Oak Ridge National Laboratory

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory ( ORNL ) is a scientific and technological laboratory in Oak Ridge in Tennessee, part of the Department of Energy of the United States.

Tasks

The scientists and engineers of the ORNL deal with research and development in basic and applied area of very different disciplines. Aim of the work of ORNL is to strengthen the leadership of the U.S. in key academic areas to ensure the availability of sufficient clean energy to protect the environment or to restore and to contribute to national security.

ORNL is also involved in other work for the Department of Energy, such as the production of isotopes, the information management and technical project and program management. It also provides other organizations technical and scientific expertise available.

At ORNL the High Productivity Computing Systems program is located, which researches since 2004 Massively Parallel Processing and other technologies with which the computing capacity can be increased by supercomputers. He stands as a secret twin program the Multi Program Research Facility also in Oak Ridge to the side, with the designs the National Security Agency in turn supercomputer for the evaluation of signal intelligence and cryptanalysis.

History

Originally known as Clinton Laboratories ORNL was established in 1943. It then had a well-defined task ( Site X), namely the uranium enrichment for the recovery of fissile uranium-235 for the Manhattan Project ( the atomic bomb ) during World War II. Over the years, the Laboratory developed the first choice when it comes to national energy and environmental issues. Today it is an established laboratory for the development of new energy sources, technologies and materials, and research in the fields of biology, chemistry, information technology, environmental sciences, physics and social sciences.

Facts and Figures

  • Employees: 3800 total, including 1,500 scientists and engineers
  • Budget: 1.07 billion USD, of which 80 % from the Department of Energy, 20 % Other
  • Replacement value of real estate: $ 7 billion
  • Area: 150 square kilometers
  • Visiting Scientists: 3000 per year, about a quarter of the industry
  • Visitors: Approx. 40,000 per year, of which about 10,000 children
  • Paid salaries: 274 million USD per year
  • Procurements: 270 million USD per year
  • Medical care: $ 35 million per year
  • Tennessee tax revenue: $ 9 million per year
  • Pensions: 60 million USD per year

Also located with the Titan one of the most powerful supercomputers in the world at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Oak Ridge (Tennessee) K-25 Enriched uranium Titan (supercomputer) Alvin M. Weinberg
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