used by both the Primary Assessment Technologies
and Secondary Assessment Technologies subprograms). The focus is the experimental activities
required to support the development of accurate, predictive, physics-based models of materials
properties and behavior under relevant conditions. The development of such models and subsequent
code insertion is supported through the closely coordinated ASC Physics and Engineering Models
subprogram. This activity supports experiments and data analysis at U1A and the Joint Actinide
Shock Physics Experimental Research (JASPER) Facility, and uses a wide range of other
experimental tools to create conditions of static and dynamic high pressure and temperature and
enables investigations of the dynamic response of materials under ultra-high-pressure conditions of
shock loading;
• Advanced Radiography: The scope of this subprogram activity is to improve the capability to
experimentally infer the integral performance of the mock primaries. This supports evaluation of the
margins and uncertainties for the continuing certification of reliability and safety of the stockpile.
Radiographic hydrotest data are critical to weapon programs, including the current LEPs, and the
development of modern baselines for all weapon systems. Additional diagnostic development
explores transformational technologies that will replace or enhance optical and radiographic
measurements for hydrotests.
• Secondary Assessment Technologies: The Secondary Assessment Technologies subprogram
develops the tools and capabilities needed to understand the factors that control secondary yield and
then applies these tools to reduce uncertainties in secondary performance. These activities support
assessments of the safety, reliability, and performance of stockpile weapons, including ongoing
activities in LEPs and SFIs. As these tools and methodology are validated, they, along with
simulation and computing capabilities, will be delivered to the DSW Program for assessments
required to support directed stockpile activities at LLNL. In FY 2012, LLNL will continue to
develop high energy density physics platforms of ICF facilities in order to focus on increasing our
understanding of secondary performance and developing a more complete understanding of
stockpile weapons. Using QMU methodology, LLNL will continue to identify and quantify
technical areas with the largest uncertainties and impact to stockpile performance, and focus future
efforts on reducing uncertainties and quantifying margins.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Page 495
FY 2012 Congressional Budget