Special Issue February 2002

Each year we at Sandia National Laborato-ries take great pride in cataloguing significantaccomplishments achieved during the pastyear by the men and women who make up thisgreat laboratory. The past year, 2001, wasextraordinary for the diversity and richness ofthe achievements and for the one day, Septem-ber 11, that so deeply affected and changed ourlaboratory and our nation.

Sandia’s staff have rapidly shifted gears toturn up the rate of progress in our nationalsecurity work, suddenly rendered even more

important by theinstantaneouschange in thefree world’s secu-rity situationthat occurredthat day. Allacross the Labs,individuals andteams have allmade heroicefforts to extendour technologycontributions toboth better pro-

tect our troops and to help win the war againstterrorism. The deep patriotism that inspires allof our laboratory’s work took on monumentalimportance in the days following the terroristattacks, and we are today operating at anunprecedented intensity in increasing the rateof development and deployment of ourunique technologies.

While the many hardware products we havedelivered to the Afghanistan front give us spe-cial pride that we are fulfilling our highest goal“to become the Laboratory that the nationturns to first for technology solutions to theproblems that threaten peace and freedom,”I am delighted with the richness of the manyaccomplishments, large and small, that wereport this year. Sandia has achieved pioneer-ing accomplishments in so many importantareas of science and technology, from new soft-ware tools that revolutionize the design process,to software systems that vastly improve ourfinancial management; and from creation ofclassified networks within Sandia to creation ofthe world’s most powerful network that is nowfurthering the work of all of the NNSA labs. Iinvite you to judge for yourself: Have thisyear’s accomplishments been the best ever inrendering exceptional service to our nation?

C. Paul RobinsonPresident and DirectorSandia National Laboratories

SANDIA LAB NEWS • Labs Accomplishments 2002 • Page 2

We created a highly detailed finite elementmodel of the W76/Mk4 Reentry Body (over 3million degrees of freedom) using the ASCI codeSALINAS. Model improvements have been madeusing data from validation experiments. Additionalexperiments provided insight into variability indynamic response of these components. We havefound that as-builtdifferences inweapon componentshave a significantimpact on dynamicresponse. The vari-ability data enablestatistical tests ofmodel validationand may also affectderivation of compo-nent environmentalrequirements usedfor design certifica-tion. (9100, 2100)David Claussdbclaus@sandia.gov

The US NavyW76-0/Mk4 JointTest Assembly (JTA)redesign achievedFirst ProductionUnit status lastAugust, following asuccessful development flight test in February 2000.The redesign replaced sunset technology compo-nents in the existing 20-year-old JTA, which is usedto test the continued conformance of a denuclearizedversion of the War Reserve (WR) warhead. The newJTA collects significantly more state-of-health andcritical performance data from onboard the ReentryBody (RB), as part of the core surveillance program.(1700, 2100, 2500, 2900, 8400, 9100, 12300)Bill Tedeschi, wjtedes@sandia.gov

A seemingly impossible fabrication task oftenleads to enhanced creativity. The Advanced Systems

Group 2254, locatedat Livermore, Calif.,expressed the need fora small tube-assemblyconsisting of veryintricate components.A team from center14100 met the follow-ing challenges: Designand fabricate a tubewithin a tube (thinwall-thickness); createfeatures of very highaspect ratios (diameterversus length); manu-facture micro-sizegrooves and angledholes (alignment /assembly); assemblecomponents to pro-vide a high-pressureseal (assembly/weld-

ing). Lothar Biegs, lfbieg@sandia.gov

Nuclear weapons

The B83 Systems Engineering group hascompleted development of Alt 355 for the B83Modern Strategic Bomb. Alt 355 is a near-term fieldretrofit kit that incorporates design modifications tothe present B83-0/1 Gas Transfer System (GTS) hard-ware. It is the first Alt to complete the stringentPhase 6.X process. Also, a series of field tests wereconducted, in conjunction with Alt 355, using twoB83 Transportation Environmental Sampling Units(TESU). Both TESU test units were equipped with adata acquisition system and used to collect vibrationand shock data during a variety of transportationscenarios. The data were used to compare Stockpile-to-Target Sequence specified levels for these environ-ments. The Stockpile-To-Target-Sequence specifiedenvironments were shown to govern and remainunchanged. (2200, 8400, 8700) Thomas Gaffney,tmgaffn@sandia.gov

Lead zirconate-lead titanate (PZT) is a key ceramicused in the production of Neutron Generator powersupplies. With the loss of all external suppliers, wedeveloped an in-house production-scale process tosupply PZT. Process development spanned the chemi-cal synthesis of the PZT through powder fabricationprocesses resulting in a fired ceramic. Numerous tech-nical and ES&H hurdles were overcome to scale-up theprocess from the laboratory size to 10 kg productionquantities. MC3422 voltage bars made from the pro-duction-scale processes have met the stringent WarReserve specifications. (14100, 1800, 2500, 9200) SteveLockwood, sjlockw@sandiagov

A simulation-based engineering approach thatintegrates research, numerical simulations, code vali-dation experiments, wind tunnel data, and flight testdata was used to quantify B61 spin rate losses due to

vortex-fin interactionand to define optimalfin cant angle forB61-3,4,10 ALT354.TAOS spin rate predic-tions, confirmed inflight tests, showed thatthe new fin cant angle

produces improved spin rates when used in con-junction with the existing spin motor. (2100, 9100,15400) Carl Peterson, cwpeter@sandia.gov

In support of the FY01 Acclerated Strategic Com-puting Initiative Normal Environment Level 1 Mile-stone, the ALEGRA code development team success-fully completed calculation of contact fuzeelectromechanical operation during target impactat termination of flight for a W76 Reentry Body. Thiscalculation showcased the Adaptive Mesh Refine-ment (AMR) and Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE)capabilities of the ALEGRA code. (9200) EdwardBoucheron, eabouch@sandia.gov

Code Management System (CMS) delivery pro-vides a significant security enhancement toweapon code operations in Europe. The CMS pro-ject has completed a four-year full-scale engineeringeffort with its first full system delivery to its DoD cus-tomers. This system enables the recoding of nuclearweapons in a fully encrypted manner and greatlysimplifies use and logistics issues for personnel. Thecomplete system consists of 17 NNSA-qualified prod-ucts, and several commercial computers. (1700,2100, 2500, 2900, 5900, 6500, 12300, 14100) DougClark, jdclark@sandia.gov

HIGH-FIDELITY dynamicsmodel of MC2912.

B61 spin-rate test.

ALEGRA calculation of pressures and electric fieldsproduced during RB impact and operation ofcontact fuze.

TRANSPORTATION Environment Sampling Units loadedon B-2A Rotary Launcher Assembly.

AN IMPOSSIBLE fabricationtask? Not at Sandia.

(Continuned on next page)

Shortly after the beginning of each calendar yearthe Lab News sums up Sandia National Laboratories’principal achievements during the previous fiscalyear. This issue of Labs Accomplishments continuesthat tradition.

All Sandia divisions — from both the technicaland administrative sides of the house — wereinvited to identify some of their key accomplish-ments from the period of Oct. 1, 2000, throughSept. 30, 2001. Submissions selected by the VPs’offices are presented on the following pages.

In reading through the accomplishments, you’llnotice some numbers in parentheses at the end ofeach entry. Those represent the Sandia center (orcenters) in which most of the work on a particularaccomplishment was done. Also, you’ll note thatmany of the technical accomplishments include akey contact name and e-mail address.

The work is presented here by category. We’vefound over time that this organizational approach ishelpful, but it is important to recognize that suchcategorization, particularly in a multiprogram,multidisciplinary laboratory such as Sandia, is tosome extent arbitrary. Much of the work listed in thecategory “Nuclear Weapons,” for example, could veryappropriately have been listed under “Computing,”“Engineering Science,” or any one of a number ofother categories. And the converse is certainly true.Indeed, much of the work done across all the Labs’technical divisions supports Sandia’s fundamentalmission-related nuclear weapons work.

A Note to Readers

C. PAUL ROBINSON

To all Sandians:

SANDIA LAB NEWS • Labs Accomplishments 2002 • Page 3

Sandia surveillance departments were key partici-pants in the NNSA Strategic Review of the Surveil-lance Program (the 150-day study) and major con-tributors to the final report. This study will guide thefuture NNSA Surveillance program whose goals are toensure that no defects in the stockpile go undetected,to uncover precursors of aging early to allow ade-quate time to implement corrective action, and toaddress other vital stockpile isses. The study and itsrecommendations have been accepted by DOE, andan implementation strategy has been developed.(2900) Bill Norris, wlnorri@sandia.gov

The B61-4 Type 3E Traineris a system that the US AirForce will use to practice load-ing and handling operations.The Warhead SimulatorPackage is a key componentof the Trainer, which simu-lates the electrical functional-ity of a real War Reserveweapon. The new trainer pro-vides a significant improve-ment by allowing DoD per-sonnel to realistically practiceperforming lock/unlock andprelaunch arming/safingoperations without exposinga real nuclear weapon to vul-nerabilities. The First Production Unit of the Trainerhas been delivered. (2100, 2300) James Harrison,jamharr@sandia.gov

The Weapons New Hire Orientation Program wasdeveloped to provide a basis for early career develop-ment in the presence of increased hiring. The pro-gram gives new technical hires in the weapons pro-gram an unclassified basis of knowledge inSandia’s capabilities and missions, engineeringprocesses, emerging technologies, basics of theDoD/DOE relationship, and national security strat-

egy. (2900) John Shaw, jdshaw@sandia.gov

Sandia’s largest construction project, MESA(Microsystems Engineering and Sciences Applica-tions), continues to move at a fast pace, completingpreliminary design in FY01. Six reviews led the wayfor projected approval of the $400 million-plus base-line, authority to proceed to final design, and subpro-ject construction in FY02. The MESA complex is theheart of Sandia’s investment in microsystemsresearch, development, and prototyping activities.(1900, 10003, 10505, 10800) Karen Higgins,klhiggi@sandia.gov

