TL: US WEAPONS LABORATORIES BRIEFING PAPER
SO: Josh Handler, Greenpeace International, (GP)
DT: March, 1996
Keywords: environment nuclear weapons military testing
agreements politics conferences us /


Briefing on:  Existing and Planned
U.S. Stockpile Stewardship Facilities
for Hydrodynamic and Laboratory Testing
of Nuclear Weapons and Components

Greenpeace
March 1996


Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)
     Atlas Facility:  For the development of predictive
capabilities related to aging and performance of weapon
secondaries.  Also hydrodynamic and other experiments related
to weapon primaries.  Status:  Proposed.
     Dual Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test Facility
(DARHT):  Two accelerator halls will provide two perpendicular
lines-of-sight for simultaneous double radiographic images
enabling 3-D diagnostic of simulated weapon primaries.  It
will replace the PHERMEX facility.  Status:  Total cost will
be some $120 million of which some $46 has been spent.  The
shell of the building has been built, but further construction
is on hold pending an environmental lawsuit filed the  Los
Alamos Study Group and Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety.
     Pegasus II Facility:  A large capacitor bank that is used
for electromagnetic implosions.  Atlas will replace this
facility.
     Pulsed High-Energy Radiation Machine Emitting X-Rays
Facility (PHERMEX):  Radio-frequency accelerator for high-
speed radiography of weapon primaries.  It will be phased out
when DARHT comes on line.  Status:  In operation since 1963.


Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
     Contained Firing Facility (CFF):  For containment of
hydrodynamic tests to improve quality of diagnostic testing
data through improved experimental control of weapon
primaries.  It will augment and upgrade the FXR.  Status: 
Proposed.
     Flash X-Ray (FXR):  Has linear induction accelerator
technology for high-speed radiography of weapon primaries.  It
will be augmented by the CFF.  Status:  Operational since
1983.      Nova Facility:  Contains the largest glass laser in
the world.  Studies X-ray driven implosions, fusion ignition,
and simulated weapons effects.  For study of weapon
secondaries.   Status:  Existing.

Nevada Test Site (NTS)
     Big Explosion Experimental Facility (BEEF):  For
hydrodynamic motions in high explosive explosions of weapon
primaries.  Status:  Almost operational.
     Low-Yield Nuclear Experimental Research (LYNER):  An
underground low-yield and high explosives test facility.  No
longer used for low-yield explosions per President Clinton's
agreement to support a 0-yield CTBT.  The last low-yield
nuclear test was conducted here in September 1990.  A "non-
nuclear" high explosive experiment was conducted on 1 March
1995 with 55 pounds of high explosives.  The six planned
underground U.S. sub-critical tests (one each in June and
September 1996 and four more in 1997) are to take place here. 
Status:  Used since 1968.

Sandia National Laboratory (SNL)
     PBFA (Particle Beam Fusion Accelerator):  Determine
effects from radiation on nuclear weapons.  Status: 
Operational.      SATURN:  A particle accelerator.  Used to
determine effects from radiation on nuclear weapons.  Status: 
Operational.


Additional Planned or Next Generation Facilities

     Advanced Hydrotest Facility (AHF):  A radiographic
hydrodynamic test facility with multiple pulse and view
diagnostic capability for weapons primaries.  Status: 
Envisioned.
     Advanced Radiation Source (ARS (X-1)):  Advanced pulse-
power X-ray sources for enhanced weapons physics and effects
experimental capabilities.  Status:  Envisioned.  Probably to
be located at  SNL.
     High Explosive Pulsed Power Facility (HEPPF):  Enhanced
capabilities to study secondary physics at shock pressures and
velocities approaching those of actual weapons conditions. 
Status:   Envisioned.
     Jupiter Facility:  Advanced pulse-power X-ray sources for
enhanced weapons physics and effects experimental
capabilities. Considered next generation facility beyond ARS
(X-1).  Status:  Envisioned.
     National Ignition Facility (NIF):  For laboratory study
of radiation physics close to temperature and pressure in
thermonuclear detonation.  Status:  Proposed.