Inside the manufacturing issue

Welcome to the winter issue of National Security Science, in which I am excited to introduce a focus on manufacturing science at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Manufacturing at Los Alamos plays a vital role in ensuring our nation’s security, combining cutting-edge research with precision engineering to produce some of the most advanced technologies in the world.

Throughout this issue we explore how the Laboratory leads the way in several key areas of this rapidly evolving field—and the people behind that work, each contributing to our mission to safeguard the nation.

Staff in the Lab’s Sigma Complex, a manufacturing science cornerstone of the nuclear security enterprise, continue to be at the forefront of materials engineering in support of national security needs. Here, learn more about the innovative parts and processes developed at Sigma, including a direct casting method developed in partnership with the Y-12 National Security Complex.

Similarly, the work being done by dedicated polymer researchers across the Lab reflects our commitment to advancing materials research to meet modern challenges. Read more about how Los Alamos scientists work with experts at the Kansas City National Security Campus to develop polymers that can be produced in large quantities.

This issue also highlights our efforts in low-enriched fuel fabrication, a crucial aspect of ensuring the future of nuclear energy in a way that aligns with global nonproliferation goals, and our efforts in isotope production, which not only serve national security interests but also have far-reaching applications in medicine and industry.

I encourage you to explore the article on pit production, which discusses the challenges and triumphs of producing a key component of the nation’s nuclear stockpile.

 Additionally, the deep dive into our Prototype Fabrication (PF) division showcases how our teams are innovating the production of high-precision parts. Some of those parts—the ones made in PF’s Mark Quality Manufacturing Center—are war-reserve quality, which means they are approved for use in nuclear weapons.

Finally, explore how high explosives are synthesized and, in some cases, even 3D printed in support of national security. One of our explosive chemists also shares her perspective on risk assessment—in everything from swimming with sharks to eating raw cookie dough. 

Having spent much of my career in the Lab’s Materials Science and Technology division, I have seen firsthand the impact of advanced manufacturing on our ability to meet the nation’s security challenges. The work we do at Los Alamos National Laboratory is not just about producing materials—it’s about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, creating solutions that will shape the future.

I hope this issue inspires you as much as it has inspired us to share the exceptional work happening at the Laboratory. Our continued focus on manufacturing science is a testament to our commitment to innovation, security, and progress.

Enjoy the read. ★

Ellen Cerreta has been the associate Laboratory director for Physical Sciences since 2022. She is responsible for overseeing the development and application of a broad set of capabilities in materials science and experimental physics to programs and problems of national importance, including through the stewardship and advancement of the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) and the Sigma Complex. 

Cerreta holds a bachelor’s of science in aerospace engineering from the University of Virginia and master’s and doctoral degrees in materials science and engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. She joined the Lab in 2001 as a postdoctoral fellow in the Structure-Property Relations group.