Sandia has developed its first custom micro-processor architecture, the Sandia SecureProcessor. With emphasis on surety, the design isproceeding with the goal to apply mathematically

provable methods for verify-ing flawless, secure operation.Synthesis of the currentmodel has yielded a 50MHzdesign with 40,000 logic ele-ments that is presently under-going extensive testing. Theprocessor is planned for fabri-cation in a rad-hard technol-ogy at Sandia’s Microelectron-ics Development Laboratory.(2100, 1700, 5900) GregWickstrom,glwicks@sandia.gov

Work was completed toqualify the B61-11 bomb asmeeting all requirements,

resulting in its acceptance as a “standard stock-pile item” for the nuclear deterrent force. In recog-nizing the efforts of the B61-11 certification team,CINCSTRAT cited the weapon’s many advantagesover the retired B53-1 bomb. Also, alterations (ALTs)have been made to enhance the safety and securityof B61 bombs at field locations. B61ALT335/339/354 Production Milestones wereachieved this year with the shipment of kits to sup-port all B61s deployed outside of the US. (2100,2600, 2300, 1800, 9100) James Harrison,jamharr@sandia.gov

The EV-C (Escort Vehicle, Class C) developmentteam established signed requirements with NNSA’sOffice of Transportation Safeguards. The develop-ment team competitively selected a manufacturer towork with Honeywell and delivered a working test-bed vehicle. The team also completed initial com-munications system integration and testing, proto-typed installation of all hardware and cables, andcontracted for a pre-production unit to be deliveredlast December — all while reducing the overall end-to-end development cycle time by one-third. (5800)Jake Deuel, jkdeuel@sandia.gov

Emerging microsystem technologies are beingexplored to improve the nuclear weapon stockpile byenhancing existing systems and enabling new systemarchitectures. Sandia successfully built the first of aseries of product vehicles that will focus the matu-ration of war reserve-quality microsystem technolo-gies and engineering methods. We demonstratedcommon hermetic packaging for mechanical, electri-cal, and optical microcomponents, precison align-ment of optics and a SUMMiT‘ micromachine, dieattach, wirebonding, multi-level electrical intercon-nects, and process integration of the above. (1700,2300, 2600, 2900, 9100, 12300, 14000, 15300)Frank Peter, fjpeter@sandia.gov

In December 2000, NASA launched the Sandia-developed Laser Dynamic Range Imager (LDRI) onthe Space Shuttle Endeavor to assess the structuraldynamics of the International Space Station (ISS).The 3-D LDRI images measured vibration of theISS during thruster firing for validation of the ISSoperational model and expected lifetime. Sandiaachieved major innovations in 3-D imagingtechnology to meet NASA flight requirements,including a 5-lb weight and sub-centimeter resolu-tion from a 30m standoff distance. NASA is con-sidering the LDRI technology for future missionsrequirements in rendezvous and docking andproximity operations. (2600) Colin Smithpeter,csmithp@sandia.gov

The Sandia-developed robotic Weigh and Leak-Check System passed a final DOE review, moved aW80 pit in a laboratory at Pantex, and becamefully operational for handling nuclear weaponspits. This event marked the first time a pit hadever been lifted by something other thanhuman hands. Use of the automated system allbut eliminates human exposure to radiation.Sandia designed, developed, installed, integrated,and tested the robotic system, including safetyfeatures necessary to operate safely and reliably.(15200) William Drotning, Drotning@sandia.gov

We completed engineering and modifications,shipped, and installed one of the world’s largestrobot systems for Lockheed Martin AeronauticsCompany (LMAC) in Marietta, Ga., to implementrobotic coating technology for the F-22 fighterweapon system. The Large Aircraft Robotic Paint-ing System for F-22s was converted at Sandia forcoating applications in hazardous environmentsand installed at LMAC. We also developed andtested advanced software algorithms that dramati-cally improved the motion performance of this 9-axis, 27-foot-tall, 35-ton robot. (15200) WilliamDrotning, drotning@sandia.gov

MEMS devices that “pop-out” of the fabricationplane and can be controlled to move along anyarbitrary, three-dimensional path in space willenable a host of new products and technologies —particularly in electronic imaging and telecommu-nication systems. A variety of microscopic paral-lel kinematic mechanisms have been designedand built using the SUMMiT-V™ process. Theytake up 1-3mm2 of chip area and can produce dif-ferent types of motion, including XYZ translation,piston-tip-tilt, or spherical. Motion is controlledby three linear stepper motors (2-micron mini-mum step). (14100, 1700) Bernie Jokielbjokie@sandia.gov

The Defense Ammunition Center has fundedSandia for two robotic disassembly systemsbased on technologies developed under theDOE/DoD Memorandum of Understanding pro-gram. The first system, which disassembles a pro-jectile containing 36 mines, will be part of a newMunitions Demilitarization Cryofracture Facilityunder construction at the McAlester Army Ammu-nition Plant. The second system will disassemble

8-inch Rocket-Assisted Projectiles at the Blue GrassArmy Depot. These systems will remove peoplefrom potentially fatal hazards that occur annuallyin a worldwide industry. Walter Wapman,wwapman@sandia.gov

The Z-Beamlet Laser (ZBL), one of the largestpulsed lasers in the world, is Sandia’s most recentenhancement of the Z Machine, the most power-ful electrical device on earth. ZBL provides scien-tists from around the world with a state-of-the-artdiagnostic tool to take X-ray pictures of matterunder extreme conditions of temperature anddensity. The $12.875 million project to constructZBL was a multiyear collaborative effort betweenSandia and Lawrence Livermore NationalLaboratory. (1600) John Porter, jlporte@sandia.gov

A new Gamma Irradiation Facility (GIF),Bldg. 6586, opened in FY01. Following separatepre-operational reviews by both Sandia and DOE,approximately 80,000 curies of Co-60 were safelytransferred into an 80,400-gallon water tank at thefacility in late January 2001. In March, DOEauthorized the facility to begin operations. Subse-quently, a variety of radiation-hardness testing hasbeen performed on nuclear weapons componentsand on circuits for the International Space Station,space communication satellites, and militaryavionics. (6400) Donald T. Berrydtberry@sandia.gov

A Defense Threat Reduction Agency-fundedproject to investigate the use of high performancecomputing to design radiation-hardened DoD sys-tems was successfully concluded. A prototypeweb-based tool that a satellite designer coulduse to perform high-fidelity 3-D radiation trans-port analysis was demonstrated. The tool showedhow teraflop-class software and hardware could beused to decrease costly over-conservatism indesign for nuclear survivability. (15300, 9200,6400) Len Lorence, ljloren@sandia.gov

Electronics, robotics, and pulsed power

MEMS XYZ translation only spatial positioner inSUMMiT-V™.

Nuclear weapons(Continued from preceding page)

The B61-4 Type 3E training system.

ARTIST’S RENDERING of MESA project.

(Continuned on next page)

SANDIA LAB NEWS • Labs Accomplishments 2002 • Page 4

At the successful conclusion of a three-year testingand evaluation program a Major Assembly Release(MAR) authorized on Jan. 24, 2001, the uncondi-tional use of the Alt 342 W87 Life Extension Pro-gram (LEP) warhead by the Air Force. The NuclearWeapons Council has accepted the W87 LEP as astandard stockpile item. (8200) C. Martin Hinckley,cmhinck@sandia.gov.

LIGA metallic and polymeric microstructureswere prototyped for first use as critical componentsin a positive valve indicator (PVI) in preparation forinaugural flight testing next year. The key element ofthe PVI is an actuator-microbridge-isolator assemblythat indicates positive valve functioning via a loss ofelectrical continuity. This assembly was packaged intoa precision-machined housing and successfully tested.The prototyping was accomplished by the LIGA micro-systems team, and the design, packaging, and testingof the assembly were done by the CA weapon internteam. (8700) Craig Henderson, cchende@sandia.gov

Sandia has initiated a $100 million program torestore its Directed Stockpile Work test capabilitiesand to field qualification, weapon development, andmodel validation capabilities for the 21st century.NNSA/NA-11 approved the Justification of MissionNeed in July and commissioned the development ofthe Conceptual Design Report that lays the founda-tion for the facility design efforts. The Test Capabili-ties Revitalization project team is well on itsway to providing revitalized test facilitieswith leading-edge capabilities. (9100, 10800,2100, 2200) Mike Valley, mtvalle@sandia.gov

Weaponeers should spend time innovat-ing technology, not reviewing hundreds ofnontechnical requirements and figuring outwhat to do next. Weapon Requirement Inte-gration Dept. 9821 has partnered with Labsweapons experts to synthesize requirementsand create short simple processes for newand refurbished weapons. The departmentalso is leading a weapons complex-wide teamto modernize Engineering Procedures intoTechnical Business Practices and add Infra-structure Business Practices for interfaceimplementation details. (9800, 2100, 2200,2300, 2600, 2900, 8400, 12300) Mark Dickin-son, mddicki@sandia.gov

The DOE Weapons Complex standards

laboratories will benefit from improved accuracy —exceeding one part in a million — in ac voltage cali-brations, as well as reduced calibration expenses,thanks to microfabricated thin-film multijunctionthermal converter standards designed by the Pri-mary Standards Laboratory and fabricated in theCompound Semiconductor Research Laboratory.Vacuum sealing by the MDL using non-evaporable

getters welded to the package lid increases the sensi-tivity an order of magnitude beyond conventionalthermal converters. (2500, 1700) Thomas Wunsch,tfwunsc@sandia.gov

Model Based Reliability An alysis (MBRA) uses acombination of simulation and reliability methods toprovide both qualitative and quantitative insightsinto reliability for both existing weapons and newdevelopment hardware. In support of enhanced sur-veillance activities, the MBRA process was applied tothe electrical system of the W80 warhead takingadvantage of the CPlant™ distributed computerplatform. The capabilities provided by MBRA can beapplied to surveillance activities including designmargin analysis, specification limits, lifetime predic-tions, and anomaly investigation. (12300)Tom Brown, tdbrown@sandia.gov

