ENCYCLOPEDIA OF Espionage, Intelligence, and Security Volume ...

Argonne National LaboratoryIn 2002, Argentina again began a period of politicalinstability, in large part due to an economic crisis grippingthe country. Until government stability is restored, thefuture of Argentina’s intelligence agencies is uncertain. Asin past periods of unrest, military intelligence and securityagencies have gained power and influence, eliciting theconcern of Argentinean civilians and members of theinternational community.❚ K. LEE LERNERArgonne National LaboratoryArgonne National Laboratory is operated by the Universityof Chicago for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).Located in Argonne, Illinois, the lab is divided operationallyinto five principle divisions: Physical, Biological &Computing Sciences; Advanced Photon Source; Energy& Environmental Science & Technology; EngineeringResearch; and Operations.Argonne scientists collaborate on several projectsrelated to nuclear safety. Argonne’s International NuclearSafety Center (INSC) is dedicated to improving safetyrelated technology and safety protocols for nuclerreactors—including reactors in the former Soviet Union.Funded by DOE’s Office of Nonproliferation and NationalSecurity, INSC scientists maintain an extensive databaserelated to a variety of nuclear facilities. The INSC databaseis organized so that researchers can quickly access sitespecificinformation on reactors around the world.Argonne scientists provide technical support to severalagencies involved in stemming proliferation or use ofweapons of mass destruction. As of 2003, Argonne’s nationalsecurity related programs supported research dedicatedto developing technology—and providing expertguidance—related to arms control and nuclear, chemical,and biological counter-terrorism.Argonne developed technologies include methods totrack nuclear fuels and to support nuclear waste cleanupof spent fuels.Argonne scientists have developed an electrometallurgicaltreatment process to handle spent nuclear fuels.The treatment process uses electrorefining techniquesthat separate uranium, radioactive wastes, and inert materialsin sodium bonded metallic fuels. In preparing nuclearwaste for disposal, the electrometallurgical treatment processallows the isolation and removal of uranium and alsoallows the remaining waste into a ceramic or a metal alloyby heating and compressing a composite of borosilicateglass and zeolite (a mineral that incorporates fission wasteproducts). Components of the metal alloy are derivedfrom the steel cladding used to encase the fuel in thereactor. By restricting plutonium access—binding it withEncyclopedia of Espionage, Intelligence, and Securitywaste products—the plutonium is placed in a form thatreduces or eliminates its potential use in a nuclear weapon.In support of several agencies, Argonne scientistsare capable of providing field measurements of radiationexposure dangers and of guiding decontaminationefforts associated with reactor decontamination anddecommissioning. Part of the decommissioning effort isdedicated to ensuring safe disposal of nuclear fuels so thatthe fuels can not be used to manufacture nuclear weapons.Argonne engineers collaborate on efforts to developsensitive detectors capable of identifying concealed nuclearmaterials.Argonne personnel provide technical expertise toFederal Bureau of Investigation counterterrorism operationsand aid in domestic infrastructure assurance programsdesigned to improve security at critical U.S.infrastructure sites. For example, Argonne’s PROTECTsystem, developed by the Decision and Information SciencesDivision, features an integrated detection, communicationand response program to secure subways againstchemical attacks.Argonne research also includes efforts to improveinstruments and sensors capable of detecting chemicaland biological agents. As a part of the Joint Chemical AidDetector Program, Argonne researchers developed portablecyanide-gas microsensors. Engineers are especiallyinterested in developing hypersensitive detectors capableof identifying trace evidence of dangerous chemical orbiological agents and developed a series of portable biochipmicroarrays that are capable of detecting bioagents, includinganthrax bacterium.Argonne’s Advanced Photon Source (APS) allowsstudy of the 3-D structure of toxins—including Anthraxtoxins. Micro Array of Gel-Immobilized Compounds orMAGIC chips were developed by Argonne researchers toidentify biological pathogens and disease related geneticmutations.❚ FURTHER READING:ELECTRONIC:Environmental Measurements Laboratory. National Security. (March 16, 2003).United States Department of Energy, Office of Science.National Laboratories and User Facilities. (March 23, 2003).United States Department of Homeland Security. Research& Technology. (March 23, 2003).SEE ALSOBrookhaven National LaboratoryDOE (United States Department of Energy)Environmental Measurements LaboratoryLawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryLawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)Los Alamos National Laboratory53