The objective of this research project is to demonstrate an economically viable and sustainable method of producing shallow heavy oil reserves in western Missouri and southeastern Kansas, using an integrated approach including surface geochemical surveys, conventional MEOR treatments, horizontal fracturing in vertical wells, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), and reservoir simulation to optimize the recovery process. The objective also includes transferring the knowledge gained from the project to other local landowners, to demonstrate how they may identify and develop their own heavy oil resources with minimal capital investment. Tasks completed in the first six-month period include soil sampling, geochemical analysis, construction of ERT arrays, collection of background ERT surveys, and analysis of core samples to develop a geomechanical model for designing the hydraulic fracturing treatment. Five wells were to be drilled in phase I. However, weather and funding delays resulted in drilling shifting to the second phase of the project. Work performed to date demonstrates that surface geochemical methods can be used to differentiate between productive and non-productive areas of the Warner Sand and that ERT can be used to successfully image through the Warner Sand.

This work has explored the preliminary design of a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tool for the analysis of transient vehicle underhood thermo-hydrodynamic events using high performance computing platforms. The goal of this tool will be to extend the capabilities of an existing established CFD code, STAR-CD, allowing the car manufacturers to analyze the impact of transient operational events on the underhood thermal management by exploiting the computational efficiency of modern high performance computing systems. In particular, the project has focused on the CFD modeling of the radiator behavior during a specified transient. The 3-D radiator calculations were performed using STAR-CD, which can perform both steady-state and transient calculations, on the cluster computer available at ANL in the Nuclear Engineering Division. Specified transient boundary conditions, based on experimental data provided by Adapco and DaimlerChrysler were used. The possibility of using STAR-CD in a transient mode for the entire period of time analyzed has been compared with other strategies which involve the use of STAR-CD in a steady-state mode at specified time intervals, while transient heat transfer calculations would be performed for the rest of the time. The results of these calculations have been compared with the experimental data provided by Adapco/DaimlerChrysler …

Prepulses are of great concern in high-power lasers: if their intensity is sufficiently high, they can heat and/or destroy a target before the arrival of the main pulse. For ultrahigh peak power lasers, for which focused intensity can exceed 10{sup 21} W/cm{sup 2}, a contrast of at least 10{sup 8} is the minimum requirement to avoid preionization of solid targets. Conventional preamplification stages do not meet this requirement, primarily due to prepulse originating from regenerative amplification. Optical parametric amplification (OPA) is well-known to generate pulses with a prepulse contrast equal to the gain of the amplifier, but it does not remove pre-existing prepulses. In this paper we describe a novel technique for contrast enhancement in cascaded optical parametric amplifiers (COPA). Based on cascaded idler utilization, COPA represents a versatile technique with a potentially infinite prepulse contrast enhancement. We have experimentally demonstrated COPA, producing a prepulse contrast of 10{sup 8}, limited by the sensitivity of measurement. A simple modification of the front end of a petawatt-type laser that utilizes optical parametric chirped pulse amplification (OPCPA) can yield unprecedented levels of prepulse contrast.

Structural speciation of glasses in the systems PbO-B{sub 2}O{sub 3}-SiO{sub 2}, PbO-B{sub 2}O{sub 3}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-SiO{sub 2}, and PbO-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-SiO{sub 2} were studied using solid-state {sup 29}Si, {sup 27}Al, {sup 11}B, and {sup 207}Pb nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Raman spectroscopy. Application of these methods provided insight into the role of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} incorporation in the lead-borosilicate glass networks. The general composition range studied was (PbO){sub x} [(B{sub 2}O{sub 3}){sub 1-z} (Al{sub 2}O{sub 3})z]{sub y}(SiO{sub 2}){sub y} where x = 0.35, 0.5, and 0.65, y = (1-x)/2 and z = 0.0, 0.5 and 1.0. Additional insight was obtained via {sup 27}Al 2D-3QMAS experiments. The {sup 207}Pb spin echo mapping spectra showed a transition from ionic (Pb{sup 2+}) to covalently bound lead species with increased PbO contents in the borosilicate glasses. The addition of aluminum to the glass network further enhanced the lead species transition resulting in a higher relative amount of covalent lead bonding in the high PbO content alumino-borosilicate glass. The number of BO{sub 4} units present in the {sup 11}B MAS NMR decreased with increasing PbO contents for both the borosilicate and the alumino-borosilicate glass systems, with the addition of aluminum further promoting the BO{sub 3} …

One of the planned core neutron diagnostics for NIF will use material activation to aid in determining information about target neutron yields. While this technique was routinely used on Nova and is in use today on Omega, the substantially larger chamber size and neutron yields for NIF raise several new issues for this technique. The effect of neutron scattering, due to the larger amount of entrant equipment inside the chamber, and more importantly, scattering inside the NIF target itself, is shown to be a significant effect. The appropriate location of the counting room to analyze activated samples that is sufficiently protected from neutron fluences is discussed. There are no significant safety issues related to sample handling when using In and Cu for short durations (minutes). We recommend placement and thickness of Cu samples based on neutron yield.