In January 2001 Sandia responded to a US AirForce “Dull Sword,” a low-level incident involving anuclear weapon. The incident occurred when unchar-acterized electrical energy surged through a Minute-man III missile weapon system in its silo. Sandiansimmediately responded with engineering supportfrom several organizations. Deploying on site, theSandians assisted in the evaluation and dispositionof the warheads. There was no apparent damage tothe warheads, and they have been safely transferredto DOE/NNSA custody awaiting further disassembly

and inspection. Sandia continues to guidethe warhead inspection effort. (2100, 2900,12300) David Olson, drolson@sandia.gov

Since adopting Lockheed Martin’sLean/Six Sigma project managementapproach, Neutron Generator ProductionCenter 14400 has seen: a 50 percent reduc-tion in MC4277 neutron tube frame defects;a 66 percent reduction in piece part and fix-ture packaging time; a 33 percent reductionin neutron tube exhaust cycle time; andreduction in work in process and cycletimes due to implementation of “pull.” Anoperational goal of producing 80 neutrontubes per month for three consecutivemonths was achieved in October throughDecember of 2001. Center 14400 intends toimplement Lean/Six Sigma into all aspectsof neutron generator operations and busi-ness practices. (14400) Ruben Muniz,rbmuniz@sandia.gov

Nuclear weapons(Continued from preceding page)

Laboratory-quality diagnostics, namelyparticle image velocimetry and planar laserinduced fluorescence, were transitioned to afield-test facility and applied to obtain veloc-ity and species concentration validation-quality data. We made measurements inturbulent one-meter-diameter heliumplumes and methane and hydrogen fires.These unique data have been analyzed andapplied for validation of an unsteady numeri-cal simulation using the Large Eddy Simula-tion technique. These data continue to pro-vide validation of transport models in theASCI fire code, FUEGO, and to guide devel-opment of new models. (9100, 8300)

The Sierra reusable software framework,which provides the physics-independentand computer-dependent portions of sev-eral new ASCI analysis codes, passed twomajor milestones. The first milestonerequired developing an extensive list oftechnical capabilities and releasing Sierra tothe ASCI sites. A formal review certified suc-cessful completion of this milestone, calling Sierra “a unique simulation capabil-ity of unprecedented breadth and sophistication.” The second milestoneoccurred when Sandia released the first Sierra-based code, the Calore thermal analy-sis code. (8700, 8900, 9100, 9200, 9300, 9500) John Zepper, jdzeppe@sandia.gov

Sandia’s Microelectronics Development Lab (MDL) delivered its first WarReserve (WR), Diamond Stamped Integrated Circuit (IC). WR represents the

extreme level of quality needed for ICs usedin nuclear weapons and other critical appli-cations. This demonstrates the ability ofthe MDL to be a backup productionsource for WR components. Producedunder the umbrella of the ManufactureDevelopment Engineering program, the ICincorporates tens of thousands of sub-micron transistors on a single chip. Timo-thy Mirabal, mirabatj@sandia.gov

To meet significant increases in produc-tion delivery requirements in FY02, Center14100 has used Lean Manufacturingmethodologies on all three of the NeutronGenerator Active Ceramics production lines.In rod production, where Lean has beenfully deployed, we have cut cycle time byover 50 percent, labor costs are down 20-30percent, and our manufacturing yield hasincreased from 94 percent to 96 percent.(14100, 12300) Steve Lockwood,sjlockw@sandia.gov

The Sandia Production Program, which is made up of Neutron Generator Pro-duction and the Concurrent Design and Manufacturing Program (CDM), achieved100 percent delivery to negotiated schedule and DOE product acceptance onfirst time submittals for all products. This is the first time in the Program’s his-tory this has been achieved. During the past year, The CDM Program was awardeda Defense Programs award of excellence. (1700, 2500, 2600,14000, 14100, 14400,10200, 2900) John Sayre, jasayre@sandia.gov

Engineering science, manufacturing and production

Overlay of helium velocity from particle image velocimetry and heliumconcentration from planar laser induced fluorescence (color contoursfrom 100% helium to 100% air).

Tritium gas reservoirs are fabricated from stainless steel forgings, billets formedby a repeated heating, deforming, and quenching process. Analysts and materi-als scientists from the Materials & Engineering Sciences Center (8700) with CAWeapons Engineering Center (8200) design engineers developed a manufactur-ing process computer model that enabled them to optimize forging propertiesfor a specific reservoir application. The team worked with product engineers atHoneywell FM&T and used the model to design tooling and process parametersfor a forging to be produced at a commercial supplier. In illustration above, orig-inal (left) and redesigned forging models are depicted. The redesigned forgingstrength is more uniform. (8200, 8700) Mike Hardwick, mfhardw@sandia.gov

PHOTOMICROGRAPH of a fabricated thin-film multijunc-tion thermal converter standard.

SANDIA LAB NEWS • Labs Accomplishments 2002 • Page 5

Sarin-filled bomblets discarded long ago were dis-covered in October 2000 at Rocky Mountain Arsenalnear Denver. Sarin, a deadly nerve agent, posed athreat to nearby communities. The US Armyresponded with a rapid deployment of the San-dia-developed Explosive Destruction System(EDS), promptly moving an EDS unit from Englandwhere it was undergoing engineering developmenttests. During two campaigns at the arsenal, tenbomblets were opened explosively inside the EDScontainment system, and the Sarin agent was chem-ically neutralized without incident. (8100, 15300,8700) Al McDonald, amcdona@sandia.gov

Of the 26,000 people killed or maimed by land-mines each year, 8,000 are children. Landminedetection using chemical sensing methods (e.g.,dogs and electronic sensing technologies) is chal-lenged by the ultra-low levels of explosive vaporsemitted by buried devices. Sandia has combined lab-oratory testing and numerical simulation of the

transport of chemical signatures emitted from land-mines to determine optimal conditions for locat-ing buried landmines. Sponsors have included theDARPA Dog Nose Program, the US Army, and theGeneva International Center for HumanitarianDemining. (6100, 2500) James Phelan,jmphela@sandia.gov

The successful launch of Target Test Vehicle 2from Kauai Test Facility on Jan. 25, 2001, marked amajor event in an effort aimed at presentation ofdevelopment test targets for Navy Theater WideMissile Defense. This launch of an Orbital Sciencesrocket system involved the Navy, Army, Air Force,and their respective support contractors in additionto Sandia rocket and range personnel. An interceptormissile was launched from an Aegis cruiser toobserve the target in a deliberate near-miss scenario.(15400) Richard Hay, rghay@sandia.gov

The Sandia Short-pulse Laser Group achieved rev-

olutionary physics breakthroughs in understandingpropagation of high-intensity femtosecond lasers.The exceptional utility of femtosecond opticalpulses originates from their short duration andwide coherent spectral bandwidth, creatingunique measurement opportunities in both the fre-quency and time domains. Experiments and model-ing (sponsored in part by by LDRD funds) identifiednew enabling strategies for advanced directed-energy, communication, and remote-sensing tech-nologies. High levels of interest are indicated byrecent briefings to Vice President Cheney andSecretary of Defense Rumsfeld. (15300) GuillermoLoubriel, gmloubr@sandia.gov

Detecting explosives in vehicles is a major con-cern at airports, military bases, government facilities,and border crossings. Department 5848 has devel-oped and successfully tested a prototype vehicleportal that detects trace amounts of commonexplosives. The system uses Sandia-patented samplecollection and preconcentrator technology. TheTechnical Support Working Group and DOE Officeof Safeguards and Security funded this research.(5800) John Parmeter, jeparme@sandia.gov

Emerging threats

ARMY CHEMICAL ORDNANCE expert carries bomblet at end of “hot stick” toward Explosive Destruction System.

Launch of Target TestVehicle-2 from Sandia’sKauai Test Facility, partof a Navy Theater-WideMissile Defense systemprogram.

(Continued on next page)

LANDMINE DETECTION DOG and handler demonstrate traditional land mine detection methods.

SANDIA successfully tested a prototype vehicle portalthat detects trace amounts of common explosives.

SANDIA LAB NEWS • Labs Accomplishments 2002 • Page 6

The Sandia targets team continued to providesuccessful target objects for the Ground-BasedMidcourse Segment of the Ballistic MissileDefense System. A Sandia target reentry vehicle wassuccessfully intercepted over the Pacific Ocean onJuly 14, 2001. In addition to the reentry vehicle, thetarget object suite included a new balloon decoydesigned and developed by the Sandia team. AllSandia-provided objects and support equipmentperformed as expected. All data from the targetreentry vehicle was retrieved and provided therequired insights into the performance of the missiledefense system elements participating in the test.(2300, 2600, 15400) Eric Reece, ewreece@sandia.gov

Sandia produced radar maps with unprece-dented fidelity for the site of the 2002 WinterOlympics in Park City, Utah; Washington D.C.; FortBragg, N.C.; and South Korea. These 3-dimensionalmaps are generated in real time by an interferomet-ric synthetic aperture radar on a DHC-7 turbopropairplane as part of a program sponsored by the JointPrecision Strike Demonstration Project Office of theUS Army. Customers for these maps include theDoD, Federal Emergency Management Agency, andlaw enforcement agencies. (2300, 5900) BrettRemund, blremun@sandia.gov

Recent events have propelled hard and deeplyburied target (HDBT) defeat to the forefront ofnational security challenges. Detailed functionalcharacterization of subsurface structures is essentialfor effective attack, but is a formidable challenge.With funding from DARPA, Sandia has combinedexpertise in advanced sensors, geophysical model-ing, and signal processing to develop a prototype

integrated model that uses passive seismic, acoustic,and electromagnetic signals for HDBT characteriza-tion. The model combines site-specific geologicalinformation and sophisticated finite-differencemodeling tools to predict machinery and otherHDBT-specific signatures observable at the earth’ssurface. (6100, 15300) Marianne Walck,mcwalck@sandia.gov

The Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Moduleprovides the next-generation cryptography andenhanced security for the Precise Positioning Ser-

vice used by all military GPS users. Sandia hasdelivered the NSA-approved secure Key DataProcessor (KDP) design and operational softwarethat implements the cryptographic and selectiveavailability algorithms that provide the anti-spoofing module’s capabilities, including supportfor black key and Over-The-Air-Rekey operations.The module significantly advances military GPScapabilities and security for the NAVSTAR GlobalPositioning System (GPS) Joint Program Office.(1700, 2300, 2600, 6500, 12300) Debby Jensen Kill,dljense@sandia.gov

Energy and critical infrastructures

We have developed state-of-the-art batterysafety tests to evaluate batteries destined for space(aboard NASA’s Space Shuttle) and terrestrial appli-cations (electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehi-cles). We have tested batteries from US and Japanesemanufacturers at the request of NASA and DOE,measuring parameters of importance for thecells, and the response of cells to physicaland electrical abuse. We have provided infor-mation that will help ensure that safe, reli-able cells are used in these large-scale appli-cations. (2500, 1800) Daniel Doughty,dhdough@sandia.gov

Sandia, in cooperation with the AmericanWater Works Association Research Founda-tion and the Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA), developed a security riskassessment methodology for assessing thesurety of water utilities. This water infra-structure assessment tool has been employedto evaluate security and mitigate risks at sev-eral large municipal water utilities. EPAAdministrator Christie Whitman highlightedand applauded Sandia’s efforts in a nation-ally televised speech. Sandia was invited totestify about the program before two con-gressional committees. (5800, 6100, 6500),Jeffrey Danneels, jjdanne@sandia.gov

Complying with new Environmental Pro-tection Agency arsenic drinking water stan-dard of 10 ppb could cost affected ruralwater customers an additional $100 permonth. Sandia is developing less costlyalternatives through the application of nano-technology. Fundamental insights gainedthrough molecular and surface complexa-tion modeling are guiding the design and synthesisof optimal Specific Anion Nanoengineered Sor-bents, which outperform alternatives by at least afactor of six in real application conditions. (6100)Henry Westrich, hrwestr@sandia.gov

A Risk-Informed Proliferation Analysis methodol-ogy has been developed for quantifying the prolifer-

ation resistance of nuclear fuel cycles. The method-ology uses the tools of probability risk assessmentto identify proliferation pathways for various defi-nitions of proliferators. The tool is being used tocompare the proliferation risk of advanced nuclearfuel cycles with today’s once-through nuclear fuel

cycle. (6400, 5300) Gary Rochau,gerocha@sandia.gov

Federal authorities used decontamination formu-lation developed at Sandia to help rid Capitol Hillbuildings of anthrax. Members of the Chemical andCatalysis Technologies Department helped licensethis decontamination foam to two companies. This

year, the team helped develop this licensed product toaddress the national security need for an anthraxdecontaminant. This department was consulted forthe foam’s possible uses, and consequently helpeddevelop a stronger formula (for more robust threatslike anthrax contamination). (6200)

RAMPART — the Risk Assessment Method-Property Analysis and Ranking Tool — rep-

resents a new type of computer applica-tion for the screening-level assessment of

risk to federal buildings. RAMPART wasdeveloped for the General Services

Administration. Users enter basic data andRAMPART evaluates and allocates the risk

arising from earthquake, tornado, flood,winter storm, hurricane, crime, and terror-

ism. The consequences considered aredeath, injury, loss of mission capability, loss

of property, loss of contents, loss of use ofproperty, and first-responder risk. Results

are presented graphically. (6800, 5800)Regina Hunter, rlhunte@sandia.gov

Sandia researchers have developed anovel method for producing catalyzed

complex hydrides to store hydrogen. Thestarting materials are simply aluminum and

sodium hydride powders. When mixedwith a titanium catalyst precursor, the

resulting material forms a sintered powderthat is capable of storing a record 4 percent

to 5 percent hydrogen by weight. Hydrogengas can be desorbed (at 1 atmosphere) in

less than 1 hour at 125° C. This work repre-sents a major breakthrough in the searchfor a light-weight, low-temperature, and

low-pressure means of storing hydrogen forfuel cell automobile applications. (8700, 8300)

Karl Gross, kjgross@sandia.gov

Scientists at the Combustion Research Facility andthe University of Nevada have made the first mea-surements of the direction in which moleculesrotate after a collision. These measurements are of

Emerging threats(Continued from preceding page)

(Continued on page 8)

RADAR MAP of Park City, Utah, and environs — of unprecedented fidelity — produced by Sandia.

SIMULATION of arsenate anion sorption on metal oxide surface. Fundamentalinsights gained through such molecular and surface complexation modelingcould help alleviate the high cost of meeting new arsenic standards.

SANDIA LAB NEWS • Labs Accomplishments 2002 • Page 7

The Accelerated Strategic Computing IntiativeVisual Interactive Environment for Weapons Simu-lations (VIEWS) team designed and built theworld’s highest-performance scientific-visualiza-tion facility — the Bldg. 880 VIEWS Corridor. Thefacility has demonstrated rendering performanceand display resolution far beyond any commer-cially available graphics-display combination.This capability is uniquely targeted toward visual-ization of terascale results of high-performancecomputing simulations supporting nuclearweapons engineering. Also, research into optimalmeeting and review environments has resulted inan under-table projected display with high-resolu-tion, high-brightness projectors, coupled to a high-end Sony HDTV camera to provide real-timemotion image capture from a Zeiss Stemi micro-scope. (9200, 14100) Philip Heermann,pdheerm@sandia.gov

IDSL (Intrusion Detection System Laboratory)handles production network intrusion detection forthe California site and provides a laboratory forintrusion detection and network countermeasuresresearch. The IDSL team is credited with capturingand identifying a number of Internet attacks thisyear including the CodeRed worm. (8900)Barry Hess, hess@sandia.gov

Efficiently storing and moving hundreds of tera-bytes of information across networks through stan-dard protocols remains a key challenge of theDOE/NNSA Accelerated Strategic Computing Initia-tive. This capability was the focus of demonstra-tions by more than a dozen collaborating busi-nesses and government research laboratories at theSupercomputing 2001 annual meeting. Thedemonstration showed that the next generationnetwork and storage technology would allow

researchers at national laboratories to remotelyshare complex 3-D rendering of massively com-plex calculations that pertain to the maintenanceof US nuclear weapons. (8900) Helen Chen,hycsw@sandia.gov

The Zoltan library of data services was released onthe external web (http://www.cs.sandia.gov/Zoltan)in January, providing a model for Sandia’s open-source software distribution. Zoltan provides data ser-vices for parallel, dynamic, adaptive applications ser-vices, including parallel repartitioning, distributeddirectories, unstructured communication, and mem-ory management. Zoltan’s web-based release was agroundbreaking effort, increasing Sandia’s visibilityto funding agencies and the greater scientific commu-nity. (9200, 1300, 11700) Karen Devine,kddevin@sandia.gov

Computing

Conjugated polymers have long been competi-tive materials for light-emitting diodes. Unfortu-nately, the polymer chains are inherently disorderedand are not robust. Thus, before they find wide-spread use in opto-electronics, they must be pre-pared in ways that organize and stabilize the chains.We have solved that technical challenge by self-assembling the organic monomers in a highly-ordered silica matrix and polymerizing them inplace. In fact, the polymers within this protective,hard scaffold exhibit unique optical properties notobserved in the bulk material. (1100, 1800). AlanBurns, aburns@sandia.gov

We have improved the power output of our near-ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (LEDs) by a factor of15. This dramatic improvement was accomplished intwo different ways: first, by developments in thegrowth of the GaN nucleation layer that greatlyreduced defect density; second, using a Sandia-invented low dislocation substrate technique — Can-tilever Epitaxy. This is a significant step toward ourgoal of improving the efficiency and cost of LEDsenough that they can replace existing lighting.(1100, 6200) Robert Biefeld, rmbiefe@sandia.gov

Understanding how water molecules interact withsolid surfaces will answer many questions in envi-ronmental chemistry, biology, corrosion, andflow physics. Recent theoretical work (published inScience) has shown that the first layer of water mole-cules on the metal ruthenium surface does not form

the believed “ice-like” structure. Instead, some watermolecules dissociate to spontaneously create an intri-cate layer consisting of molecules and fragments. Thissurprisingly complex structure is the template thatdetermines how subsequent water layers are arrangedand consequently controls the interfacial chemistry.(1100) Neal Shinn, ndshinn@sandia.gov

The Z accelerator was used to obtain the firstisentropic compression equation-of-state (EOS) datato 2 Mbar on stockpile materials. This novel capabil-ity enables critical validation of ASCI code simu-lations of weapon performance and allows mag-netic launching of precision flyer plates to velocitiesthree times faster than conventional techniques.This technique has been used to obtain the firsthighly accurate EOS data on liquid deuterium to700 kbar for evaluating quantum mechanical theo-ries of hydrogen. (1600) Marcus Knudson,mdknuds@sandia.gov

Lightweight and high-strength alloys have greatimportance in the automotive and aerospace indus-tries due to their strength both at low and hightemperatures. A breakthrough in the scientificunderstanding of technologically vital alloys hasbeen achieved. This new understanding of thisimportant alloy could have great impact in the heattreatment of aluminum engine blocks and the opti-mization of the processing of half a billion poundsof aluminum each year. (8700) Bob Hwang,rqhwang@sandia.gov

