Berlin 2008 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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AKA: Arbeitskreis Physik und Abrüstung

AKA 1: Nuclear Fusion

AKA 1.1: Vortrag

Mittwoch, 27. Februar 2008, 14:00–14:30, H 0112

The role of Inertial Containment Fusion in replacing nuclear tests — •Annette Schaper — Hessische Stiftung Friedens- und Konfliktforschung, Frankfurt am Main

Nuclear weapon physicists need to understand the process of a nuclear explosion, and their major experimental tools had been nuclear tests. Since a couple of years, the established nuclear weapon states observe a testing moratorium. Nevertheless, they still want to keep their nuclear arsenals, and consequently to ensure the reliability, safety, and security of their nuclear warheads. For this purpose, they use experimental tools that replace nuclear tests, among them ICF. ICF plays a central role in the so-called "stockpile stewardship program" that the U.S. has implemented when it participated in the negotiations on a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

Several questions arise and will be discussed in the presentation: Does ICF allow to simulate the extreme conditions of a nuclear explosion? Which are the functions of nuclear testing that ICF can replace and which are beyond its capabilities? Would ICF be a useful tool for the design of new nuclear warheads? Why are so huge sums spent on ICF in a military context although the usefulness for nuclear weapons seems rather limited?