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Title: Physical cryptographic verification of nuclear warheads

Journal Article · · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)
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How does one prove a claim about a highly sensitive object such as a nuclear weapon without revealing information about the object? This paradox has challenged nuclear arms control for more than five decades. We present a mechanism in the form of an interactive proof system that can validate the structure and composition of an object, such as a nuclear warhead, to arbitrary precision without revealing either its structure or composition. We introduce a tomographic method that simultaneously resolves both the geometric and isotopic makeup of an object. We also introduce a method of protecting information using a provably secure cryptographic hash that does not rely on electronics or software. Finally, these techniques, when combined with a suitable protocol, constitute an interactive proof system that could reject hoax items and clear authentic warheads with excellent sensitivity in reasonably short measurement times.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Nonproliferation and Verification Research and Development (NA-22); USDOE
Contributing Organization:
aLaboratory for Nuclear Security and Policy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139; Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States). Lab. for Nuclear Security and Policy
Grant/Contract Number:
NA0002534
OSTI ID:
1264781
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1367519; OSTI ID: 1367533
Journal Information:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol. 113, Issue 31; ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher:
National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC (United States)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (6)

A physically cryptographic warhead verification system using neutron induced nuclear resonances journal September 2019
Why nuclear weapon ban treaty is unlikely to fulfil its promise journal October 2017
A physically cryptographic warhead verification system using neutron induced nuclear resonances text January 2019
Active neutron and gamma-ray imaging of highly enriched uranium for treaty verification journal August 2017
Quantifying Privacy in Nuclear Warhead Authentication Protocols preprint January 2018
A physically cryptographic warhead verification system using neutron induced nuclear resonances text January 2019

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Related Subjects

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
isotopic tomography
nuclear weapons
disarmament
verification