Development work demonstrated the viabilityof the active braze alloy “Nicoro+2%Ti”(62wt.%Cu-35Au-1Ni-2Ti) for use in a major sub-assembly of the MC4300 neutron tube. The alloyexhibits good wetting of alumina ceramic sur-faces and the ability to make strong, hermeticmetal/ ceramic braze joints. An evaluation buildthis year will use the alloy as baseline in thetube’s header subsassembly. The Nicoro+2%Tialloy was developed during FY98 as part of aResearch Foundation (RF) brazing project, incooperation with WESGO Metals, Inc. (1800,14100, 14400, 2500) John Stephens,jjsteph@sandia.gov

The Aircraft Composite Inspection and Refer-ence Standards Team produced an optimum set ofcomposite reference standards to allow for accuratedamage assessment and post-repair inspection ofall composite aircraft structures. The team’s workwill simplify the process of evaluating the sever-ity of damage to composite aircraft structuresand more accurately determine the necessaryrepairs. The results of this effort were formally doc-umented in industry-recognized Aerospace Recom-mended Practices and are being adopted into Boe-ing and Airbus maintenance manuals. Sandia’sAirworthiness Assurance Center participated in thiseffort by leading an Inspection Task Group withinthe international Commercial Aircraft CompositeRepair Committee. (6200) Dennis Roach,dproach@sandia.gov

Materials, physics, and chemistry

(Continued on next page)

VIEWS, the Visual Interactive Environment for Weapons Simulations, displays ultra-high-resolution results of high-performance computing simulations. (Photo by Randy Montoya)

SANDIA LAB NEWS • Labs Accomplishments 2002 • Page 8

Sandia’s Cplant™ cluster now ranks 30th on theTop500 list of the world’s most powerful computersand is the world’s largest and most productive self-made supercomputer. Its four distinct modes ofoperation — open, development, restricted, and clas-sified — enable university collaboration andadvanced software testing, as well as unclassified andclassified scientific computations. Each operationalmode has a dedicated cluster of up to 256 nodes,which is expandable to 1,792 nodes on demand. Theentire runtime software, released as open source, hasbeen downloaded more than 1,000 times. (9200,9300) Neil Pundit, ndpundi@sandia.gov

Software development within the CIO organi-zation now uses processes assessed as meetingCMM level 2 criteria. CMM, the Capability MaturityModel developed by Carnegie Mellon University’sSoftware Engineering Institute, is a standard that pro-vides a framework in which software processes aredeveloped and documented. The processes andresulting work products are described in the SoftwareInformation Life Cycle, an internal web documentfound at http://www-irn.sandia.gov/silc/. (9500) PaulMerillat, pdmeril@sandia.gov

The Simulation Enabled Product RealizationProgram (9900) completed the first year piloting a“Program Alignment” process with the NWSBU.The process engaged line management throughoutthe weapon engineering community with leadersin modeling and simulation capability develop-ment. The most critical needs of the Stockpile Life-time Extension Programs and other weapon sup-port activities were identified and resourcesadjusted to meet the needs. A major result of thealignment process is better alignment of the ASCImilestones with weapon needs. (2100, 8200,8900,9100, 9200, 9300, 9900) Martha Ernestmjernes@sandia.gov

SIMBA (SImulation Manager and Builder forAnalysts) is software that helps engineering ana-lysts build complex hierarchical models for finiteelement simulations. A model of a weapons systemis traditionally built by scaling, repositioning,reorienting, renumbering, and joining componentand subsystem models. SIMBA records and man-ages the details of this process, allowing quickvisualization at every step. The software can alsodiagnose and help correct problems that occurduring model building. (8900) Paul Nielan,pen@sandia.gov

Hacking cyberspace is an international pastimeand Sandia is always an attractive target. Over thepast year, significant hardening of the open networkwas accomplished. The goal was to make the opennetwork and the telephone system as inaccessible tooutsiders as the internal network, but facilitate anopen, collaborative environment. World-class anti-virus software, a telephone firewall, restructuringto a default deny-and-specific-permit strategy, andaggressive instrumentation of network traffic signifi-cantly reduced our vulnerability. (9300, 8900) MikeCahoon, RMC@sandia.gov

Virtual Private Networking (VPN) extends theability of Sandia’s engineers, scientists, and admin-istrators to do mission work while off-site. We cre-ated a technical and support infrastructure for San-dians to use specially configured government-owned computers for VPN connections to the San-dia Restricted Network. With broadband Internetaccess, VPN allows working essentially the sameas through an on-site connection. The project wasaccelerated after Sept. 11 in case of further site clo-sures. (9300, 9600, 8900) Charles Shirley,cshirle@sandia.gov

The Accelerated Strategic Computing Initiative(ASCI)/Distance and Distributed Computing (Dis-Com) Project successfully completed “with flying col-ors” ASCI’s first tri-lab milepost. The DistributedResource Management (DRM) project played a majorrole by developing and deploying the ASCI Grid. TheASCI Grid is the world’s largest computationalgrid with the most processors (24,548) and highestcompute capability (~19 TeraOps). Grid servicesenable both local and remote users to effectively usevarious ASCI resources from their desktops. For moreinformation see: gridservices@sandia.gov. (6500,9200, 9300) Kathie Hiebert-Dodd,klhiebe@sandia.gov

Energy and critical infrastructure

basic scientific importance because adiatomic molecule struck by an atomrecoils from the collision spinning, andthat energy transfer process is funda-mental to how gasses heat up, cooldown, and come to equilibrium. Experi-ments demonstrated the “preferredsense of rotation” of NO moleculesrecoiling from collisions with argonatoms. Not only is there a preferredsense of rotation, but that sense dependson the rotational state of the diatomicmolecule and the angle at which themolecule scatters. For example, at a scat-tering angle of 45 degrees, 80 percent ofthe molecules are spinning clockwise. At60 degrees, they might prefer to spincounterclockwise. (8300) DaveChandler, chand@sandia.gov

A unique electronic “sniffer” hasbeen developed that can provide real-time in situ monitoring of volatileorganic contaminants in air, soil, andwater. A small waterproof packagehouses an array of chemiresistors that can instanta-neously detect a large variety of volatile organiccompounds. The sensor can be deployed directly inunderground wells or water resources, and data aretransmitted to a computer for remote monitoring.This system could save millions of dollars at sitesthat currentlyrely on tradi-tional manualsampling meth-ods and off-sitelaboratory analy-sis. (6100, 1700)Cliff Ho,ckho@sandia.gov

Sandia, inpartnershipwith Los

Alamos National Laboratory, established theCongressionally-chartered National Infrastruc-ture Simulation and Analysis Center (NISAC).NISAC will provide the most advanced modelingand simulation capabilities and expertise for theanalysis of the nation’s critical infrastructures,their interdependencies, vulnerabilities, and sys-tem complexities. This will lead to optimized mit-igation strategies and reconstruction planningand real time crisis support and will allow thenation’s leaders, policy makers, and infrastruc-ture owners to proactively protect the infrastruc-tures. (6500) Jennifer Nelson, jenelso@sandia.gov

Collaborative experiments of Sandia’s AlternateFuels Optical Engine Laboratory with Lawrence Liv-ermore National Lab have shown that isotope trac-ing with accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS)can help us understand how oxygenates affect

soot formation in diesel engines. The addition ofoxygenates to diesel fuel can reduce particulateemissions, but the underlying reasons for the reduc-tions are not understood. Dibutyl maleate, labeled atthe carbonyl carbons, was burned in a modified 350-

hp Caterpillar engine, soot was collectedon filters, and the carbon-14 content ofthe soot measured by AMS. The almostcomplete lack of carbon-14 in the particu-late matter suggests that the carbon-oxygenbond does not break during combustion.(8000) Bob Carling, rwcarli@sandia.gov

Sandia has worked with The TimkenCompany to develop a sensor to optimizecombustion and energy utilization inelectric arc furnaces by the real-timemeasurement of CO and CO2 concentra-tions in off-gases. The tunable-laser-basedprototype sensor has been successfullytested in field trials and is now installedfor long-term tests in their Canton, Ohio,facility. Around-the-clock measurementsare handled under remote control fromthe Combustion Research Facility. (8000)

The photovoltaic inverter test lab wasexpanded into the Distributed EnergyTechnologies Laboratory to address dis-tributed generation issues of utilities,manufacturers, and end-users. Fossil and

renewable energy generation and information tech-nology are combined, with testing capability forelectric grid-tied applications as well as SupervisoryControl and Data Acquisition of remote generation.These capabilitieshave alreadyresulted in a utilityCRADA, and negoti-ations for a secondwith another utility.(6200) John Boyes,jdboyes@sandia.gov

Computing

(Continued from page 6)

THE NEW NATIONAL Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center will analyzeinterdependencies of the nation’s infrastructures.

UNIQUE “sniffer” monitors volatileorganic compounds in real time.

MICROTURBINES likethose at the right couldbe part of a distributedenergy network.

(Continued from preceding page)

SIMBA workspace with simplified W80 model.

