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Detecting cavitation in mercury exposed to a high-energy pulsed proton beam.

These were the first experiments to determine the cavitation dynamics in mercury when subject to intense proton radiation. These unique experiments, in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Labs (Riemer and Wendel), were carried out at a unique facility, the Neutron Science Center at Los Alamos National Lab, in a demanding environment (toxic and radioactive). The existence of cavitation in the mercury targets used in spallation neutron sources has led to a program to develop modifications to the mercury housing in order to prevent early and unexpected failure of the containment system, with potentially dire consequences.