A fundamental problem in providing high-quality surveillance images recorded over long horizontal or slant paths is the blurring caused by atmospheric turbulence, which reduces both the resolution and contrast. The objective of the work reported here is to develop a capability for long-range imaging through the atmosphere that is not limited by the atmosphere but only by the fundamental diffraction limit of the optics. This paper describes our recent horizontal and slant-path imaging experiments of point targets and extended scenes as well as simulations of point targets in comparison to experiment. We show the near-diffraction limited resolution results obtained using bispectral speckle-imaging techniques. The experiments were performed with an 8-inch diameter telescope placed either in a field, on a rooftop, or on a hillside and cover ranges of interest from 100 meters up to 10 km. The scenery includes resolution targets, people, vehicles, and other structures.

A new method that combines staggered grid Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) techniques with structured local adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) has been developed for solution of the Euler equations. The novel components of the combined ALE-AMR method hinge upon the integration of traditional AMR techniques with both staggered grid Lagrangian operators as well as elliptic relaxation operators on moving, deforming mesh hierarchies. Numerical examples demonstrate the utility of the method in performing detailed three-dimensional shock-driven instability calculations.

This report documents tests performed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to verify that the new air monitoring system for the 296-Z-1 ventilation exhaust stack meets the applicable regulatory criteria regarding the placement of the air sampling probe, sample transport, and stack flow measurement accuracy. These criteria ensure that the contaminants in the stack are well mixed with the airflow at the location of the probe so that the collected sample represents the whole. The sequence of tests addresses the acceptability of the flow angle relative to the probe uniformity of air velocity and gaseous and particle tracers in the cross section of the stack delivery of the sample from the sampler nozzle to the collection filter. The tests conducted on the air monitoring system demonstrated that the location for the air-sampling probe meets all performance criteria for air sampling systems at nuclear facilities. The performance criterion for particle transport was also met. All tests were successful, and all acceptance criteria were met.

Targeted radionuclide therapy promises to expand the role of radiation beyond the treatment of localized tumors. This novel form of therapy targets metastatic cancers by combining radioactive isotopes with tumor-seeking molecules such as monoclonal antibodies and custom-designed synthetic agents. Ultimately, like conventional radiotherapy, the effectiveness of targeted radionuclide therapy is limited by the maximum dose that can be given to a critical, normal tissue, such as bone marrow, kidneys, and lungs. Because radionuclide therapy relies on biological delivery of radiation, its optimization and characterization are necessarily different than for conventional radiation therapy. We have initiated the development of a new, Monte Carlo transport-based treatment planning system for molecular targeted radiation therapy as part of the MINERVA treatment planning system. This system calculates patient-specific radiation dose estimates using a set of computed tomography scans to describe the 3D patient anatomy, combined with 2D (planar image) and 3D (SPECT, or single photon emission computed tomography) to describe the time-dependent radiation source. The accuracy of such a dose calculation is limited primarily by the accuracy of the initial radiation source distribution, overlaid on the patient's anatomy. This presentation provides an overview of MINERVA functionality for molecular targeted radiation therapy, and describes early validation …

ALE3D simulations are presented for the thermal explosion of PBXN-109 (RDX, AI, HTPB, DOA) in support of an effort by the U. S. Navy and Department of Energy (DOE) to validate computational models. The U.S. Navy is performing benchmark tests for the slow cookoff of PBXN-109 in a sealed tube. Candidate models are being tested using the ALE3D code, which can simulate the coupled thermal, mechanical, and chemical behavior during heating, ignition, and explosion. The strength behavior of the solid constituents is represented by a Steinberg-Guinan model while polynomial and gamma-law expressions are used for the Equation Of State (EOS) for the solid and gas species, respectively. A void model is employed to represent the air in gaps. ALE3D model 'parameters are specified using measurements of thermal and mechanical properties including thermal expansion, heat capacity, shear modulus, and bulk modulus. A standard three-step chemical kinetics model is used during the thermal ramp, and a pressure-dependent burn front model is employed during the rapid expansion. Parameters for the three-step kinetics model are specified using measurements of the One-Dimensional-Time-to-Explosion (ODTX), while measurements for burn rate of pristine and thermally damaged material are employed to determine parameters in the burn front model. Results …

The Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) has long been active in development of advanced Monte-Carlo based computational dosimetry and treatment planning methods and software for advanced radiotherapy, with a particular focus on Neutron Capture Therapy (NCT) and, to a somewhat lesser extent, Fast-Neutron Therapy. The most recent INEEL software product system of this type is known as SERA, Simulation Environment for Radiotherapy Applications. SERA is at a mature level in its life cycle, it has been licensed for research use worldwide, and it has become well established as a computational tool for research. However, along with its strengths, SERA also has some limitations in its structure and computational methodologies. More specifically, it is optimized only for neutron-based applications. Although photon transport can be computed with SERA, the simplified model that is used is designed primarily for photons produced in the neutron transport process. Thus SERA is not appropriate for applications to, for example, standard external-beam photon radiotherapy, which is by far more commonly used in the clinic than neutron based therapy.

As part of the US Army Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT) program the density distributions of six samples of class 1 RDX were measured using the density gradient technique. This technique was used in an attempt to distinguish between RDX crystallized by a French manufacturer (designated insensitive or IRDX) from RDX manufactured at Holston Army Ammunition Plant (HAAP), the current source of RDX for Department of Defense (DoD). Two samples from different lots of French IRDX had an average density of 1.7958 {+-} 0.0008 g/cc. The theoretical density of a perfect RDX crystal is 1.806 g/cc. This yields 99.43% of the theoretical maximum density (TMD). For two HAAP RDX lots the average density was 1.786 {+-} 0.002 g/cc, only 98.89% TMD. Several other techniques were used for preliminary characterization of one lot of French IRDX and two lot of HAAP RDX. Light scattering, SEM and polarized optical microscopy (POM) showed that SNPE and Holston RDX had the appropriate particle size distribution for Class 1 RDX. High performance liquid chromatography showed quantities of HMX in HAAP RDX. French IRDX also showed a 1.1 C higher melting point compared to HAAP RDX in the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) consistent with no melting point …

The fundamental atomic-level properties of point and line defects in bcc Ta have been simulated by means of quantum-based multi-ion interatomic potentials derived from the model generalized pseudopotential theory (MGPT). The potentials have been applied to the calculations of point defect formation and migration energies. The results are then compared with the ab-initio electronic-structure results and experimental data, which in turn provide rigorous validation tests of the MGPT potentials. Robust and accurate two- and three-dimensional Green's function (GF) techniques have been developed for static and dynamic simulations of single a/2<111> screw dislocation properties in bcc Ta. The transformation of the dislocation core under the influence of external stress was studied in detail using static GF method. Finite-temperature GF simulation reveals multiple-kink (thermal-kink) formation under an applied stress and the corresponding thermal-kink configuration entropy is estimated to be around 5.23k{sub B}.

Large aperture diffractive optics are needed in high power laser applications to protect against laser damage during operation and in space applications to increase the light gathering power and consequently the signal to noise. We describe the facilities we have built for fabricating meter scale diffractive optics and discuss several examples of these.

The LLNL Chemical & Biological National Security Program (CBNP) provides science, technology and integrated systems for chemical and biological security. Our approach is to develop and field advanced strategies that dramatically improve the nation's capabilities to prevent, prepare for, detect, and respond to terrorist use of chemical or biological weapons. Recent events show the importance of civilian defense against terrorism. The 1995 nerve gas attack in Tokyo's subway served to catalyze and focus the early LLNL program on civilian counter terrorism. In the same year, LLNL began CBNP using Laboratory-Directed R&D investments and a focus on biodetection. The Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Defense Against Weapons of Mass Destruction Act, passed in 1996, initiated a number of U.S. nonproliferation and counter-terrorism programs including the DOE (now NNSA) Chemical and Biological Nonproliferation Program (also known as CBNP). In 2002, the Department of Homeland Security was formed. The NNSA CBNP and many of the LLNL CBNP activities are being transferred as the new Department becomes operational. LLNL has a long history in national security including nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction. In biology, LLNL had a key role in starting and implementing the Human Genome Project and, more recently, the Microbial Genome Program. LLNL has over …

2.1W of 938nm light has been produced in an Nd{sup 3+} doped fiber amplifier. Wavelength dependent bend losses can be employed to minimize 1088nm amplified spontaneous emission giving the optical fiber a distinct advantage over bulk media.

