Entry Date:
September 30, 2014

Nuclear Security: Nuclear Arms rReduction and Treaty Verification


Arms reduction is an important part of improving global security. The New START treaty limits the number of warheads to 1550. The participant states will then be required to demonstrate compliance, while retaining the secrecy of weapons’ design. This will involve proving to an inspection crew that the warheads being destroyed are real, without releasing any direct nuclear or physical information about the weapon structure. Zero knowledge detectors have been proposed to solve this puzzle. The zero knowledge proof is an abstract concept, which answers a simple yes/no question without revealing any additional information. Various zero knowledge detection concepts have been proposed. These include the use of neutron radiography, as well as reference foil NRF measurements. The reference foil in this case will produce an NRF signal, which is a convolution of the weapon’s and reference foil’s isotopic makeup. This data is then compared to that from measurements taken on a warhead of known authenticity. This comparison tests the hypothesis that the two weapons are identical. A successful test will help verify the authenticity of the first weapon. Additionally, other concepts of zero knowledge detection are being studied and considered.