FACILITIES, CENTERS AND INSTITUTES

Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory

The Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory (AML) facilitates partnerships between LLNL, industry and academia to address manufacturing challenges across a range of commercial and government projects. 

Sophisticated manufacturing equipment, unparalleled modeling and simulation capabilities using high-performance computing, unique materials, lasers and optics are all also part of the AML capability base. Our collaborators can utilize these specialized resources to accelerate market-driven innovation and reduce production costs and time while contributing outside expertise towards mission-relevant projects at the Laboratory. 

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Aerosol Inhalation Research Laboratory

The Aerosol Inhalation Research Laboratory (AIRLAB) at LLNL is a state-of-the-art facility used to analyze how airborne substances can harm human health. In the facility’s controlled environment, researchers study inhalation exposure to chemicals and environmental pollutants in small animal models. In addition, they study inhalable treatments for acute pulmonary conditions, as well as aerosol drug delivery options that might allow smaller doses than oral medications, reducing off-target side effects.

Center for Micro- and Nanotechnology

The Center for Micro- and Nanotechnology (CMNT) supports programs at LLNL with unique hardware and process solutions including MEMS sensors, ultrawide bandgap semiconductor devices, quantum computing, human implantable devices, CBRN threat detection, optical coatings, laser technologies and advanced packaging.

Our sophisticated engineering toolkit facilitates material research and fieldable devices at extreme length scales. Our facility includes a clean room, characterization and biosafety labs and tools for device fabrication (meso, micro and nano scale). We offer characterization to support research areas including: microelectromechanical systems, photonics, lasers, quantum computing and bio-implantables.

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Contained Firing Facility

The Contained Firing Facility (CFF) at Site 300 is the DOE Complex’s largest indoor firing facility, handling large-scale, non-nuclear experiments with full containment of hazardous materials. Hydrodynamic experiments within CFF offer insights into the behavior of nuclear weapon components and effectiveness of new explosives formulations, enabling certification of the nuclear stockpile in the absence of underground testing. Test materials are detonated to create intense shock waves in which materials act as a liquid for fractions of a second. Unique diagnostics such as LLNL’s flash x-ray record and compare experimental results with computational data to support nuclear weapons and explosives research and development.

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Electron Beam Ion Trap Facility

In the 1980s, scientists at LLNL and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab invented the electron beam ion trap (EBIT) — a device that produces and traps highly charged ions. Today, LLNL’s EBIT-I and SuperEBIT devices are used to produce all astrophysically relevant ions between He+ and Ni28+, as well as highly charged lanthanides and actinides. The facility is home to a suite of x-ray and UV diagnostics, including high-resolution crystal and quantum calorimeter spectrometers used to measure photon emission with energies from below 100 eV to above 100 keV. The EBITs are also used to measure atomic structure; for research in laboratory and x-ray astrophysics and solar and planetary physics; and for diagnostic development.

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Forensic Science Center

The Forensic Science Center (FSC) is home to nationally recognized scientists and capabilities to prepare for, characterize and respond to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive threats. Our scientists analyze real-world samples, conduct research and development and provide radiological assistance every day, around the clock. Our findings and analysis support intelligence communities, law enforcement, homeland security and health professionals. As one of two U.S. labs internationally certified by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to handle chemical-warfare agents in environmental samples, the FSC is critical to global efforts to eradicate chemical weapons.

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High Explosives Applications Facility

The High Explosives Applications Facility (HEAF) integrates the operations of synthesis, formulation and testing of explosive materials in a single, synergistic facility. Expertise in high explosives is vital to national security in areas such as nuclear deterrence and homeland security. At HEAF, LLNL’s computational models and codes couple with experimental capabilities to develop new energetic molecules, support experimental designs and study material behavior and performance. HEAF is designated as an NNSA Center of Excellence for High Explosives, providing foundational capabilities including additive manufacturing.

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Jupiter Laser Facility

The Jupiter Laser Facility (JLF) delivers leading-edge science and supports the high energy density science research community with access to high-energy and high-power laser platforms. We provide extensive experimental flexibility in single-shot configurations while allowing direct user operation of experiments and diagnostic tools. Users can also leverage JLF’s capabilities to test and develop novel experimental techniques. Our capabilities exceed those typically available at universities, providing an ideal training environment for students and early career investigators. JLF is part of the Department of Energy’s LaserNetUS consortium, which fosters researcher access to U.S.-based high-intensity lasers.