This paper introduces two efficient algorithms that compute the Contour Tree of a 3D scalar field F and its augmented version with the Betti numbers of each isosurface. The Contour Tree is a fundamental data structure in scientific visualization that is used to pre-process the domain mesh to allow optimal computation of isosurfaces with minimal storage overhead. The Contour Tree can be also used to build user interfaces reporting the complete topological characterization of a scalar field, as shown in Figure 1. In the first part of the paper we present a new scheme that augments the Contour Tree with the Betti numbers of each isocontour in linear time. We show how to extend the scheme introduced in 3 with the Betti number computation without increasing its complexity. Thus we improve on the time complexity from our previous approach 8 from 0(m log m) to 0(n log n+m), where m is the number of tetrahedra and n is the number of vertices in the domain of F. In the second part of the paper we introduce a new divide and conquer algorithm that computes the Augmented Contour Tree for scalar fields defined on rectilinear grids. The central part of the …

We are currently investigating the long term aging of weapon organics in an effort to develop predictive capabilities for functional service life. As part of this effort, we have been studying multimechanism aging of M97 and 53370 stress cushions. Ionizing radiation, thermal degradation, and desiccation all affect the crosslink density and motional dynamics and thus the engineering performance of these materials. Our approach has been to develop molecular level understanding of the effects of such aging mechanisms on polymer properties by a combined approach utilizing solvent swelling, thermal, DMA, molecular modeling, and solid state NMR. This presentation will offer a survey of our current work, concentrating on the application of solid state NMR for correlating structure and polymer dynamics. An overview of the relationships between crosslink density, NMR relaxation times, polymer chain dynamics, and storage modulus measurements will be presented and the advantages of NMR will be discussed. It will be shown that silicone based polymers tend to crosslink upon exposure to {gamma}-radiation, undergo chain scission upon thermal degradation, and stiffen upon desiccation.

Soil and ground water remediation projects require collection and interpretation of large amounts of spatial data. Two-dimensional (2D) mapping techniques are often inadequate for characterizing complex subsurface conditions at contaminated sites. To interpret data from these sites, we developed a methodology that allows integration of multiple, three-dimensional (3D) data sets for spatial analysis. This methodology was applied to the Department of Energy (DOE) Building 834 Operable Unit at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Site 300, in central California. This site is contaminated with a non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) mixture consisting of trichloroethene (TCE) and tetrakis (2-ethylbutoxy) silane (TKEBS). In the 1960s and 1970s, releases of this heat-exchange fluid to the environment resulted in TCE concentrations up to 970 mg/kg in soil and dissolved-phase concentrations approaching the solubility limit in a shallow, perched water-bearing zone. A geospatial model was developed using site hydrogeological data, and monitoring data for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and biogeochemical parameters. The model was used to characterize the distribution of contamination in different geologic media, and to track changes in subsurface contaminant mass related to treatment facility operation and natural attenuation processes. Natural attenuation occurs mainly as microbial reductive dechlorination of TCE which is dependent on the presence …

We present an algorithm for interactively extracting and rendering isosurfaces of large volume datasets in a view-dependent fashion. A recursive tetrahedral mesh refinement scheme, based on longest edge bisection, is used to hierarchically decompose the data into a multiresolution structure. This data structure allows fast extraction of arbitrary isosurfaces to within user specified view-dependent error bounds. A data layout scheme based on hierarchical space filling curves provides access to the data in a cache coherent manner that follows the data access pattern indicated by the mesh refinement.

The control of coherence is a critical issue for the high-power lasers used in inertial confinement fusion (ICF). The level of coherence is an important parameter for the control of the light intensity distribution as well as the growth rate of parametric instabilities. Over the past few years, experimental and theoretical studies have evidenced the ability of an underdense plasma to reduce the spatial and temporal coherence of an intense laser beam propagating through it. As any process affecting laser propagation, plasma-induced incoherence appears fundamental for ICF for it can impact on wave-coupling conditions. We present results obtained with the six-beam LULI laser facility, in the nanosecond regime, showing direct evidences of the reduction of spatial and temporal coherence of an initially RPP-smoothed laser beam after propagation through a preformed plasma. Plasma induced incoherence (PII) proceeds from several mechanisms which include self-focusing and filament instabilities and non-linear coupling between self-focusing and forward stimulated Brillouin scattering (FSBS). Part of these experiments was dedicated to the understanding of the physical mechanisms involved in PII, as the break up of a single hot spot and the existence of ion acoustic waves having small wave vectors transverse to the interaction beam which are produced …