SANDIA LAB NEWS • Labs Accomplishments 2002 • Page 9

The Nuclear Detonation (NUDET) Detection Sys-tem (NDS) Analysis Package (NAP) developed a newspace-to-ground communication path for data associ-ated with the assessment, health, configuration, andperformance of next-generation NDS sensors flownaboard DoD’s GPS constellation of satellites. Theground segment is a unique, autonomous earthstation capable of tracking multiple NAP-equipped

satellites simultaneously and capturing telemetrydata. The January 2001 launch of a NAP-equippedGPS satellite significantly enhanced the nation’s abil-ity to perform space-based nuclear weapons treatymonitoring. (6500, 5700, 2300, 2600) Eunice Young,eryoung@sandia.gov

We demonstrated plume detection of chemicalwarfare simulants at the Nevada Test Site using theµChemLab™ chemical detector. The µChemLabhardware was installed in an instrument trailer andoperational within 15 minutes of arrival at the site. Abarrel of triethyl phosphate was exploded, releasing aplume that traveled downwind over the sensor posi-tion. Automated analyses at three-minute intervalsdetected the passage of the simulant plume at sub-ppb concentration levels. The same system has alsodetected actual chemical warfare agents in indoortests. (1700, 8100) Steve Martin,sjmarti@sandia.gov

Sandia’s Second Line ofDefense (SLD) Program hassuccessfully initiated strate-gies and processes to rapidlyprovide integrated, sustain-able systems to minimize therisk of nuclear proliferationand terrorism. In Russia, 26site surveys were performed atRussian airports, seaports,railroad checkpoints, and bor-der crossings. These site sur-veys included the deploy-ment and acceptance of SLDsystems installed at eightRussian Federation State Cus-toms Committee facilities todetect and deter the illicitmovement of nuclear materi-als out of Russia. The program has been successfuland is growing to include other key countries. (5300)Michael Garcia, mrgarcia@sandia.gov

Assessment of human exposure to bioweaponscurrently relies on pathogen replication or hostresponses using tests that can take from days toweeks. A collaborative DARPA-funded projectbetween Sandia and the University of New MexicoDepartment of Pathology is developing methods torapidly detect the onset of infection. Infrared datacombined with sophisticated analysis tools are beingused to quickly delineate cells presenting an infec-tion-like response from healthy cells. (1800)M. Kathleen Alam, mkalam@sandia.gov

Researchers at the Explosive Components Facilityhave developed a field-portable test kit that will pro-vide law enforcement agencies with immediateconfirmation of recent gun use and assist in rapidlyfocusing on key suspects. The technology has beenfunded and licensed by Law Enforcement Tech-nologies, a privately held New Mexico corporationthat specializes in development of technologies forlaw enforcement, corrections, private security, andmilitary markets. The technology is patent pending.(2500) Susan Bender, sfbende@sandia.gov

Sandia once again hosted Operation America, anadvanced training for Bomb Squad personnelthroughout the US. This opportunity for advancedtechnology transfer was conducted in Warrenton,Ore., last March. Participants joined in technical class-room sessions, live range demonstrations, and specifictechnical tactical scenarios. Operation America isfunded by the National Institute of Justice and isconducted by Chris Cherry and his team. (5900)Patricia Gingrich, psgingr@sandia.gov

The Advanced Atmospheric Research Equipment(AARE) program completed its Preliminary DesignReview. AARE will provide a suite of modernized,computer-controlled gas- and particulate-samplingsubsystems to the Air Force with an Initial Opera-tional Capability date of October 2003. AARE willprovide a unique capability to do treaty monitoringand sampling against worldwide nuclear testingactivities. (2900, 5700, 5900, 6200, 6500, 9100,14400, 15300) Walter Caldwell, wfcaldw@sandia.gov)

The ability of an imaging radar to “see” under-neath trees and foliage has remained an unsolvedproblem for many years. This year the first successfulcreation of a high-resolution 3-D tomographic SAR(synthetic aperture radar) image that achievesfoliage penetration was developed at Sandia. The air-borne radar system used to collect the data for thisspecial processing is the Twin Otter SAR built andoperated by Center 2300. (5900) Charles Jakowatz,cvjakow@sandia.gov

A multi-center Sandia team fabricated a uniqueevent-driven 3-D sensor assembly for satelliteapplications. The assembly contains an optical sen-sor front end, signal-processing electronics, and cus-tom processors to hunt out signals of interest in high-false-alarm environments. In a volume ofapproximately 1.5 cubic inches, this assembly is capa-ble of ultra high frame-rate sensing (more than80,000 frames per second) with signal processing atthe equivalent speed of over a gigabit per second of

raw data, a level of perfor-mance never beforeapproached in a package nearthis volume. (1700, 5700,14100) Anthony Medina,ajmedin@sandia.gov

The Multispectral ThermalImager satellite (MTI) is a San-dia-led, multilaboratory R&Dproject sponsored by NNSA’sDefense Nuclear Nonprolifer-ation Office. MTI has been onorbit for 18 months and hasgathered more than 3,200multispectral and thermalimage sets. As of the end ofFY01, MTI had exceeded itsoperational life requirementof one year and washalfway through its opera-tional goal of three years.

MTI has demonstrated the capability to measureabsolute water temperatures from space to better that2 degrees Kelvin and relative water temperature mea-surements better than hundredths of degree Kelvin.(2600, 5800, 5700) Anthony Medina,ajmedin@sandia.gov

The DOE AURA (Advanced UV Remote-SensingApplications) program completed the second of threemajor field test deployments to Dugway ProvingGround, Utah. For this test the AURA payload, anadvanced ultraviolet laser-induced fluorescence lidar,was installed in an environmentally controlled con-tainer and configured to operate from a fixed groundlocation. The payload was tested against a broadrange of weapons of mass destruction scenariosand in many cases the demonstrated system perfor-mance far exceeded the original design goals. (1100,2300, 5700, 6100, 8100, 8300, 8400, 8900) AnthonyMedina, ajmedin@sandia.gov

Culminating four years of collaboration withthe All Russian Institute of Experimental Physics(VNIIEF), we conducted a virtual ribbon-cutting of theFacility-to-Facility project on June 14, 2001. The goalof this project is to evaluate advanced fissile materialmonitoring and communications technologies in a

bilateral regime. Two facilities, one at Savannah RiverSite and one at VNIIEF, are placing fissile material intoa simulated bilateral monitoring regime. The resultsof this project will provide critical insight into thepotential role of advanced monitoring andcommunications technologies for improved securityand control of materials in the US and Russia. (5300)Tom Lockner, trlockn@sandia.gov

The Cooperative Monitoring Center worked withretired military officials from India and Pakistan todevelop concepts for cooperation along their con-tentious border. Maj. Gen. Mahmud Durrani of Pak-istan has proposed specific ground-based bordermonitoring systems to be deployed cooperativelybetween India and Pakistan. Air Marshals M. A.Chaudhry of Pakistan and K.C. Cariappa of Indiaworked with the Center to develop plans for coopera-tive aerial overflights along the India-Pakistan border.Both efforts seek to reduce border tensions betweenthese nuclear weapon-capable states. (5300) KentBiringer, klbirin@sandia.gov

PROTECTing subways from chemical warfare(CW) agent attacks: The PROTECT program, fundedby DOE and the Justice Department, has collaboratedwith the Washington Metropolitan Area TransitAuthority to demonstrate a system for continuousCW-agent monitoring. For more than a year, achemical detector testbed, consisting of several net-worked state-of-the-art commercial sensors, has beenoperated in the subway. The system provides timelyagent detection, and transmits measured agent con-centrations to an emergency management informa-tion system being developed by our collaborators atArgonne National Laboratory. (8100, 8900, 1700,1800) Susanna Gordon, spgordo@sandia.gov

In a team effort with the Washington Institute,Sandia has examined and analyzed approaches to thedefense of cities against biological attack. This workwas aimed at exploring alternate defensive architec-tures, including both protection and medical responsemeasures coupled with detection and informationcoordination elements. An approach to analysis usingMaster Timeline Curves was developed to integratebiological agent, physical, and medical phenomena inbioterrorist attacks.Results are being used to guidetechnology development and policy implementationstrategies. (8100) Patricia Falcone, pkfalco@sandia.gov

Under the sponsorship for the Defense ThreatReduction Agency, we have developed a new rela-tionship with the Russian nuclear weapons forces inthe area of warhead monitoring. This multi-year pro-ject will explore monitoring concepts and technologiesfor enhanced warhead security and safety. TheUS/Russian project team has selected a military site inSt. Petersburg for technology development and field tri-als. Results of the effort will lead to Russian-certifiedtechnologies for enhanced security and safety of theRussian stockpile. If necessary, these technologies couldalso be applied to monitoring regimes associated withthe recently announced deep reductions in strategicforces. (5300) Greg Mann, gremann@sandia.gov

Nonproliferation programsand arms control technologies

ANTENNA FARM, part of new space-to-ground commu-nication path for NUDET detection system.

MONITORING rail movement in Russia aspart of the second Line of Defense program.

US LAW ENFORCEMENT attendees at Operation Americalearn bomb-disablement technologies.

WARHEAD monitoring test uses empty Russian weaponcases.

SANDIA LAB NEWS • Labs Accomplishments 2002 • Page 10

A broad (national lab/industry/government) cele-bration and press coverage of the operation of theworld’s first Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography alphatool was held at Sandia/California facilities in April2001. Shortly thereafter, at an internationalSEMATECH-sponsored Next Generation Lithographycritical review, experts favored EUVL over compet-ing technologies for fabricating circuits with sub-50-nm features by a margin of 3 to 1. Also, a three-year extension (eight-year running total) of theVirtual National Laboratory CRADA was executed,with additional funding of up to $65M. (8700, 2300)John Goldsmith, jgold@sandia.gov

Sandia and Goodyear Chemical (of the GoodyearTire & Rubber Co.) are exploring energy-efficientprocesses that reduce energy consumption, waste,and emissions. Goodyear will provide engineeringand economic models from the company’s solutionpolymer plant, which uses petrochemicals to pro-duce synthetic rubber and specialty polymers. Sandiawill use computer-aided design and engineering totest fabricated material recovery devices and quan-tify results. The agreement was the sixth cooperativeresearch and development agreement betweenGoodyear and Sandia since 1993 — and GoodyearChemical’s first. (1300, 6200) Mary Monson,mamonso@sandia.gov

From across New Mexico, small businesses areexpressing their appreciation to the state legislatureand Sandia for the New Mexico Small BusinessAssistance Program, a versatile, effective, andimmediate economic development tool that solvesissues facing small businesses. The program, madepossible by an act of the 2001 New Mexico legisla-tive session, enables Sandians to work with small

business to solve tech-nical and businessproblems at no cost tothe federal govern-ment. The program fin-ished its inauguralyears with outstandingresults: Sandia expertsparticipated in morethan 325 projects.(1300) MariannJohnston,mjohns@sandia.gov

