Capabilities

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) - A readily fieldable, real-time elemental analysis method with numerous applications. LIBS includes both field-deployable and person-portable instruments for carbon measurement for terrestrial carbon sequestration programs. NASA has also selected LIBS to be the first active remote sensing diagnostic on a Mars Rover scheduled to launch in 2009. Investigations are ongoing for the use of LIBS for chemical speciation. We have received four R&D 100 Awards for LIBS instrumentation.

Energetic Neutral Atom Beam Facility - This unique source of energetic neutral atoms is used for specialized surface chemistry. The system produces neutral atoms with kinetic energy that promotes chemistry at ambient temperatures unattainable with other techniques. Applications include surface passivation and truly unusual nanoscale fabrication.

Metastable Intermolecular Composite (MIC) Materials - Nanoscale energetic materials (superthermites) with tunable energy release were discovered and developed in C-ADI and have generated considerable interest in the DoD community. The applications include “green” primer replacement in munitions, electric matches, and modifying the properties of high explosives.

Separations Using Clathrates - Clathrate inclusion compounds are useful for extracting specific gases and liquids out of other fluids at elevated pressures. Separation processes are being developed to capture carbon dioxide from shifted synthesis gas streams and flue gases for the purpose of carbon sequestration. High melting point clathrate crystals, with high-water content, are being designed for water desalination purposes. 

Vulnerability Assessment Team - A variety of activities centered on defining vulnerabilities and weaknesses of most security systems including seals, tags, and tamper indicators. Efforts include designing improved security and devising practical countermeasures, and developing novel approaches to monitoring, tamper/intrusion detection, cargo security, and safeguards.
Microprocessor Applications - We develop novel, miniature microprocessor systems primarily for monitoring and security applications, but with many other national security uses.

Transient Interferometric Microscopy - We have developed methods to detect transient surface deformations with 100-ps temporal and 1-nm displacement resolution. The technique is being applied to shock physics by an interdisciplinary and interdivisional team. It has been used to investigate the effects of crystal anisotropy and grain boundaries on shock propagation as well as the study of surface interactions with intense laser pulses, e.g., laser ablation.

Remote Sensing - In collaboration with other Los Alamos groups C-ADI is participating in remote ultra-low light imaging (RULLI). This optical imaging technique combines highly sensitive single-photon imaging with time-of-flight capability, generating high resolution, three-dimensional images.
Plume Monitoring and Physics - Particle sampling and plume imaging are applied to a variety of problems from environmental monitoring of Los Alamos hydrotests to designing bio-threat agent detection.

High Sensitivity Spectrometric Techniques - We are working on very high sensitivity spectrometric methods for analysis of chemical species from small molecules such as CO₂ to transuranics. Much of this work is centered on chemical speciation and isotopic ratios.

Laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy is used to probe the electronic structures of actinide compounds. Marianne Wilkerson aligns the housing containing a neptunium sample

Updated under LALP 05-096