1993/08/01 by J. Carson Marka · 2 citations
Chemistry · Engineering · Environmental Science · #Chemistry #Computer science #Construct (python library) #Engineering #Environmental science #Explosive material #Law #Materials science #Neutron #Nuclear and radioactivity studies #Nuclear engineering #Nuclear physics #Nuclear reactor physics and engineering #Nuclear weapon #Physics #Plutonium #Plutonium-239 #Plutonium-240 #Political science #Radioactive contamination and transfer #Radiochemistry #State (computer science) #Systems engineering #Task (project management) #Terrorism #Yield (engineering)
paper · doi:10.1080/08929889308426394
openalex publication_date 1993/08/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
The following discussion focuses on the question of whether a terrorist organization or a threshold state could make use of plutonium recovered from light‐water‐reactor fuel to construct a nuclear explosive device having a significantly damaging yield. Questions persist in some nonproliferation policy circles as to whether a bomb could be made from reactor‐grade plutonium of high burn‐up, and if so, whether the task would be too difficult for a threshold state or terrorist group to consider. Although the information relevant to these questions is in the public domain, and has been for a considerable time, it is assembled here for use by policy makers and members of the public who are concerned about preventing the spread of nuclear explosives.