November 20, 2025
- Dr. Steven Demers (Staff Scientist in Nuclear Nonproliferation of Global Security, Savannah River National Laboratory), “Zeolites and Metal Organic Frameworks for Noble Gas Separation”
- Time: 3:00 ~ 4:00 pm (ET)
- Zoom Meeting Link: https://gatech.zoom.us/j/4880925228?omn=98652400800
- Phone Dial-in: +13052241968, 4880925228#
Abstract: Zeolites and metal organic framework (MOF) materials have a variety of uses across numerous industries. These applications include gas separations and carbon capture, analytical detection, drug delivery and diagnostics, environmental remediation, and many others. This year’s Nobel prize in chemistry was awarded to the developers of MOF materials. Presented here will be the utilization of both MOFs and zeolite materials for the separation of noble gases for future incorporation into gas purification systems.
October 23, 2025
- Dr. Viacheslav Aleksandrovich Li (Staff Scientist, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory), “Next-Generation Neutrino Detectors for Reactor Monitoring”
Abstract: Nuclear reactors emit an enormous number of neutrinos, carrying away about 5 percent of the reactor’s energy. As weakly interacting particles, neutrinos pass through shielding with almost no attenuation. This talk will briefly describe the inverse-beta-decay reaction and highlight new technologies enabling practical neutrino detectors for nuclear nonproliferation.
May 29, 2025
- Dr. Vered Shaffer (Nuclear Engineer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory), “Why Am I Being Regulated? The History and Context of Nuclear Regulations”
Abstract: This presentation will provide a brief history of the United States’ nuclear regulatory history for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Department of Energy. Dr. Shaffer will include how each agency approaches and executes safety and operations, and current and future regulatory initiatives. An attendee should gain an appreciation for why regulations are in place and how each engineering and scientific professional plays a key role in the safety for nuclear operations.
April 24, 2025
- Dr. Meghan McGarry (System Analyst, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory), “Systems Analysis for Nuclear Nonproliferation”
Abstract: As a systems analyst at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, I research how modeling and simulation can be used to support nuclear nonproliferation. In this talk, I will explain: what are systems analysts and how does a physicist become one? First coined at RAND in the early days of the nuclear era, systems analysis is a methodology that brings structured, reproducible analysis to big picture, interdisciplinary problems. I will provide vignettes into my recent projects, such as the application of mod/sim tools to questions around nuclear material production or integrated deterrence. Finally, I will discuss ways that undergraduate and graduate students from a variety of fields can become involved in nonproliferation research. Prepared by LLNL under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.
March 27, 2025
- Dr. Felicia Sutanto (Scientist, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory), “Particle Vertex Reconstruction in 3D Using Light Field Camera Technology”
Abstract: Accurate localization of particle interactions in radiation detectors provides valuable information on the nature and origin of radiation sources and has wide applications in nuclear safeguards and security. Current methods for 3D vertex localization in scintillation detectors include centroiding and segmentation approaches and the use of shadow masks; each has significant shortcomings that limit its applications. We are investigating and adopting a cutting-edge technology, a light-field camera, which inherently preserves both the spatial location and directional information of incident light and can, in principle, resolve both single- and multivertex events in monolithic detectors and offers accurate position reconstruction in 3D with relatively simple readout electronics. In this project, we are developing a customized light-field optical system designed for 3D vertex reconstruction with sub-centimeter spatial resolution and good total volume coverage. This work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344. LLNL-MI-872287.