Dresden 2013 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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AGA: Arbeitsgruppe Physik und Abrüstung

AGA 6: Nuclear Dismantlement und Kernwaffenmodernisierung

AGA 6.1: Vortrag

Donnerstag, 7. März 2013, 11:30–12:00, HSZ-04

Authentication concept and impact of pit containers on neutron analysis — •Malte Göttsche — Centre for Science and Peace Research, University of Hamburg

One part of verifying the dismantlement of nuclear warheads will very likely be the authentication of warheads where their authenticities would be confirmed via radiation measurements. Such authentication would be more achievable if dismantled warhead components were verified as opposed to the entire warhead due to unknown shielding in the warhead that would be replaced in the case of components by shielding of a container where the design might be known. Such a procedure would require a robust chain-of-custody, where confidence would be created that the dismantled warhead components correspond to the former warhead in terms of integrity and identity. The argument is sometimes made though that the containers where the components would be stored act as a strong shielding that might prevent authentication measurements. In this presentation, plausible container configurations are considered and analyzed in regard to measurability of neutron multiplicities using Helium-3 detectors. Such a measurement would allow the determination of fissile mass which is considered one attribute for authenticating warheads.