Contained Firing Facility
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Contained Firing Facility (CFF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's Site 300 is an indoor testing facility where large-scale experiments involving high explosives are conducted in a controlled environment. These experiments help in understanding the dynamics of nuclear weapons components without the need for actual nuclear detonations, aiding in stockpile stewardship.
Mission
The mission of the CFF is to provide a safe and controlled environment for high-explosive experiments that contribute to the scientific understanding of nuclear weapon dynamics, material behavior under extreme conditions, and the validation of computer models used in stockpile stewardship. This helps in ensuring the safety, security, and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile without the need for underground nuclear testing, in compliance with international treaties.[1]
Parent organization
The Contained Firing Facility is part of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), which is managed by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). LLNL conducts research and development in support of national security, especially in areas of nuclear science.[2]
Legislation
The facility operates under the broader legislative and regulatory framework that governs the activities of the National Nuclear Security Administration, particularly related to the maintenance of nuclear weapons without testing.
Partners
- National Nuclear Security Administration for overarching management and policy
- Other national laboratories for collaborative research in nuclear science
Number of employees
Specific employee numbers dedicated solely to the CFF are not publicly disclosed, but it operates with staff from LLNL's broader research community.
Organization structure
The CFF is one of several facilities within Site 300, specifically tailored for contained explosive experiments:
Leader
The operations at CFF are managed by various LLNL project leaders and scientists specializing in high-explosive research.
Divisions
- High-Explosives Applications Facility for smaller-scale experiments
- Site 300 for broader explosive and hydrodynamic testing capabilities
List of programs
- High-Explosive Material Testing
- Hydrodynamic Experiments for Nuclear Stockpile Stewardship
Last total enacted budget
Budget specifics for the CFF are not publicly itemized but are part of the broader LLNL budget under the NNSA.
Staff
The facility benefits from LLNL's pool of scientists, engineers, and technicians, though exact numbers working at CFF are not specified.
Funding
Funding for the CFF comes from the NNSA's budget allocated to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for research and development in national security.
Services provided
CFF provides a platform for conducting experiments with high explosives in a contained environment, which includes flash radiography, laser velocimetry, and high-speed optical diagnostics to study the behavior of materials under explosive conditions.[3]
Regulations overseen
The CFF does not oversee regulations but operates under strict safety, security, and environmental regulations set by the Department of Energy and other federal agencies.
Headquarters address
Site 300, 15 miles east of Livermore, California, USA
History
The Contained Firing Facility was developed to support the U.S. nuclear weapons program by providing a means to study explosive dynamics in a controlled setting. It helps in maintaining the nuclear stockpile's reliability without conducting full-scale nuclear tests, reflecting the shift to sub-critical experiments after the U.S. nuclear testing moratorium.
External links
References
- ↑ Department of Energy. "Meet a Machine: Explosive science is booming at Livermore Lab's Contained Firing Facility". Department of Energy, https://www.energy.gov/articles/meet-machine-explosive-science-booming-livermore-labs-contained-firing-facility (accessed February 7, 2025).
- ↑ Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. "About LLNL". Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, https://www.llnl.gov/about (accessed February 7, 2025).
- ↑ Department of Energy. "Meet a Machine: Explosive science is booming at Livermore Lab's Contained Firing Facility". Department of Energy, https://www.energy.gov/articles/meet-machine-explosive-science-booming-livermore-labs-contained-firing-facility (accessed February 7, 2025).