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Title: The characteristic release of noble gases from an underground nuclear explosion

Abstract

Prompt release of gases at the ground surface resulting from explosively propagated vents or large operational releases has typically been considered to be the only mode of transport for detonation gases from an underground nuclear explosion (UNE) giving rise to detectable levels of radioxenon gases in downwind atmospheric samples captured at distances exceeding 100 km. Using a model for thermally and barometrically driven post-detonation transport across the broad surface of a simulated UNE site, we show in conjunction with the results of an atmospheric tracer-release experiment that even deep, well-contained UNEs, without prompt vents or leaks, are potentially detectable tens of kilometers downwind with current technology; distances that are significant for localizing the source of detected atmospheric signals during on-site monitoring or inspection. For a given yield, the bulk permeability of the UNE site and to a lesser extent the depth of detonation appear to be the primary source-term parameters controlling the distance of detection from the detonation point. We propose for test-site bulk permeabilities exceeding 1 darcy (10-12 m2) that broad-area surface fluxes of radioxenon gas exhibit exponential dependence on permeability resulting in order-of-magnitude enhancements of surface flux for changes in permeability of only a darcy. Simulations of subsurfacemore » transport assuming a canonical detonation-depth-versus-nuclear-yield relationship generally resulted in larger atmospheric signals for shallower, lower-yield explosions allowing downwind detection at distances greater than 1000 km. Also, atmospheric simulations suggest that the lowest atmospheric boundary layer heights, such as occur at night, produced concentrations above minimum detectable levels at the greatest distances downwind.« less

Authors:
; ORCiD logo;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
OSTI Identifier:
1481043
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1512637
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-757461
Journal ID: ISSN 0265-931X; S0265931X18306313; PII: S0265931X18306313
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC52-07NA27344
Resource Type:
Published Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity Journal Volume: 196 Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0265-931X
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English
Subject:
58 GEOSCIENCES

Citation Formats

Carrigan, Charles R., Sun, Yunwei, and Simpson, Matthew D. The characteristic release of noble gases from an underground nuclear explosion. United Kingdom: N. p., 2019. Web. doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.10.015.
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Carrigan, Charles R., Sun, Yunwei, & Simpson, Matthew D. The characteristic release of noble gases from an underground nuclear explosion. United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.10.015
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Carrigan, Charles R., Sun, Yunwei, and Simpson, Matthew D. Tue . "The characteristic release of noble gases from an underground nuclear explosion". United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.10.015.
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@article{osti_1481043,
title = {The characteristic release of noble gases from an underground nuclear explosion},
author = {Carrigan, Charles R. and Sun, Yunwei and Simpson, Matthew D.},
abstractNote = {Prompt release of gases at the ground surface resulting from explosively propagated vents or large operational releases has typically been considered to be the only mode of transport for detonation gases from an underground nuclear explosion (UNE) giving rise to detectable levels of radioxenon gases in downwind atmospheric samples captured at distances exceeding 100 km. Using a model for thermally and barometrically driven post-detonation transport across the broad surface of a simulated UNE site, we show in conjunction with the results of an atmospheric tracer-release experiment that even deep, well-contained UNEs, without prompt vents or leaks, are potentially detectable tens of kilometers downwind with current technology; distances that are significant for localizing the source of detected atmospheric signals during on-site monitoring or inspection. For a given yield, the bulk permeability of the UNE site and to a lesser extent the depth of detonation appear to be the primary source-term parameters controlling the distance of detection from the detonation point. We propose for test-site bulk permeabilities exceeding 1 darcy (10-12 m2) that broad-area surface fluxes of radioxenon gas exhibit exponential dependence on permeability resulting in order-of-magnitude enhancements of surface flux for changes in permeability of only a darcy. Simulations of subsurface transport assuming a canonical detonation-depth-versus-nuclear-yield relationship generally resulted in larger atmospheric signals for shallower, lower-yield explosions allowing downwind detection at distances greater than 1000 km. Also, atmospheric simulations suggest that the lowest atmospheric boundary layer heights, such as occur at night, produced concentrations above minimum detectable levels at the greatest distances downwind.},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.10.015},
journal = {Journal of Environmental Radioactivity},
number = C,
volume = 196,
place = {United Kingdom},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2019},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2019}
}
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Journal Article:
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Publisher's Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.10.015
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Cited by: 14 works
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Figures / Tables:

Fig. 1 Fig. 1: Simulations of gas arrival for two different radioxenon isotopes (131m and 133) at the surface through a network of fractures in the days following an underground nuclear explosion. Dashed curve corresponds to the contribution by the thermal drive alone providing a “baseline” for the barometric contribution, which ismore » the highly fluctuating line resulting from atmospheric pressure changes falling within a range of 16 mb. Note that after an initial period of radioxenon loss into porous fracture walls when only the thermal drive contribution exists (i.e., smooth part of curve up to about 10 days), the barometric contribution becomes important. The maximum amplitudes of barometric pressure contributions vary with time and are associated with the amplitudes of the underlying contributions of the thermal drive. Note that the barometric pressure histories assumed in the simulations presented here are characteristic of sites at NNSS and that such histories have a dependence on the geographical location of a test site.« less
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Works referenced in this record:

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    Works referencing / citing this record:

    Coherent microwave scattering from xenon resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization-initiated plasma in air
    journal, February 2020

    • Galea, Christopher A.; Shneider, Mikhail N.; Gragston, Mark
    • Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 127, Issue 5
    • DOI: 10.1063/1.5135316
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