Argonne National Laboratory

Argonne National Laboratory
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Name	Argonne National Laboratory
Established	01 July 1946
Research field	Nuclear, energy, environmental science, computational science, photon science
Director	Paul Kearns
Location	Lemont, Illinois, United States
Campus	1700 acre
Operating agency	UChicago Argonne, LLC for the United States Department of Energy
Website	www.anl.gov

Argonne National Laboratory is a premier multidisciplinary science and engineering research center located southwest of Chicago in Lemont, Illinois. Managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the United States Department of Energy, its mission encompasses advancing energy security, environmental sustainability, and national scientific leadership. The laboratory's work spans from fundamental particle physics to applied engineering for industry, operating some of the nation's most critical scientific user facilities.

History

The laboratory's origins trace directly to the Manhattan Project's Metallurgical Laboratory at the University of Chicago, where the world's first controlled, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction was achieved in 1942 under Enrico Fermi. Officially chartered in 1946 as the nation's first national laboratory, it was initially focused on developing peaceful applications for nuclear energy. Early work included designing the prototypes for pressurized water reactors used in United States Navy submarines and the first Experimental Breeder Reactor I, which generated usable electricity from nuclear fission in 1951. Throughout the Cold War, research expanded into basic research in physics and chemistry, leading to the establishment of its remote Argonne-West facility in Idaho, now part of the Idaho National Laboratory.

Research and major facilities

Research is organized around broad interdisciplinary challenges in energy, science, and security. Core capabilities include intense X-ray sources for studying materials, massive supercomputing resources, and advanced nuclear reactor design. Major open-access facilities include the Advanced Photon Source, a leading synchrotron light source providing ultra-bright X-ray beams to thousands of researchers annually. The Argonne Leadership Computing Facility houses some of the world's fastest supercomputers, such as Aurora, for open scientific research. Other key infrastructure includes the Center for Nanoscale Materials, the Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System for nuclear physics, and the Energy Systems Integration Facility.

Leadership and organization

The laboratory is managed and operated under a DOE contract by UChicago Argonne, LLC, a partnership that includes the University of Chicago and Jacobs Engineering Group. Day-to-day leadership is provided by a director, currently Paul Kearns, who reports to the DOE's Office of Science. Scientific and technical work is conducted through several directorates, including Physical Sciences and Engineering, Computing, Environment and Life Sciences, and Photon Sciences. Strategic direction is heavily influenced by the long-term priorities of the DOE and major initiatives like the National Quantum Initiative Act and Earth System Grid Federation.

Economic and community impact

As a major employer and economic engine in the Chicago region, it collaborates extensively with industry, academia, and other government agencies. Programs like the Chain Reaction Innovations incubator support clean energy startups, while partnerships with companies such as Ford and General Motors advance electric vehicle battery technology. The laboratory also plays a significant role in STEM education, engaging thousands of students and teachers annually through the Argonne Education Center and hosting the Regional Science Bowl. Its economic impact is measured in billions of dollars through technology commercialization, job creation, and procurement.

Notable achievements and discoveries

Scientists have made foundational contributions across numerous fields. In the physical sciences, the discovery of the elements Einsteinium and Fermium occurred here during analysis of debris from the Ivy Mike thermonuclear test. Laboratory researchers pioneered the technology for vitrification of high-level radioactive waste and developed the SEPAREX process for nuclear fuel reprocessing. In computing, it created the PLATO system, an early platform for computer-based education, and software like the Message Passing Interface standard and the MPICH implementation, which underpin modern supercomputing. More recent breakthroughs include pivotal work on lithium-ion battery chemistry that earned the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for former researcher John B. Goodenough. Category:National laboratories of the United States Department of Energy Category:Research institutes in Illinois Category:Organizations based in Chicago Category:Buildings and structures in Cook County, Illinois