Recent 2{omega} gasbag experiments on the Helen laser studied single-beam propagation and backscatter as a function of gas density. We present a comprehensive analysis of these experiments using simulations in HYDRA. Post-processed results agree well with experimental fast x-ray images (FXI) showing stable laser propagation across the bag. The measured total stimulated Raman backscatter (SRS) increases with initial gas density up to n{sub e} {approx} 0.08 n{sub c}, then decreases. Near-backscatter images (NBI) show that the decrease in total SRS with increasing density is not due to scatter outside of the collection optics. SRS gain spectra calculated from the HYDRA results agree well with experimental streak spectra. The tilt and spread in wavelength of the spectra appear to be explained by gasbag hydrodynamics only, with no need to invoke filamentation. Axial density gradients and laser pump absorption may combine to detune and limit SRS gain at high density.

We are developing an all fiber front end for the next generation high-energy petawatt (HEPW) laser at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). The ultimate goal of the LLNL HEPW effort is to generate 5-kJ pulses capable of compression to 5ps at 1053nm, enabling advanced x-ray backlighters and possible demonstration of fast ignition. We discuss the front-end of the laser design from the fiber master oscillator, which generates the mode-locked 20nm bandwidth initial pulses through the 10mJ output of the large flattened mode (LFM) fiber amplifier. Development of an all fiber front end requires technological breakthroughs in the key areas of the master oscillator and fiber amplification. Chirped pulse amplification in optical fibers has been demonstrated to 1mJ. Further increase is limited by the onset of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS). We have recently demonstrated a new flattened mode fiber technology, which reduces peak power for a given energy and thus the onset of SRS. Controlled experiments with 1st generation fibers yielded 0.5mJ of energy while significantly increasing the point at which nonlinear optical effects degrade the amplified pulse. In this paper we will discuss our efforts to extend this work to greater than 20mJ using our large flattened mode fiber amplifier.

Colloid retardation is influenced by the attachment and detachment of colloids from immobile surfaces. This analysis demonstrates the development of parameters necessary to estimate attachment and detachment of colloids and, hence, retardation in both fractured tuff and porous alluvium. Field and experimental data specific to fractured tuff are used for the analysis of colloid retardation in fractured tuff. Experimental data specific to colloid transport in alluvial material from Yucca Mountain as well as bacteriophage field studies in alluvial material, which are thought to be good analogs for colloid transport, are used to estimate attachment and detachment of colloids in the alluvial material. There are no alternative scientific approaches or technical methods for calculating these retardation factors.

In this paper we discuss recent work on the development of high damage threshold, high efficiency MLD (multilayer dielectric) diffraction gratings for use in high energy, petawatt laser systems. This effort involves a close integration between modeling, fabrication, and testing. The modeling work is used to identify grating designs that satisfy the constraints of high efficiency (>94%) and low field enhancement which is a necessary condition for high damage threshold. Subscale MLD gratings for test are being fabricated in an advanced ion-etch machine we have recently built. The testing effort is being conducted in a dedicated laboratory. The laser beam used to test the samples is based on an OPCPA (optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier) and a compressor that can provide pulse energies up to 50mJ with pulse lengths variable from 0.3-20 ps. This test station is equipped with diagnostics to fully characterize both the spatial and temporal characteristics of the test beam at the plane of the sample. Initial results have demonstrated a dependence of damage threshold on incident angle that is in good agreement with the field enhancement calculations. We have demonstrated a grating design with a damage threshold of 3J/cm{sup 2} and are investigating manufacturability and reproducibility issues …

The high magnetic fields required for future accelerator magnets can only be achieved with Nb3Sn, other A15 or HTS type conductors, which are brittle and sensitive to mechanical strain. The traditional ''cosine-theta'' dipole configuration has intrinsic drawbacks that make it difficult and expensive to employ such conductors in these designs. Some of these problems involve (1) difficulty in applying enough pre-stress to counteract Lorentz forces without compromising conductor performance; (2) small minimum bend radii of the conductor necessitating the intricate wind-and-react coil fabrication; (3) complex spacers in particular for coil ends and expensive tooling for coil fabrication; (4) typically only 2/3 of the coil aperture can be used with achievable field uniformity.