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February 09 Issue - Employee Monthly Magazine A new-generation plutonium scientist
Adam Farrow, left, and Franz Freibert of Nuclear Materials Science discuss resonant ultrasound spectroscopy and its application in measuring elastic properties of plutonium. Photo by Richard Robinson
With an enthusiasm for understanding the physics of plutonium and a hard-earned appreciation of the complexities of working in a plutonium facility, Franz Freibert is guiding a new generation of scientists studying the mysterious metal. "Stockpile stewardship is not dead," said Freibert, leader of the materials physics and dynamic testing team in Nuclear Materials Science (MST-16). "A younger generation is bringing new life to it." Freibert, who earned his doctorate in physics from Florida State University, is part of that new wave. He began his career studying polymer physics at the University of Southern Mississippi and was a graduate research assistant working on high superconducting systems at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Florida before coming to Los Alamos, where he progressed from postdoctoral researcher in 1996 to principal investigator for the accelerated aging of plutonium (AAP) project in 1999. As principal investigator, Freibert brought all AAP project plutonium operations into compliance for myriad Department of Energy and Los Alamos regulations. He also developed and integrated casting, machining, and metallurgical processes and performed individual research on the aging effects of plutonium. Succeeding in that position "really prepared Franz for the role he plays today, which, in effect, is the Technical Area 55 subject matter expert and experimental coordinator for dynamic plutonium experiments," said Rollin Lakis, MST-16 group leader. Freibert is both a first-line manager and a glovebox worker, responsible for managing a large workflow through a large, complex facility. It's a role appreciated by his newer colleagues, who often call on Freibert to share his background knowledge as they are starting out in the weapons program. In managing the complexities and integration challenges of his workplace, "Franz brings all these little different pieces together," Lakis said. "And in total, the small- and large-scale experiments he supports increase our understanding of plutonium behavior and plays an important role in the national security mission of our Laboratory." --Editor's note: This is an excerpt from an article by Karen Kippen that was published in the November 2008 issue of MST e-News (http://int.lanl.gov/orgs/mst/mst_enews.shtml (internal only)). Other Headlines
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