Chicago/DOE Alliance Center

Stored: Chicago/DOE Alliance Center

Chicago/DOE Alliance Center

Type	Program
Sponsor Organization	University of Illinois Chicago
Top Organization	Department of Energy
Creation Legislation	Not specified; part of broader research initiatives
Website	Website
Purpose	Chicago/DOE Alliance Center studies materials under extreme pressure and heat for nuclear stewardship, aiming to advance research and train new scientists.
Program Start	2002
Initial Funding	$8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Duration	Ongoing; updated funding in 2020
Historic	No

The Chicago/DOE Alliance Center – A Center of Excellence for Materials at Extremes (CDAC) at UIC is dedicated to advancing the understanding of materials under extreme conditions like high pressure and temperature, relevant to the NNSA's nuclear weapons stewardship. It conducts research on material properties, develops new high-pressure experimental techniques, and trains future scientists in these areas, fostering collaboration between academic institutions and NNSA laboratories.

Official Site

Goals

• Explore material properties under extreme conditions to support the stockpile stewardship mission.
• Develop and refine high-pressure and high-temperature experimental techniques.
• Train and educate the next generation of scientists in materials science under extreme conditions.
• Facilitate collaboration between academia and NNSA labs to advance high-pressure science.

Organization

CDAC is led by Dr. Russell Hemley, a distinguished chair in the natural sciences at UIC, serving as the center's director. The center operates within UIC's Department of Physics, with a governance structure that includes a steering committee and involves multiple researchers. Funding comes from the NNSA through the Stewardship Science Academic Alliances (SSAA) program, with UIC as the primary institution, alongside collaborations with other universities.

Partners

• University of Illinois Chicago
• Michigan State University
• Northwestern University
• University of Buffalo
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• University of Tennessee
• University of Utah

History

CDAC was established in 2002 with an initial grant from the NNSA to study materials under extreme conditions. Since then, it has been instrumental in advancing high-pressure science, contributing to the understanding of materials relevant to nuclear security. In 2020, UIC received an additional $8 million to continue leading this center, highlighting its significance and the ongoing need for such research.

Funding

The program started with an $8 million grant in 2002 from the NNSA and was awarded another $8 million in 2020, indicating continued support for its mission. Funding supports research projects, student training, and the development of high-pressure facilities and techniques.

Implementation

Implementation involves conducting experiments at high-pressure facilities, including those at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory, and theoretical research. CDAC also hosts workshops, supports graduate student research, and publishes findings relevant to the stewardship science community. There's no defined end date, as the center continues to be a key part of NNSA's academic partnerships.

Related

• National Nuclear Security Administration
• Stewardship Science Academic Alliances

External links

• https://cdac.phys.uic.edu/
• No specific Wikipedia article for CDAC; general information on UIC can be found at wikipedia:University of Illinois Chicago

Social media

• There are no specific social media accounts for CDAC; updates can be found through UIC's social media.