Research

Laboratory Pictures

A laser filament is clearly observed inside the custom experimental chamber that is filled with xenon gas.

Femtosecond Laser Filamentation of Aerosol Particles in Air

Kyle Latty and Dr. Milos Burger work together to align a laser filament imaging setup.

Multiple filaments form in Xenon gas inside custom experimental chamber.

Maya Hewitt works on aligning the shadowgraph setup she constructed during her research experience in Summer 2022.

Custom experimental chamber is illuminated from xenon fluorescence induced by laser filament interaction inside the chamber.

Overview of tables from Fume Hood and Counter

James Totten, Kyle Latty, and Prof. Kyle Hartig observe filament imaging measurements.

Overview of Lab from TV and Storage Racks

Image of Femtosecond Laser Filamentation in Air

Super Continuum Generation Following Femtosecond Laser Ablation of an Aerosol in Air

A laser filament formed in air is passed through small openings in the experimental chamber for real-time measurement of aerosol plumes simulating nuclear fireballs and fallout.

Membership in major research initiatives

NNSA Consortium on Nuclear Forensics (UF Lead): https://cnf.eng.ufl.edu/

DTRA University Research Alliance – Interaction of Ionizing Radiation with Matter (IIRM): https://www.iirm.psu.edu/

NNSA University Consortium – Monitoring Technology and Verification (MTV): https://mtv.engin.umich.edu/

Thrust Area 1: Remote sensing

Active detection:

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)
Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF)
Laser filamentation as a tool for standoff detection of solid and aerosol materials in the environment
Environmental sampling/signatures and observables

Passive detection:

Drone-based radiation detection (e.g. CZT detectors packaged and deployed on drones)
Laser absorption spectroscopy (LAS)
Hyperspectral imaging and spectroscopy

Cerium Laser Induced Plasma Spectroscopy

Thrust Area 2: Fundamental plasma physics and diagnostics

Laser-induced plasmas as surrogates for detonations

Combustion and oxidation within laser produced plasmas
Spatio-temporal evolution of complex mixed plasma plumes formed following laser ablation
Signatures and observables of detonations (e.g. radio-frequency emission from detonations)
Modeling of laser produced plasmas (collaboration with Prof. Ryan Houim in MAE)

Modeling Laser Plasma Detonation — Hyburn Modeling of Laser Plasma Detonation

Thrust Area 3: DATA SCIENCE

Machine learning for signature discovery in optical and radiation detection spectra
Automated identification and quantification of material composition and characterization
Tagging and tracking of nuclear materials
Domestic and international safeguards

Tracking of TRISO-fueled nuclear fuel pebbles — Automatic tagging and tracking of TRISO-fueled nuclear fuel pebbles using machine learning

Active projects

NNSA Consortium on Nuclear Forensics (NNSA CNF)

Prof. Hartig serves as Associate Director and Thrust Area 5 Lead.

Savanah River National Laboratory

Subcontract – supporting collaborative research on nuclear forensics and detection using optical techniques.

DTRA University Research Alliance Interaction of Ionizing Radiation in Matter (DTRA IIRM)

Research area lead on survivability and detection of materials as well as co-lead on workforce development. Supports work on remote detection of nuclear materials released into the environment.

NNSA Monitoring Technology and Verification Consortium (NNSA MTV)

Supports research on wide area environmental sampling using optical techniques.

Previous Projects

Brookhaven National Laboratories

Open Source Datasets for Nonproliferation.

DTRA Young Investigator Award

Supports research on the characterization of radio-frequency emissions from laser produced plasmas as surrogates for detonations.

NSF REU through Arkansas State University

Supports fundamental research related to laser ablation plasma morphology and chemistry.

Sandia National Laboratories

Young Faculty in Safeguards Award – supporting development of machine learning curricula and research focussed on international safeguards.

Optical Science and Nonproliferation Group