Los Alamos' Distinguished Performance Awards recognize individuals, small, and large teams for job performance above and beyond what is normally expected. Individuals or small teams who receive Distinguished Performance Awards have made an outstanding and unique contribution that had a positive impact on LANL’s programmatic efforts or status in the scientific community, required unusual creativity or dedication of the individual or team, and resulted from a level of performance substantially beyond what normally would be expected. Large team award recipients performed scientific, engineering, technical, administrative, and/or management activities at a level far above normal job assignments; completed a project that brought distinction to LANL by resolving a problem that has broad impact and/or resulted in the Lab becoming the recognized expert in the field; worked on a project that involved original and innovative thinking, approaches and results; and exhibited (by each member of the team) an exemplary level of skill, teamwork, and dedication well beyond normal exceptions that resulted in the successful completion of the project.

Physics Division is proud to note the recognition of our staff for six of the 2007 LANL Distinguished Performance Awards:

Ejecta Source Team

When a strong pressure wave from the interior of a solid or fluid body strikes the surface, the surface may break up, sending particles— “ejecta”—into the surrounding medium. Characterization of ejecta, including their quantity, distribution, state (solid or liquid), and shape, is vital for validating ejecta models for integration in hydrodynamic codes. The Team developed simple methods for measuring the formation of ejecta, which occurs in tenths of microseconds, using offthe- shelf piezoelectric probes whose accuracy and precision they confirmed through x-ray radiography and experimentation. The work produced a unique high-fidelity dataset for tin and revealed the occurrence of new physical phenomena. The results provide the basis for advances in modeling and established LANL as the world leader in ejecta measurements and technology. Team members are William Buttler, Russell Olson, Jeremy Payton, and Michael Zellner (P- 23); James Hammerberg (X-1-SMMP), and Paulo Rigg (DE-9).

Nuclear Device Data and Science Team

The Nevada Test Site’s underground nuclear testing program produced only two tests that used a successful version of the pinhole experiment (PINEX) diagnostic. The Team reanalyzed one of those tests, COALORA, and captured images of its primary in action. Such real-time imaging is critical for validating advanced simulation and computing models in support of stockpile stewardship. To overcome the initial incomplete dataset, the Team sought papers on every aspect of the time-resolved PINEX camera calibration and timing electronics. They also used other diagnostics to calibrate and crosscheck PINEX results. Their diligent work resulted in a successful movie that X Division used in discussions with a committee from the Strategic Advisory Group Stockpile Assessment Team. The Team consists of Anemarie DeYoung, Chad Olinger, and Roddy Walton (P-23); Thomas Gorman (X-2); and Robert Hilko and Douglas Johnson (NSTec/LAO).

THERMOS Radiography Team

The Team planned and performed dynamic plutonium experiments using proton radiography (pRad) at the LANSCE pRad facility, collecting 37 radiographs of each dynamic experiment. Such experiments must meet stringent safety requirements. To meet those requirements and gain NNSA work approval, the Team designed the tests with extensive and robust engineering controls. In addition, the Team performed two confirmatory shots with surrogate material prior to the experiments, and an extensive management self-assessment was conducted to ensure the safety of workers and the public. The experiments brought a new experimental capability to LANSCE’s pRad facility and provided important data for the Nuclear Weapons Program. The fact that such data were delivered and the experiments were performed safely and securely is a testament to this team’s expertise and to the skill, care, and cooperation of many LANL divisions. The team consists of Frank Merrill, Feeseha Mariam, Dale Tupa, Gary Hogan, Debbie Clark, Andy Saunders, Camilo Espinoza, Steve Greene, Brian Hollander, Julian Lopez, Matthew Murray, Eric Lopez, Neil Thompson, Cynthia Schwartz, David Clark, David Holtkamp, Michael Furlanetto, Nicholas King, Kris Kwiatkowski, Kevin Morley, Chris Morris, Paul Nedrow, Lenny Tabaka, and Joe Stone (P); Blaine Asay (DE); Joe Bainbridge, Robert Lopez, Mark Marr-Lyon, Wendy McNeil, and Paul Rightley (HX); Leo Bitteker, Jr. (LANSCE); Curt Bronkhorst (T); David Huerta and Jerry Lugo (PMT); Charles Hall and Jack Huttenburg (W); Albert Hsu and Michael Osborn (WT); Walter Tuzel (ISR); Michael Duran, Lee Thompson, and Tanya Salazar (RP); Gail Onyegbula (SEC); and Lisa Garner (TA55-OPS).

Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) Team

With more than 20 publications, numerous invited talks, and a pair of patent applications, the Team established themselves as world leaders in the new field of ultra-low-field magnetic resonance imaging (ULF-MRI). The Team developed medical and national security applications for this technology. The SQUID Team reported the first-ever ULF-MRI image of a living human brain—a significant milestone in the field of functional brain studies. The team then adapted the brain-imaging technology to the detection of liquid explosives, completing the work in less than six months. The resultant hardware can be used to distinguish between benign and potentially dangerous liquids in airline passengers’ carry-on luggage. Prototype systems will soon be tested beside x-ray equipment in airports around the country. These accomplishments have brought significant new funding to LANL and have drawn high praise from the scientific community. The team consists of Robert Kraus (LDRD), and Chris Carr, Michelle Espy, John Gomez, Vadim Zotev, Per Magnelind, Karlene Maskaly, Andrei Matlachov, John Mosher, Shaun Newman, Mark Peters, Henrik Sandin, Igor Savukov, Larry Schultz, Al Urbaitis, and Petr Volegov (P).

W76-1 Physics Certification Team

Because the W76 remains one of the critical nuclear weapons in the United States’ stockpile, the W76 Life-Extension Program was initiated in the late 1990s. During 2007 the Team met important milestones in the physics certification of the W76-1. Their work was the culmination of a carefully planned series of activities and hydrotest experiments carried out over several years. To complete certification, the Team worked closely with the nuclear test database in order to develop a new physics baseline model. They also developed a methodology for quantifying the margins and uncertainties (QMU) in the physicsbased assessments—an accomplishment that has long been hoped for and discussed. The team documented this work thoroughly and presented it to numerous internal and external review bodies. The Team has demonstrated LANL’s resolve to use QMU as an integral part of this and all future certification efforts. Physics Division members of the team were Barry Warthen and Anemarie DeYoung.

W88 MAR Physics Certification Team

In 2007 LANL produced the first diamond-stamped (approved for war-reserve) U.S. pit to be built since the closing of Rocky Flats in 1989. This Team accomplished the important goal of assessing the physics impact of the Los Alamos pit on the W88 warhead, a requirement for approval of the major assembly release (MAR) of the W88 containing the new pit. To understand the performance of the LANL-built pit, the team designed relevant experiments and conducted them over several years. The experiments were incredibly difficult, and delays often required team members to modify their plans. But with dedication and innovative thinking, the team met its numerous milestones while under constant review. The work culminated in 2007 with the analysis of all the experimental results and the incorporation of those results into the physics-based assessments. The Physics Division member of the team was Todd Haines.