We have demon-strated the applicabilityof Sandia’s SUMMiT™(Sandia Ultra-planarMulti-Level MEMSTechnology) to biologi-cal and medical appli-cations. For example,we have designed andmanufactured amicrotransfectiondevice (a.k.a. cell Pac-man) that has shownhow MEMS micro-scopic mechanical andfluid-handling capabili-ties can be used to han-dle individual cells.Also, SUMMiT™ tech-nology is being used at Fairchild Semiconductor’sSouth Portland, Maine, wafer fabrication facility,resulting in a manufacturing source of high-volumeMEMS devices for commercial and governmentproducts. MEMS technologies can be used to build awide range of micron-scale devices such as sensorsfor automobiles, micromirrors for optical switchingand projection displays, and microfluidic compo-nents for injet printers and chemical/biologicaldetection systems. (1700) Jay Jakubczak,Jayj@sandia.gov

With $1.47 million in royalties earned in FY01,the California site more than doubled its life-time earnings from licensing for the second yearin a row, bringing the site’s lifetime royaltyincome to $2.54 million. Success is the result ofthree factors: 1) A few very large licenses with up-front fees, including two licenses of µChemlab™liquid-phase technologies in FY01 and one licenseof LIGA process technology in FY00; 2) A softwareproduct, JESS, that is a commodity product (37licenses in FY01); and 3) A number of reliable tech-nologies that continue to generate running royal-ties year after year. (8500) Denise Koker,dekoker@sandia.gov

A leading chromatography instrument manufac-turer, Waters Corporation, has entered into a multi-year cooperative research and development agree-ment with Sandia to miniaturize High PerformanceLiquid Chromatography instruments. The com-pany has licensed rights to Sandia’s electrokineticpumping technology and will work with the Labs tojointly develop further microfluidics-based systems.We have also established a licensing agreement withSandia spin-off, Eksigent Technologies. The technol-ogy developed will enhance the µChemLab™ minia-ture analysis systems for chem/bio national securityneeds. (8100, 8300)

The Sandia Science & Technology Park com-pleted a master development plan for the 200+acres of land outside the Eubank gate and selectedBUILD New Mexico as the Master Developer. Twonew EMCORE facilities were built in the Park, whileApplied Technology Associates and the Sandia Labo-ratory Federal Credit Union also began constructionon new buildings. In addition, the Park was honoredwith Public/Private Partnership Awards from theNew Mexico State Land Office and the Middle RioGrande Council of Governments. (14004) JimClinch, jpclinc@sandia.gov

Tech partnerships

Sandia and other labs demonstrated their topantiterrorism technologies for DOE Secretary SpencerAbraham and Homeland Security Director TomRidge in a show at DOE Headquarters in Washington,D.C. Sandia presented decontamination foam, Chem-Lab, Hound and Hound II, robotics, Rapid SyndromeValidation Project (RSVP), and the National Infrastruc-ture Simulation and Analysis Center (NISAC). Ridge saidafterward that “technology-based solutions will be ahuge component of a comprehensive national home-land security plan.” (12600, technical line organizations)

In response to 9/11 terrorist events, Sandia staffedthe Emergency Operations Center with senior man-agement, DOE/KAO representatives, and support staff.Mission-essential personnel were retained on-site, butnon-essential personnel were released for two days.Liaisons were established with KAFB, DOE, and theSandia intelligence community. Increased security mea-sures were implemented. Employees on travel and thoseassigned to the Washington, D.C., area were contacted.Security Police Officers worked closely with militarypolice to perform ID checks and vehicle searches for per-sonnel accessing KAFB. (3100, 10000, 12000, 14000)

More than 1,300 new employees were hired inFY01. Staffing organizations at both sites successfullysurpassed our FY01 goals by hiring 628 regularemployees, including 299 members of technical staffand 104 technologists. This was accomplished by giv-ing emphasis to recent graduates, high GPAs, and topschools/programs. In addition to regular hires, wehired 188 temporary employees and 542 new stu-

dents, enhancing our potential-candidate “pipeline,”as well as hiring 177 staff augmentation contractors.While acceptance rates exceeded national norms, theCalifornia site faced additional challenges due to thearea’s cost of living. (3030, 8500, 12600, and recruitersand hiring managers Labs-wide)

New Mexico Health Services Center’s Back InjuryReduction Program was recognized for proven resultsin reducing occupational costs and decreasing daysaway and restricted days associated with backinjuries. The Center demonstrated a commitment todisease management through the implementation of aunique workplace Diabetes Pilot Program. Onsite coor-dination and accessibility of best-care diabetes servicespromises reduced healthcare costs. The Center sur-veyed all current and former employees, assessing pos-sible exposure to beryllium and offering a comprehen-sive exam to those indicating risk. (3300, 3100)

In August the NNSA Tri-Labs Diversity Work-shop, focusing on Asian/Pacific Island American(APIA) issues, convened Gen. John Gordon, direc-tors of the three labs, members of the APIA commu-nities within the laboratories, and a sampling of labsmanagers to inaugurate a senior management proto-col for developing solutions to systemic workforcediversity issues and concerns. As a result of the part-nership initiated by Sandia, the three NNSA laborato-ries are collaborating with teams now working toaddress identified issues related to the laboratories’image in recruiting, career development, and secu-rity. (0002, 3000, 8000)

The Sandia President’s Advisory Council (SPAC) con-cluded seven successful years of advising Sandia’s presi-dent on issues of strategic significance. SPAC helpedidentify opportunities where Sandia’s competenciescould contribute to national security and suggestedappropriate program initiatives for the Laboratories’consideration. SPAC was actively involved in the devel-opment of Sandia’s administration transition initiatives,the creation of the Surety Institute, and consultationwith the laboratory director on nuclear test ban policy.(1, 12100)

Training/Education investment funds, providedby Executive VP Joan Woodard’s office, have paidLabs-wide dividends: University Programs increasedparticipation; Doctoral Studies Program increased 28percent; Special Masters Program increased 100 per-cent; University Part-Time increased 20 percent. Newcurricula were introduced to address some of the Labs’critical skills areas. Twenty-eight individuals wereretrained and assumed new positions through theInformation Technology/Computer Science programwith a 100 percent customer satisfaction rating. (1000,3000, 6000, 8000, 9000)

New Benefits plans and improvements were deliv-ered involving medical, dental, and vision plans,health care reimbursement spending accounts, volun-tary group accident insurance, sickness absence plan,vacation donation plan, vacation buy plan, personalabsence time, vesting for savings plans, and benefitsfor students and LTEs. Changes will control rising

Labs support, facilities, and human resources

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A SANDIA ENGINEER makes fine adjustments to the highly complex EUVL tool, developedby a DOE labs-industry partnership.

“PACMAN” microtransfection device, designed with helpof SUMMiT technology.

SANDIA LAB NEWS • Labs Accomplishments 2002 • Page 11

How can you keep a high-level nuclear waste repository cool? You could ventilate, and that is whatthe Yucca Mountain Project is considering to maintain rock temperatures below boiling. Ventilation isa key component to thermal management in thepotential geologic repository. Knowing how muchheat can be removed must be demonstrated bytesting. Last year Sandia conducted 22 tests in a132-foot-long test train containing 25 simu-lated heated waste packages. Ventilation wasforced through at various flow rates to providedata for ventilation model validation. (6800) CliffHoward, cliff_howard@ymp.gov

The Chemical Waste Landfill was the primarylocation for disposal of laboratory chemical wastesfrom 1962-1982. Excavation of the landfill beganin 1999 and was completed in 2001, ahead ofschedule and under budget. Along with 50,000cubic yards of soils and various large vessels andglove boxes, excavation yielded 1,437 intactchemical containers, 357 gas cylinders, 900 ther-mal batteries, 26 ordnance debris pieces, andthree vials labeled “polio.” (Research indicatedthat the vial contained a polio strain that had been autoclaved and destroyed before being disposed ofin the landfill). This extremely hazardous operation was conducted safely, without significant injuryor environmental release. (6100) David R. Miller, drmille@sandia.gov

The Sandia/California Mixed Waste Disposal Management Team worked to open a direct path fordisposal of mixed waste. The resulting quality process meets the strict requirements for both DOEradioactive and California hazardous waste disposal. In 2001, disposal of mixed waste prevented costand schedule impacts, regulatory citations, and fines while supporting building demolition and clo-sure of legacy waste management units dating back to the mid-1960s. (8500, 3100) James Bartel,jjbarte@sandia.gov

Environmental remediation

costs, provide competitive benefits to support hiringand retention goals, and provide more family-friendlychoices. A personalized Total Rewards Statement thatquantifies the extent and value of benefits thatemployees receive was delivered to regular employees.(3300, 3000, 8500, 10300)

HR improved electronic delivery and access:Top Recruits, a web-based tool, assists hiring man-agers in identifying outstanding candidates. The HRGraphalyzer provides helpful attrition trending andprojection information to support Centers and Divi-sions in responding to the Annual Staff Planning call.Online course registration allows employees to regis-ter directly for classes with a single password systemthat has reduced help-desk calls by more than 80 per-cent and resulted in faster registration. The MissionCritical Designator System identifies those employeesdeemed critical to operations during high securityalerts. (3000)

Sandia was selected as WasteWise Federal Gov-ernment Partner of the Year for 2000 for efforts insustainable design, construction, and demolitionwaste recycling, waste reduction efforts within Custo-dial Services and the Cafeteria, and results in environ-mentally preferable procurement. The City of Albu-querque’s Industrial Pretreatment Program presentedDOE and Sandia/N.M. with three Gold and two SilverPretreatment Awards for demonstrating 100 percentcompliance with permit reporting requirements and100 percent with permit discharge limits. Three orga-nizations received the Commitment Level award fromNew Mexico’s Green Zia Environmental ExcellenceProgram. (3100, 10800, 3300)

