The detonation of a nuclear weapon or radiological dispersal device in the U.S. or elsewhere would cause decision makers to demand info. on the nature of the device -- incl. its design, the materials used to build it, and the materials' source -- as well as the ident. of the perpetrators. Technical nuclear forensics -- the analysis of nuclear or radiological materials that are intercepted or the radioactive debris and prompt output signals produced by a nuclear event -- can contribute to the ident. of the sources of the materials and the processes used to create them. This report assesses the: (1) challenges the U.S. gov¿t. faces in developing and maintaining a comprehensive nuclear forensics capability; and (2) the current and future costs associated with this effort.
The detonation of a nuclear weapon or radiological dispersal device in the U.S. or elsewhere would cause decision makers to demand info. on the nature of the device -- incl. its design, the materials used to build it, and the materials' source -- as well as the ident. of the perpetrators. Technic...