Trident

Want to Play?

Trident is ideal for exploring—on a smaller but scientifically useful scale—proton acceleration; laser-plasma interactions (see "Going for the Gold" in Learn more sidebar); small, intense pulsed x-ray sources; and other concepts useful to X-Gamers, says Montgomery. Although larger facilities have more than enough power to pursue such studies, they lack Trident's beam quality and flexibility, which allow Trident to perform some high-energy-density physics experiments not presently possible at larger facilities. Larger facilities are also much more expensive to use. So it's productive and cost effective to explore interesting possibilities at Trident, even if the work eventually moves to another facility.

Trident is no secret in the scientific community. Researchers from around the world bring their experiments to the Los Alamos facility to take advantage of its quality and versatility, the hands-on research that can done there, and the opportunity to interact with Trident's resident scientists. This past summer, 27 proposals were received for access to Trident beam time during the first half of 2009, and more proposals were submitted in October.

So, if you're thinking about the X-Games, David Montgomery could be the guy to call.