We have used optical velocimetry for 25 years at LLNL to measure velocity-time histories of many dynamic experiments. In certain ones, the shifted light was often quite weak compared to non-shifted light returning from surfaces and imperfections in glass components. In an intensity-measuring VISAR system, this would mean failure, and even with Fabry-Perot (FP) based systems which handle multiple frequencies, data is lost where the fringes coincide. We designed, constructed and successfully used an experimental facility for doing experiments under such conditions by selectively eliminating most of the non-shifted light. Instead of making experimental records which were mostly non-shifted light prior to the use of the filter, we now obtain records where almost all of the light is shifted. The first system had a maximum efficiency of 25% for the desired light, but another version is under construction with a maximum efficiency of over 50%. The first version excluded the non-shifted light by a factor of 300 when manually tuned, and by 150 when run in a Window-based auto-tuning mode. Our first version used a 50 mm diameter FP as the filter with a spacing of 1.65 mm and reflectivities of 77%. It was constructed for use in one of …

A few different approaches exist for computing undecimated wavelet transform. In this work we construct three undecimated schemes and evaluate their performance for image noise reduction. We use standard wavelet based de-noising techniques and compare the performance of our algorithms with the original undecimated wavelet transform, as well as with the decimated wavelet transform. The experiments we have made show that our algorithms have better noise removal/blurring ratio.

Simple Linux Utility for Resource Management (SLURM) is an open source, fault-tolerant, and highly scalable cluster management and job scheduling system for Linux clusters of thousands of nodes. Components include machine status, partition management, job management, scheduling and stream copy modules. This paper presents an overview of the SLURM architecture and functionality.

Submillimeter absorption spectra of nitrogen, nitrogen-argon mixtures, and methane have been measured using temperatures and pressures near to those found in the atmospheres of Titan and Saturn. The experiments show the spectral signature of dimers which will likely appear in far-infrared spectra of Titan that will be obtained by the Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) onboard the Cassini spacecraft. The recent CIRS spectrum of Jupiter shows far-infrared spectral lines of methane and the corresponding lines are observed in the laboratory. We are extending this work to lower frequencies using a new differential Michelson interferometer that operates over the frequency region 3-30 cm{sup -1}.

During the past 50 years, the United States has experienced 32 major nuclear weapons accidents, nine of which released special nuclear material to the environment. Response to these accidents, coupled with recovery experience following the Russian satellite reentry and weapons test site cleanup, form the basis for determining actions that might be required following a nuclear terrorist event involving the release of radioactive material. Though valuable information has been gained following the recovery from various commercial accidents, most notably the Chernobyl nuclear power plant failure and the dismantled radiography source in the Brazilian city of Goi nia, this paper will focus on the lessons learned from the U.S. nuclear weapons program.

The amount of information on the world wide web has grown enormously since its creation in 1990. Duplication of content is inevitable because there is no central management on the web. Studies have shown that many similar versions of the same text documents can be found throughout the web. This redundancy problem is more severe for multimedia content such as web video sequences, as they are often stored in multiple locations and different formats to facilitate downloading and streaming. Similar versions of the same video can also be found, unknown to content creators, when web users modify and republish original content using video editing tools. Identifying similar content can benefit many web applications and content owners. For example, it will reduce the number of similar answers to a web search and identify inappropriate use of copyright content. In this dissertation, they present a system architecture and corresponding algorithms to efficiently measure, search, and organize similar video sequences found on any large database such as the web.

RIA will produce beams of exotic nuclei of unprecedented luminosity. Preliminary studies of the feasibility of measuring cross-sections of interest to the science based stockpile stewardship (SBSS) program will be presented, and several experimental techniques will be discussed. Cross-section modeling attempts for the A = 95 mass region will be shown. In addition, several radioactive isotopes could be collected for target production or medical isotope purposes while the main in-beam experiments are running. The inclusion of a broad range mass analyzer (BRAMA) capability at RIA will enable more effective utilization of the facility, enabling the performance of multiple experiments at the same time. This option will be briefly discussed.

We describe research indicating that a diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSSL) can serve as a viable driver for an inertial fusion energy (IFE) power plant. The ongoing construction of the National Ignition Facility (NIF) sets the stage for a new era to start in the next decade for target research aimed at achieving the high gains necessary for both defense and energy applications. In addition, advances in DPSSL research show that this type of laser can have adequate efficiency and reliability, and can achieve the effective beam smoothness required for direct-drive IFE.