Technical Issues Related to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

Technical Issues Related to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty PDF

Author: National Academy of Sciences

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2002-08-01

Total Pages: 102

ISBN-13: 030918293X

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Drawing upon the considerable existing body of technical material related to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, the National Academy of Sciences reviewed and assessed the key technical issues that arose during the Senate debate over treaty ratification. In particular, these include: (1) the capacity of the United States to maintain confidence in the safety and reliability of its nuclear stockpile in the absence of nuclear testing; (2) the nuclear-test detection capabilities of the international monitoring system (with and without augmentation by national systems and instrumentation in use for scientific purposes, and taking into account the possibilities for decoupling nuclear explosions from surrounding geologic media); and (3) the additions to their nuclear-weapons capabilities that other countries could achieve through nuclear testing at yield levels that might escape detection, and the effect of such additions on the security of the United States.

Detection of Nuclear Weapons and Materials

Detection of Nuclear Weapons and Materials PDF

Author: Jonathan Medalia

Publisher: DIANE Publishing

Published: 2010-03

Total Pages: 112

ISBN-13: 1437921930

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(1) How Does Detection Work?; Current Detection Technol.; (2) Advanced Technol.: Nanocomposite Scintillators; GADRAS: Gamma-Ray Spectrum Analysis Application Using Multiple Algorithms; Computer Modeling to Evaluate Detection Capability; L-3 CAARS: Low-Risk Dual-Energy Radiography System; SAIC CAARS: Higher-Risk, Higher-Benefit Dual-Energy Radiography System; AS&E CAARS: Using Backscattered X-Rays to Detect Dense Material; Muon Tomography; Analyzing a Nuclear Weapon with Nuclear Resonance Fluorescence; Detecting SNM at a Distance; (3) Signatures of Plutonium, Highly Enriched Uranium, and Nuclear Weapons; Detecting Signatures of a Nuclear Weapon or SNM; Evasion of Detection Technol. Illus.

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty PDF

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2012-04-29

Total Pages: 214

ISBN-13: 0309149983

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This report reviews and updates the 2002 National Research Council report, Technical Issues Related to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). This report also assesses various topics, including: the plans to maintain the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile without nuclear-explosion testing; the U.S. capability to detect, locate, and identify nuclear explosions; commitments necessary to sustain the stockpile and the U.S. and international monitoring systems; and potential technical advances countries could achieve through evasive testing and unconstrained testing. Sustaining these technical capabilities will require action by the National Nuclear Security Administration, with the support of others, on a strong scientific and engineering base maintained through a continuing dynamic of experiments linked with analysis, a vigorous surveillance program, adequate ratio of performance margins to uncertainties. This report also emphasizes the use of modernized production facilities and a competent and capable workforce with a broad base of nuclear security expertise.

Research Required to Support Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Monitoring

Research Required to Support Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Monitoring PDF

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 1997-08-01

Total Pages: 150

ISBN-13: 0309174503

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On September 24, 1996, President Clinton signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty at the United Nations Headquarters. Over the next five months, 141 nations, including the four other nuclear weapon statesâ€"Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdomâ€"added their signatures to this total ban on nuclear explosions. To help achieve verification of compliance with its provisions, the treaty specifies an extensive International Monitoring System of seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasonic, and radionuclide sensors. This volume identifies specific research activities that will be needed if the United States is to effectively monitor compliance with the treaty provisions.