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Livermore Computing Complex

World-class supercomputers, a robust software ecosystem and 24/7 operations make Livermore Computing Complex (LCC) one of the world’s dominant high-performance computing (HPC) centers. LCC is key to the Laboratory’s stockpile stewardship mission, helping to ensure the safety, reliability and effectiveness of the nation’s nuclear weapons. Our Multiprogrammatic and Institutional Computing program operates advanced HPC systems for unclassified science and runs the Grand Challenge Program that pushes scientific and computational limits.

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Manufacturing Complex

The Manufacturing Complex measures 114,000 square feet of manufacturing capabilities, which include precision machining, metal and polymer additive manufacturing, sheet metal, welding, heat treat and inspection, to name a few. Located inside the complex is Main Bay, a 32,000-square-foot high bay space that provides mid- to large-scale machining, heat treatment and inspection expertise. These capabilities are integral in supporting Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration national security and stockpile stewardship missions.

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National Atmospheric Release Advisory Center

The National Atmospheric Release Advisory Center (NARAC) helps emergency managers plan and respond to incidents involving the accidental or intentional release of hazardous radiological, chemical, biological or nuclear material into the atmosphere. Our experts and users leverage sophisticated modeling tools to predict how a release will evolve, where the plume will travel and what human exposure levels may occur, providing guidance to protect the public and environment. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, NARAC can respond to events anywhere in the world. We serve thousands of users at U.S. agencies and international organizations, including emergency response teams and operations centers.

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National Ignition Facility

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) is the world’s largest and highest-energy laser system. NIF can deliver more than 2 million joules of ultraviolet energy and 500 trillion watts of peak power to a target the size of a pencil eraser, generating temperatures of more than 180 million degrees Fahrenheit and pressures of more than 100 billion Earth atmospheres. These extreme conditions cause hydrogen atoms in the target to fuse and release energy in a controlled thermonuclear reaction. Our unique energy and power enable cutting-edge research to help keep the U.S. stockpile safe and secure, explore new frontiers of science and lay the groundwork for a clean, sustainable source of energy.

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Optical Fabrication and Processing

LLNL is a pioneer in developing advanced optics finishing, coating, damage mitigation and recycling technologies to provide laser damage-resistant optics for high-energy laser systems, such as the National Ignition Facility. The Laboratory’s patented Advanced Mitigation Process protects the optics by removing impurities and absorbing microfractures. The Materials for Laser Systems group develops and qualifies new materials and new materials processing and characterization techniques. In addition, LLNL develops next-generation diffractive optics, advanced laser crystals, fiber lasers, polymer materials, additively manufactured optics and transparent ceramics.

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Polymer Enclave

The Polymer Enclave (PE) accelerates the design-to-deployment of additively manufactured weapon components critical to modernizing the U.S. nuclear stockpile.

Fostering a collaborative environment by bringing together material scientists and engineers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Kansas City National Security Campus and other nuclear security enterprise partners, the polymer enclave houses state-of-the-art additive manufacturing machines and resources for staff to work side-by-side at every stage of the weapon component design and product realization process — enabling the rapid development of new materials and technologies.

Select Agent Center

LLNL scientists support the Select Agent Center’s (SAC’s) research aims by advancing our understanding of infectious diseases that are caused by biothreat, endemic and pandemic pathogens — which facilitates improved detection capabilities and development of novel therapeutics and vaccines. The Center’s Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3/ABSL-3) labs are the only BSL-3 containment facilities in the U.S. Department of Energy national lab complex. These facilities, along with LLNL’s research teams, continue to play a key role in the Laboratory’s response to COVID-19.

Site 300

In the foothills 15 miles southeast of the main LLNL site, Livermore’s Experimental Test Site, known as Site 300, houses specialized facilities where, in support of national programs, our researchers can safely fabricate and test high explosives components and prototype assemblies in both destructive and non-destructive tests. We conduct hydrodynamic testing using high explosives to assess the performance of nonnuclear weapon components, with the aid of advanced diagnostics such as high-speed optics and x-ray radiography. The knowledge and data from these hydrodynamic tests are essential for LLNL to continue to refine the computational models used to simulate nuclear weapon performance.

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Skyfall

Skyfall is a cyber–physical hardware-in-the-loop test bed that connects real equipment with high-performance computers (HPC) to enable co-simulation of complex systems at scale, such as a power grid or natural gas pipeline, to analyze the impacts of natural hazards and cyber-attacks and to increase resiliency. The facility is configured as a full-power substation that behaves as if connected to an actual power system. Using LLNL’s HPC capabilities, Skyfall processes complex models and analyzes many scenarios, providing a realistic view of how attacks propagate, the physical effects of attacks, indicators of compromise and the effectiveness of mitigation efforts.

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