Keith Matzen, a Sandia Fellow, has been awarded the 2019 Distinguished Career Award for his work on inertial confinement fusion. His achievements include leading the conversion of the PBFA-II accelerator to the Z machine, which established worldwide record levels of X-ray energy and power.
Alan Mar, a Sandia National Laboratories engineer, is recognized for his work in ensuring components made for the U.S. nuclear stockpile pass stringent standards to resist radiation. He is now leading a team to develop a comprehensive computer model that can predict the radiation effects on a whole weapons component.
Researchers worldwide can access cutting-edge tools and expertise at the Sandia Low Temperature Plasma Research Facility, enabling proof-of-principle studies on a wide range of plasma behaviors. The 5-year project, funded by DOE's Office of Science, fosters collaboration between Sandia and other institutions.
Physicists at Sandia National Laboratories' Z machine found that an astronomical model underestimates the energy blockage caused by free-floating iron atoms. The experimental opacity measurements can help resolve a major discrepancy in how the Standard Solar Model uses the sun's composition to predict star behavior.
The HOT SHOT program has revealed a way to improve tests, providing an earlier indicator of technology success and saving taxpayer money. The analysis of sounding rocket data has produced more complete vibration pictures, used to create accurate simulations and ground tests.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories are exploring the use of dragonfly-inspired computing to develop faster and lighter missile defense systems. By mimicking the brain's ability to process visual information, they aim to improve intercept techniques for maneuvering targets such as hypersonic weapons.
The new software can simulate a year's worth of grid interactions in under five minutes, making it easier for utility companies to install rooftop solar panels. This is faster than previous models that took days or even weeks to run a single scenario.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have discovered a new avenue for understanding and controlling combustion processes, which will ultimately lead to cleaner engines. By analyzing a massive dataset of flames and fuels, the team identified correlations among chemical intermediates that play a role in pollutant formation.
Scientists at Sandia National Laboratories discovered a triple junction formed by cementite and ferrite grains as the root cause of unpredictable corrosion in steel pipes. This finding could lead to new methods for forging pipe with reduced nanostructures, minimizing corrosion vulnerability.
A new software tool, Whetstone, sharpens artificial neurons, enabling neural computer networks to process information up to 100 times more efficiently than current industry standards. The tool is expected to increase AI penetration in mobile phones, self-driving cars, and automated image interpretation.
Warren Davis, Quincy Johnson, and Olivia Underwood were honored for their work in machine learning, production engineering, and promoting diversity in STEM. They received awards at the BEYA STEM Global Competitiveness Conference for their contributions to national security and research.
Researchers suggest engineered light can regulate human health and productivity by eliciting hormonal responses, while tailored LED wavelengths stimulate plant growth and increase nutritional value. The broader integration of LEDs with technology holds potential for significant societal value beyond energy savings.
Sandia National Laboratories has launched four new projects to advance quantum computing, including a 'testbed' for industrial and academic researchers. The projects focus on creating accessible components, high-level algorithms and tools to measure quantum hardware performance.
The new technique uses larger amounts of interstitial fluid to analyze electrolyte levels and diagnose diseases. It has the potential to predict disease onset more quickly than current methods.
A 'friendly' EMP generator has been used to test various electronic devices, including military equipment and civilian products, for their ability to withstand an electromagnetic pulse. Preliminary results show that some devices can be protected with additional shielding.
Researchers have solved the long-standing mystery of soot formation, revealing that resonance-stabilized radicals play a key role in its creation. This breakthrough could help reduce soot's detrimental effects on human health and the environment.
A team of researchers discovered a new major source of formic acid over the Pacific and Indian oceans by exploiting non-equilibrium conditions. This breakthrough sheds light on current scientific understanding of hydrocarbon degradation in the atmosphere.
Using computer modeling, researchers have teased out the details of how an antibiotic pump works, revealing its 'lock' and mechanism. This breakthrough aims to develop new drugs that can plug the pump, potentially restoring antibiotics' effectiveness.
Sandia National Laboratories engineers a platinum-gold alloy that surpasses diamond and sapphire in wear resistance, making it ideal for high-friction applications. The new alloy could save the electronics industry over $100 million annually by reducing material costs and improving durability.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed large supercrystals that can detect chemicals with improved sensitivity, like a dog's nose. The cost-effective sensors use only 0.012 grams of gold, making them a promising technology for security applications.
Sandia National Laboratories has built a scaled test assembly to mimic a dry cask storage container for spent nuclear fuel. The team is providing new data on how fuel temperatures change during storage and affect the integrity of the metal cladding surrounding the spent fuel.
Researchers from Sandia National Laboratories have developed a tiny silicon-based device that can harness waste heat and turn it into DC power. The device, called an infrared rectenna, has the potential to power compact devices in space missions and hybrid cars.
Researchers equip a US bridge with sensors that can detect cracks and alert maintenance engineers, increasing supervision of critical areas and extending structure lifetimes. The system uses Comparative Vacuum Monitoring sensors that can detect tiny cracks smaller than the thickness of a dime.
A zero-emissions marine research vessel, nicknamed the Zero-V, is technically and economically feasible to build using hydrogen fuel cells. The project aims to reduce air and ocean pollution while providing a stable platform for scientists to conduct research in sensitive ecological areas.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed a tiny synthetic material that can mix two laser pulses to produce 11 new colors, offering potential applications in fields such as archaeology, extraterrestrial life detection, and fiber-optics communication. The metamaterial's efficiency is currently low, but further work aim...
