Progress toward mutual reciprocal inspections of fissile materials from dismantled nuclear weapons

Conference · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995

OSTI ID:104500

Johnson, M W ^[1]; Gosnell, T B ^[2]

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1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)

In March 1994, the United States and the Russian Federation announced their intention to conduct mutual reciprocal inspections (MRI) to confirm inventories of fissile materials from dismantled nuclear weapons. Subsequent interactions between the two countries have established the basis for an MRI regime, covering instrumentation, candidate sites for MRI, and protection of information deemed sensitive by the countries. This paper discusses progress made toward MRI, stressing measurement technologies and observables, as well as prospects for MRI implementation. An analysis is presented of observables that might be exploited to provide assurance that the material being measured could have come from a dismantled weapon rather than other sources. Instrumentation to exploit these observables will also be discussed, as will joint US/Russian efforts to demonstrate such instrumentation. Progress toward a so-called ``program of cooperation`` between the two countries in protecting each other`s sensitive information will be reviewed. All of these steps are essential components of an eventual comprehensive regime for controlling fissile materials from weapons.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 104500
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--95-2335; CONF-950787--61; ON: DE95016782
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
35 ARMS CONTROL
BILATERAL AGREEMENTS
FISSILE MATERIALS
HIGHLY ENRICHED URANIUM
INSPECTION
NUCLEAR WEAPONS DISMANTLEMENT
PLUTONIUM
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
USA