Las Vegas, Nevada – In 2023, an experiment involving a chemical explosion in a Nevada desert tunnel marked the beginning of a series of experiments conducted by the National Nuclear Security Administration. The aim of these experiments is to enhance the detection capabilities of low-yield nuclear explosions worldwide.
Physics Experiment 1-A (PE1-A) is the initial phase of a sequence of non-nuclear experiments. These experiments involve comparing computer simulations with data acquired from underground explosions and atmospheric experiments, such as high-resolution seismic, tracer gas, acoustic, and electromagnetic data. Stephen Myers, a researcher from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, presented these findings at the Seismological Society of America’s 2024 Annual Meeting.
The explosion that occurred on October 18th, equivalent to 16.3 tons of TNT, took place in Aqueduct Mesa “P Tunnel” at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). Various measurements, including seismic, acoustic, and electromagnetic waves, were captured near the explosion site and through regional seismic networks. Gas tracers and chemical byproducts released into the cavity and boreholes were also monitored, with seismic signals being detected up to 250 kilometers away from the blast.
The goal of these experiments is to advance the monitoring of nuclear explosions and further understand the generation of seismic waves by these events. The PE1 program is the latest research initiative at the NNSS, known for its history of atmospheric and underground nuclear tests. The seven upcoming experiments under PE1 will involve additional underground chemical explosions under various conditions, as well as atmospheric experiments to track gas transport from these explosions.
The project will make use of a large electromagnetic coil to generate pulses of electromagnetic energy within the tunnel, allowing researchers to measure the impact of the signal traveling through the earth. By conducting a series of experiments, the team aims to piece together all the signals generated by a nuclear explosion and validate their physics codes used for simulations. Advanced high-performance computing has enabled more realistic and complex explosion simulations, with the data from these experiments crucial in verifying the accuracy of these models.