In either case, DOD and DOE are mutually served. For example, Livermore develops sophisticated structural dynamics codes that can address the safety of nuclear weapons that are struck by fragments or projectiles. In turn, DOE benefits from these applications. We couple the modeling and simulation efforts with experiments, which helps to establish benchmarks for the codes and often drives significant improvements and new code developments. We at Livermore take the view that our role in the national security arena naturally includes working with DOD, in particular helping to fill an important gap for DOD in the weapon research, development, demonstration, and product implementation process.
Industry provides the output of the pipeline.
Livermore's demonstrated role is to keep the flow going by filling in research as needed, integrating and applying science, maturing technologies, demonstrating proofs of concept, and teaming, where appropriate, with DOD entities and handing off to defense industry. The full scope of our DOD activities naturally involves a wide spectrum of technologies and deliverables. The projects represent a small portion of our DOD work, which is spread over almost all Laboratory directorates and involves multidisciplinary efforts.