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AGA: Arbeitsgruppe Physik und Abrüstung

AGA 3: Nuclear Deterrence and Nuclear Disarmament

AGA 3.2: Talk

Thursday, March 21, 2024, 10:30–11:00, PTB HS HvHB

Next-Generation Warhead Authentication — •Christopher Fichtlscherer^1,2 and Moritz Kütt^{2, 3} — ¹RWTH Aachen, Germany — ²Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy, Hamburg, Germany — ³Program on Science and Global Security, Princeton University, USA

The verification of international treaties represents a critical task, particularly in the realm of nuclear disarmament. Gamma spectroscopy is acclaimed for its effectiveness, cost-efficiency, and non-destructive approach in the authentication of nuclear warheads and their components. A pivotal challenge in this process is the delicate balance between acquiring sufficient data for reliable authentication and preserving the confidentiality of sensitive information. Traditional methods have attempted to address this by employing a limited number of broad energy bins. However, these systems are prone to deception and often falter in distinguishing between similar objects. Here, a new, innovative methodology for ascertaining an object's gamma signature that is both tamper-proof and non-disclosing in terms of weapon specifics is proposed.

Keywords: Nuclear Verification; Warhead Authentication; Gamma spectroscopy