Chemical Explosion Experiments to Improve Nuclear Test Monitoring [Developing a New Paradigm for Nuclear Test Monitoring with the Source Physics Experiments (SPE)]

Journal Article · Tue Jul 02 00:00:00 EDT 2013 · EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/2013EO270002· OSTI ID:1237530

Snelson, Catherine M. ^[1]; Abbott, Robert E. ^[1]; Broome, Scott T. ^[1]; Mellors, Robert J. ^[1]; Patton, Howard J. ^[1]; Sussman, Aviva J. ^[1]; Townsend, Margaret J. ^[1]; Walter, William R. ^[1]

---

1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

A series of chemical explosions, called the Source Physics Experiments (SPE), is being conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to develop a new more physics-based paradigm for nuclear test monitoring. Currently, monitoring relies on semi-empirical models to discriminate explosions from earthquakes and to estimate key parameters such as yield. While these models have been highly successful monitoring established test sites, there is concern that future tests could occur in media and at scale depths of burial outside of our empirical experience. This is highlighted by North Korean tests, which exhibit poor performance of a reliable discriminant, mb:Ms (Selby et al., 2012), possibly due to source emplacement and differences in seismic responses for nascent and established test sites. The goal of SPE is to replace these semi-empirical relationships with numerical techniques grounded in a physical basis and thus applicable to any geologic setting or depth.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); Nevada Test Site/National Security Technologies, LLC, Las Vegas, NV (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC52-06NA25946; AC52-07NA27344
• OSTI ID: 1237530
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1249311
• Report Number(s): DOE/NV/25946--1726; LLNL-JRNL--637717
• Journal Information: EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union, Journal Name: EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union Journal Issue: 27 Vol. 94; ISSN 0096-3941
• Publisher: American Geophysical Union (AGS)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
58 GEOSCIENCES
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
seismic
source physics experiment