Proliferation Risks of Magnetic Fusion Energy: Clandestine Production, Covert Production and Breakout
Authors: A. Glaser and R.J. Goldston
Abstract:
Nuclear proliferation risks from magnetic fusion energy associated with access to weapon-usable materials can be divided into three main categories: 1) clandestine production of weapon-usable
material in an underclared facility, 2) covert production of such material inn a declared facility, and 3) use of a declared facility in a breakout scenario, in which
a state begins production of fissile material without concealing the effort. In this paper we address each of these categories of risks from fusion. For each case, we find that the proliferation
fisk from fusion systems can be much lower than the equivalent risk from fission systems, if the fusion system is designed to accommodate appropriate safeguards.
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Submitted to: Nuclear Fusion (2012)
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Download PPPL-4745 (pdf 967 KB 23 pp)
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