NNSA draws on weapons program expertise to enhance nuclear proliferation detection R&D | National Nuclear Security Administration | (NNSA)

NNSA draws on weapons program expertise to enhance nuclear proliferation detection R&D | National Nuclear Security Administration | (NNSA): Countries on the path to developing nuclear weapons conduct non-nuclear explosives testing to develop confidence in nuclear weapon designs and their weapon components without using fissile material. These tests, which vary in purpose, materials, and energy yield, generate unique signatures or observables that serve as clues regarding the sophistication of the device tested, the maturity of a country’s nuclear weapons program, and sometimes, the intent behind the tests. NNSA’s Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, Research and Development program developed a project to combine advanced physics design codes with new models to enhance U.S. capabilities to monitor and analyze foreign non-nuclear explosives tests. Since the United States ended its explosive nuclear testing program in 1992, it has relied on computational modeling and simulations to ensure the performance, safety, and reliability of the nuclear stockpile. These efforts present an opportunity for NNSA’s Research and Development program to advance capabilities for detecting signs of non-nuclear testing that indicate early proliferation efforts. Over the past two years, NNSA’s nuclear proliferation detection program ha