The formation of trinitite-like surrogate nuclear explosion debris (SNED) and extreme thermal fractionation of SRM-612 glass induced by high power CW CO2 laser irradiation

We describe a new approach to the bench top production of surrogate nuclear explosion debris by employing high power continuous wave CO2 laser irradiation. High surface temperatures >2,500 K can be rapidly attained, allowing virtually any combination of materials to be fused into a glassy matrix that can display high levels of elemental fractionation. Examples of the laser fused glasses will be presented and compared to trinitite nuclear explosion glass along with the elemental fractionation effects that were induced in the NIST glass standard SRM-612 by this method.