Current Schedule

Speaker = Dr. Mandie Gehring of Los Alamos National Lab

Host = Jaideep Taggart Singh singhj@frib.msu.edu

When = 2025-03-27 Thursday 15:30 (PA colloquium time slot)

Where = BPS 1415

Please feel free to sign up below, but note that some slots may need to be re-assigned to accommodate those with a specific need to meet the speaker. If this happens, the Admin or Speaker Host will reach out to you via email.

Wednesday March 26

Thursday March 27

Title = Measuring Intense X-ray Spectra and an Overview of Space Research at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Abstract

Los Alamos National Laboratory is famous for designing the atomic bombs used at the end of World War II in 1945. Post-war, many further advancements were made in the development of nuclear weapons, and treaty verification also became an important pillar in the lab’s mission. In this talk, I’ll discuss the evolution of LANL’s work through the decades on space-based nuclear explosion detection. In addition, x-ray radiography is employed at LANL for both dynamic and static imaging. Knowledge of the x-ray energy spectrum produced by both flash and continuous sources aids in reconstructing the density of the probed objects and in assessing machine performance. Compton spectrometers are one option for conducting spectral measurements. In this technique, x-rays impinge on a converter foil from which Compton electrons are ejected. The electrons enter the magnetic field region of the spectrometer, and the electron momentum is proportional to position on the focal plane. From the electron signal, the x-ray energy spectrum can be determined. Several continuous and flash x-ray sources have been measured, and a sample of these results will be presented.

Relevant background with commentary from Speaker:

• PhD MSU 2013 Development of the "ion surfing" method for thermal ion transport in buffer gas