What we do, who we are

We are physicists searching for Dark Matter in the Universe, as well as studying extreme physics at the Nevada National Security Site. The group supports a diverse program that includes scientists of all nationalities; participation in experiments worldwide; sponsorship of workshops and conferences; and classified experiments and analysis. We engage in a wide range of fundamental and applied research in nuclear physics beyond the Standard Model, weapons physics, remote sensing, and fluid dynamics. The common feature is the application of state-of-the-art techniques in particle and light detection and the recording of transient events.

Our people

Our group includes a vibrant postdoctoral and graduate student community working on nuclear physics research; our staff members contribute to Laboratory programs in stockpile stewardship by participating in the design and fielding of subcritical experiments, hydrodynamic experiments, and the reanalysis and archiving of neutron data from past nuclear weapons tests.

Our expertise

Neutron Science and Technology’s fundamental research focuses on nuclear and weak interaction physics searches for Dark Matter in the Universe and Majorana neutrinos and includes cutting-edge high energy physics research of astrophysical phenomena such as ultra-high-energy gamma rays at the new HAWC Observatory.

Our applied research includes

• Hydrodynamic instabilities at extremes, including experiments in Richtmyer-Meshkov instabilities and turbulence at the Shock Tube Facility and at the Proton Radiography facility, and sub-critical experiments measuring damage in plutonium through the use of real-time radiography,       
• Dynamic radiography, including imaging and neutron technologies relevant to the Inertial Confinement Fusion program at the National Ignition Facility, and
• National security science such as applications of remote sensing and nuclear analysis to issues of national defense and industry.