A large volume of liquid gunk from remote areaseptic tanks was successfully managed during FY01by the Radioactive & Mixed Waste Management Facil-ity (RMWMF). The unsavory stuff was filtered throughtwo screens to remove large debris and sediment. Sixhardy RMWMF employees donned protective cloth-ing and full-face respirators to handle the highly odor-iferous goo. Four tanker truckloads containing morethan 14,000 gallons of the filtered water, tainted withtrace amounts of solvents, were shipped to a RCRA-permitted facility in Tennessee for disposal. (3100)

The Corporate Access Control System experi-enced dramatic growth during 2001 due to develop-ment of WebCAT (Web Based Custodian-controlledAccess Tool). This software tool allows Sandia line per-sonnel responsible for a physical location toadd/delete/modify access control lists for the card read-ers. Changes are immediately transmitted to local cardreaders. With real-time access to the Badge Office data-base, the system automatically updates for replacementof worn or lost badges. WebCAT allows areas toimplement “need-to-know” controls in a cost-effectivemanner. (3100)

The Environmental Management Department inconjunction with the Earth Day Coalition of NewMexico conducted the Fifth Annual Youth Confer-ence on the Environment. DOE, Sandia, and theEarth Day Coalition sponsored the conference. Theall-day event was held April 20, 2001. High school andmiddle school students from the Albuquerque areaparticipated in workshops and debates on topicsincluding: drilling in the Arctic National WildlifeRefuge, controlled burns as a forest fire managementtechnique, rainforest culture, and effects of the CerroGrande fire on wildlife. (3100)

The Rapid Reactivation Project has more thandoubled Sandia’s neutron generator productioncapacity while maintaining on-going productionoperations. The project renovated space in severalbuildings, constructed an addition to Bldg. 857, andinstalled new equipment, with only minimal impactsto existing production and no lost production sched-ule time. The project was finished on time and underbudget. (10800, 14400)

In FY01 the Facilities Management and OperationsCenter increased the overall completion rate of Pre-ventive Maintenance tasks from 78 percent to 90percent. Since FY98, overall preventive maintenancecompletion has increased from a 40 percent level. Thisfocus on preventive maintenance tasks on buildingand infrastructure equipment has resulted in increased

reliability of building systems and increased lifeexpectancy of equipment resulting in an overallimprovement in efficiency. (10800)

In partnership with Center 1700, Facilities engi-neering staff designed and installed new infrastruc-ture systems resulting in a $200,000 per year sav-ings in electrical energy for chilled water systemsserving the Microelectronics Development Laboratory.Results were achieved through creative engineeringsolutions like installing variable frequency drives onchilled water pumps and hot water pumps, installing alarger compressed dry air receiver tank, changing startsequencing of air compressors, optimizing coolingtower system flow, and changing the energy manage-ment system code to utilize more sensible cooling.(1700, 10800)

The Spend Plan Tool Redesign Team formed todevelop the requirements for a new Spend PlanTool that would both interface with and use the func-tionality of Oracle 11i applications. The team’s focuswas to assure customer input to provide a systemwhere project managers and business units could per-form 3-year financial planning. The Spend Plan Tool isdesigned to capture information at either a summaryor detail level, and was developed with usability inmind. (2300, 10300, 10500)

Sandia received DOE approval in FY01 to fund andconstruct an Institutional General Plant Project(IGPP) building. The first building provides officespace in the New Mexico tech area. IGPPs are indi-rect-funded construction projects that will providegeneral-purpose, institutional space and infrastructureto offer an option from direct funding for obtainingneeded space. Sandia was the first DOE contractor topilot such an alternative that is permitted by specialCongressional authority. Sandia is seeking approval toconstruct two additional buildings in FY02.(10500, 10800)

A study of “actual and reasonable” versus “perdiem” reimbursement statistically compared Sandia’stravel costs to Federal Travel Regulation per diemallowances and documented that the Labs saved$400,000 for the first half of FY01 using actual andreasonable methodology. These confirmed Sandiacost savings persuaded DOE to allow Sandia travelexpense reimbursement based on reasonable, actualtravel expenses. The success of the request for waiverof Federal Travel Regulation requirements is uniqueamong Sandia’s peers. (9500, 10500, 12300 12800)

The Pension Investment Organization periodicallysearches for investment management firms to investSandia’s pension fund assets. It’s part of an ongoingreview of the pension fund portfolio. Recently, the teamdetermined that performance and risk measures could

improve if it modified the funds’ exposure to capitaliza-tion sizes and investment styles. By hiring three newfirms and eliminating one, the team achieved animproved investment risk profile compared to thefund’s benchmark index. The change involved $250million. (10300)

Web Shipper, a Sandia-developed on-line web-based application, has taken the place of a paperShipper form that was used to ship equipment andmaterial offsite. Implemented in FY01, the new on-line Web Shipper advantages include automaticassignment of a shipper number, no managerapproval required with shipping activity viewable on-line at any time, e-mail and workflow processing withno more hand-routing for approvals, and tracking ofshipments available from submission through releaseto carrier. (10000, 9000)

Prior to release of property Sandia must reviewthose assets for high risk and export control. Terror-ists, rogue nations, and competing developers of tech-nologies must not benefit from Sandia’s sales andloans of property. This need is balanced with therequirement to maximize return on taxpayer invest-ments. This process of collaboration between Sandia’sProperty and Import/Export Organizations hasstreamlined an expensive and labor intensiveprocess by combining effort and reducing risk. (10200)

An innovative and cost-saving approach to prop-erty utilization reviews has been developed and imple-mented by Sandia’s Property organization. Previously,a bi-yearly formal walkthrough of work areas by man-agement was conducted in accordance with DOE reg-ulations. Sandia now combines utilization reviewswith activities such as inventories, office clean-ups,and corporate storage reviews, while still fulfilling theintent of the regulation to minimize mission impact.(10200)

The P-Card program gives frontline workers analternative to making low-value, low-risk purchases.It is a popular “self-service” option that reduces bothcosts and cycle times. In FY01, 1,600 cardholdersused their cards 75,000 times and spent $55 million(one-third of Lockheed Martin’s total P-Card spend-ing), helping the Labs avoid $3 million of unnec-essary oversight. By giving cardholders that pur-chasing authority, the contributions ofProcurement’s buyers are more appropriately alignedwith strategic purchases. Sandia’s P-Card program isconsidered best-in-class by several outside organiza-tions. (8500, 9500, 10200)

Sandia was among the first companies to imple-ment the full suite of Oracle’s Enterprise ResourcePlanning software. Our success has led DOE/HQ,

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CLIFF HOWARD sits next to a line of simulatedwaste packages inside the 132-foot-long testassembly where the effectiveness of ventilationfor heat removal is being measured for the YuccaMountain Project.

SANDIA LAB NEWS • Labs Accomplishments 2002 • Page 12

Nuclear Weapons Complex Defense Programs Divi-sion, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Bechtel Nevada,Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Labo-ratory, Bettis Atomic Power, Knolls Atomic Power Lab-oratory, and the Atomic Weapons Establishment ofEngland to consult us. We have also provided consulta-tion to the US House of Representatives, the InternalRevenue Service, and Indian Health Services. (9500,10300, 10500, 14400)

Three hundred Sandians submitted a total of 303Technical Advances during FY01 disclosing inventionsto be evaluated for possible patenting. One hundredand ninety patent applications were filed duringFY01. These 190 patent applications listed 257 Sandi-ans as inventors. A total of 112 patents were issuedduring FY01 representing the culmination of what istypically a two- to three-year patent prosecutionprocess. In the area of copyrights, which are used pri-marily to protect software developed at Sandia, DOEduring FY01 approved 49 copyright assertions. (11500)

In December 1999, the DOE Office of InspectorGeneral issued an Inspection Report on Sandia’s sale ofa Paragon supercomputer that noted that the Depart-ment of Commerce was investigating the possibility ofa deemed export violation from the transfer ofParagon manuals. This sale had generated a lot ofunfavorable publicity, but Sandia believed therewas no export control violation. In December 2000,

Sandia was notified thatCommerce had deter-mined that there was noviolation of export con-trols. (10200, 10000,11500)

Court trials can berisky and expensive. Set-tling a case at nuisancevalue can be cheaper, butmay invite unfoundedclaims in the future.Recently, Sandia was suedin a case depending onevents supposedly occur-ring almost 40 years ago.Based on a new strat-egy, we ended the casewithout a trial andwithout paying a settle-ment. Our strategyincluded substantialinvestment in pre-triallegal work that led to dis-missal by the court. Thecost of the pre-trial workwas about the same asthe cost of nuisance settlement. (11600)

Sandia will receive a foundational patent forextracting water from the atmosphere. This founda-tional patent represents a good example of consideringthe IP protection at the earliest stages of development.The patent covers a technology aimed at extractingliquid water from the atmosphere with minimumenergy consumption. This technology could provide apersonal portable water production system capable ofproducing sufficient drinking water for an individual.Large systems may have the potential of alleviatingwater shortages around the world. We are pursuinginternational patent rights and several US patents onimprovements to the basic technology. (11700, 15211)

Sandia has secured DOE approval to release severalSandia codes under open source licenses (like those usedfor Linux). Open source licensing allows Sandia tomake technology available to researchers and ensuresthat Sandia will have free access to improvements madeby others. Sandia’s operating contract did not contem-plate open source licensing, so Sandia has worked withDOE to analyze concerns and risks and to agree oncooperative processes for decision and approval torelease codes under open source licenses. (11700, 1300)

Sandia has released the CPlant™ distributed com-puter operating system software under GNU’s GeneralPublic License (GPL). The release was enabled by sev-eral months of negotiating the needed permissionsfrom DOE. The software also builds on many othersoftware projects. Clearing Sandia’s title to softwarebefore release was a significant undertaking. Therelease under open source will allow researchers freeaccess to the software and encourage improvement bythe entire research community. The GPL requires thatimprovements be made available under similar termsto others, so that Sandia and the research communitywill benefit from the collective efforts of all thoseworking in the technology. (11700, 1300, 9200)

In Fall 2000, the Government Relations gr