On the degree of verification needed to support a comprehensive test ban
The military significance of nuclear explosive tests is discussed and illustrated with the aid of the recent (1980 through 1984) US nuclear testing record. It is concluded that nuclear tests with yields that are but a small fraction of a kiloton are militarily significant, particularly for purposes of nuclear weapons research. These could be conducted in fully decoupled seismically quiet, reusable cavities, and would be well below the threshold of reliable detection and identification by seismic or other means presently under consideration. For this reason it is concluded that the degree of verification needed to support a CTB is not available at the present time. A Threshold Test Ban with explosive yields limited to five kilotons, as proposed by Defense Secretary Harold Brown, appears to present a much more realistic near-term possibility.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 6944518
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-95155-Rev.1; CONF-8610136-2-Rev.1; ON: DE87004353
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: SIPRI/CIIPS study on a comprehensive test ban, Ottawa, Canada, 23 Oct 1986
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
TESTING
YIELDS
CAVITIES
COUPLING
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
NUCLEAR EXPLOSION DETECTION
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
TREATIES
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
USSR
ASIA
DETECTION
EASTERN EUROPE
EUROPE
EXPLOSIONS
WEAPONS
450300* - Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense- Nuclear Explosion Detection