Nuclear Forensics. Chapter 18

Other · Mon May 18 04:00:00 EDT 2015 · The Routledge Handbook of Nuclear Proliferation and Policy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203709528· OSTI ID:1454769

Mayer, Klaus ^[1]; Glaser, Alexander ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States); University of Michigan
2. Princeton Univ., NJ (United States)

Whenever nuclear material is found out of regulatory control, questions on the origin of the material, on its intended use, and on hazards associated with the material need to be answered. Here, analytical and interpretational methodologies have been developed in order to exploit measurable material properties for gaining information on the history of the nuclear material. This area of research is referred to as nuclear forensic science or, in short, nuclear forensics.This chapter reviews the origins, types, and state-of-the-art of nuclear forensics; discusses the potential roles of nuclear forensics in supporting nuclear security; and examines what nuclear forensics can realistically achieve. Lastly, it also charts a path forward, pointing at potential applications of nuclear forensic methodologies in other areas.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE NA Office of Nonproliferation and Verification Research and Development (NA-22)
• DOE Contract Number: NA0002534
• OSTI ID: 1454769
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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