Compact neutron sources for zero knowledge warhead verification via epithermal neutron transmission analysis
Author(s)
Engel, Ezra Max.
Download1134768345-MIT.pdf (3.021Mb)
Other Contributors
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering.
Advisor
Areg Danagoulian.
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Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
In anarchic international environments, verification methods improve the viability of arms control agreements and disarmament measures by allowing party states to escape the security dilemma. However, warhead verification requires confident assurance of warhead authenticity while protecting design information about the interrogated object. Zeroknowledge physical cryptography provides a solution to the verification paradox by introducing system designs that do not require electronic information barriers and protect sensitive information during measurement. Compact epithermal neutron sources enable the verification process to occur on-site and minimize the security risk of transporting special nuclear material to dedicated verification facilities. Experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of a tomographic approach to zero-knowledge physical cryptography, and MC simulations offer promising results for compact epithermal neutron sources.
Description
This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections. Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, 2019 Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis. Includes bibliographical references (pages 67-71).
Date issued
2019Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Nuclear Science and EngineeringPublisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Keywords
Nuclear Science and Engineering.