Explosive Applications & Special Projects

Explosives Applications and Special Projects, DE-6 serves the Laboratory and nation by providing the knowledge base in high explosives (HE) testing for the Nuclear Weapons Program and other national security areas. Physics research is conducted in the initiation of energetic materials through mechanical, thermal, and electromagnetic mechanisms, including HE-driven pulsed-power, non-shock initiation of HE, special energetic materials, and special security projects. The group is responsible for all division open-air firing sites. Utilizing high-explosive, pulsed-power capability, employing extremely high pulsed-magnetic fields, we conduct high-velocity liner impact studies, isentropic compression of metals, and X-ray simulations.