The Sandia National Laboratories' solar tower facility is conducting a year-round test of the thermal response of various materials to intense heat and cooling. Researchers are using this setup to evaluate material durability for the Air Force, with the goal of establishing material response thresholds after exposure.
Researchers analyzed historical hurricane scenarios to model potential grid disruptions and identified clusters of businesses and community resources that could be outfitted with microgrids to improve resilience. Microgrids, also known as resilience nodes, enable enhanced adaptation and response to electric grid disruptions.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories are working on a project to refine a specific type of utility-scale solar energy technology that can supply renewable energy without batteries for storage. The goal is to reach temperatures greater than 700 C, which would boost efficiency and lower electricity costs.
Sandia National Laboratories scientists have engineered E. coli to efficiently convert tough plant matter called lignin into valuable platform chemicals. This breakthrough solves three problems: cost, toxicity and speed, paving the way for economically viable biofuel production from renewable sources.
A Sandia study found that shared fates and experiences in a community can help it withstand changes to water availability due to climate change. The social fabric of the community, or sense of cohesion, is a crucial factor contributing to its resilience.
A biologically inspired membrane, called memzyme, can capture 90% of carbon dioxide from coal-fired power plants with a low cost of $40 per ton. The membrane uses an enzyme to rapidly and selectively dissolve carbon dioxide molecules.
The Sandia transport triathlon tested the safe transportation of spent nuclear fuel by combining data from three modes of transportation: truck, ship, and train. The test yielded valuable insights into the stresses experienced by fuel rods during routine handling and transportation.
A new smart grid system has been developed to reduce inter-area oscillations on the western power grid, allowing for more power to be transmitted while maintaining stability. The system uses real-time data from sensors placed throughout the grid to counteract oscillations, enabling utilities to save costs and improve efficiency.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories identified major obstacles to advancing solid-state lithium-ion battery performance, focusing on the flow of lithium ions across battery interfaces. By improving the interfaces between materials, they aim to make solid-state batteries more efficient and reduce traffic jams in small electronics.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories and University of California Merced developed a new catalyst that uses molybdenum disulfide to increase surface area and handle higher temperatures than platinum. The innovative design allows for more efficient hydrogen production, reducing the cost of fuel cells.
The HADES system creates a simulated environment that alters certain data points, leading hackers to doubt the authenticity of the information. This allows researchers to gather actionable intelligence and detect malware more effectively.
Researchers have demonstrated two new routes to lignin conversion, combining the speed of chemical methods with the precision of biological ones. The process yields high-value chemicals like muconic acid and pyrogallol, valued at $255.7 billion, and has the potential to subsidize biofuel production.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed an optical diagnostic that can quantify the formation of soot in combusting fuel sprays, enabling engine developers to design advanced combustion strategies for cleaner engines. The device uses a custom engineered diffuser to emit light rays with the same brightness over a spec...
Sandia engineers have designed a control system that doubles the power absorbed by wave energy converters, making electricity produced from wave energy less expensive. The team applied robotics and aerospace engineering design principles to refine how a wave energy converter moves and responds in the ocean.
Sandia National Laboratories engineers developed new fractal-like receivers that are 20% more efficient at absorbing sunlight without special coatings. The designs can be used in small-scale concentrating solar facilities and have potential applications in India's renewable energy market.
Researchers discovered novel behavior of cool flames in diesel combustion, accelerating ignition kernel formation and improving engine design efficiency. The study used Direct Numerical Simulations to resolve all turbulence scales and has the potential to optimize engine design for cleaner burning engines.
Sandia researchers focus on decontamination foam development and sampling methods to determine contamination extent. The Underground Transport Restoration project explores subway system cleaning protocols and testing new decontamination methods in a mock system.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed a new optical switch that can turn light on and off at trillionths of a second, enabling faster information processing. The breakthrough could also be used in biological imaging and chemical spectroscopy.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have challenged long-standing theories on black holes using hands-on experiments at the Z machine. The study found that certain ionization stages of iron are not present in a black hole's accretion disk, contradicting previous assumptions.
Researchers explore optimal vessel design, speed and passenger capacity to reduce uncertainty in the industry. The study aims to provide technical evidence to support new safety codes for hydrogen fuel-cell vessels.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed computationally efficient methods to approximate potential energy surfaces, allowing for the detailed study of complex hydrocarbon molecules. The technique speeds up quantum mechanical computations by exploiting the low-rank structure of potential energy surfaces.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have made a breakthrough in converting lignin, plant waste from biofuel production, into useful products like renewable plastics and fabrics. The discovery of LigM enzyme has opened a path toward new molecules and marketable products, potentially making biofuels competitive with petroleum.
Research from Sandia National Laboratories shows that brain stimulation combined with working memory training improves cognitive performance. Volunteers who received non-invasive brain stimulation while training showed significant improvements in verbal and spatial tasks, as well as problem-solving ability.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed a new technology that mimics imprint processes used in industrial manufacturing, creating nanowire-array structures similar to those found in touch-screens for sensors, computers, phones, and TVs. The pressure-based fabrication process is faster and more environmentally friendl...
Researchers developed a model to predict the limits of friction behavior in metals based on materials properties. The discovery has significant implications for industries such as wind turbines and electric vehicles, enabling engineers to design and optimize materials for better performance.