Nuclear Security: The Nexus Among Science, Technology and Policy

This textbook provides a comprehensive and systematic account of the science, technology, and policy issues associated with nuclear energy and nuclear weapons. It traces the evolution of nuclear policy from the Manhattan Project to the present, including the development of nuclear energy and the nuclear arms competition. It also examines the problem of nuclear proliferation and provides an overview of the nuclear arsenals of current weapon states. The authors explain the relevant nuclear science and technology, including fission, criticality, nuclear materials, enrichment, detonation, and weapons effects. They conclude with an assessment of contemporary issues such as Iran's nuclear weapons development program, nuclear terrorism, Russia and China's perceived nuclear weapons policies, and the US efforts to prevent allies from acquiring their own nuclear weapons.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 340 pages
\n Publication date: 20 November 2021
\n Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG
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This textbook is a comprehensive and systematic exploration of the intricate realm of nuclear energy and nuclear weapons, encompassing the realms of science, technology, and policy. Throughout their comprehensive account of the evolution of nuclear policy, from its origins to the early presidency of Donald Trump, the authors seamlessly intertwine clear technical explanations of the science and technology that underpin and shape it. The book commences by delving into the early foundations of atomic physics, the discovery of fission, and the subsequent developments that culminated in the Manhattan Project and the deployment of atomic bombs against Japan, effectively concluding World War II. It then follows the initial unsuccessful attempts at nuclear disarmament, the emergence of the Cold War nuclear arms race, and the development of light water reactors to harness nuclear energy for electric power generation.

The authors meticulously analyze the complex issue of nuclear proliferation, examining the strategies and incentives employed by states that have pursued and those that have not acquired nuclear weapons. Additionally, they offer a comprehensive overview of the nuclear arsenals of the current nuclear weapon states. Throughout the narrative, the authors trace the technical, political, and strategic evolution of deterrence, arms control, and disarmament policies, spanning from the initial attempts for an Outer Space Treaty in 1957 to the recent START treaty of 2009.

At pivotal moments in the story, the authors elucidate the relevant nuclear science and technology, encompassing topics such as nuclear fission and criticality, nuclear materials and enrichment, nuclear detonation and weapon effects, nuclear weapons stockpile constraints, stewardship, surveillance, nuclear fusion and thermonuclear weapons, technologies for monitoring, verification, and proliferation, and nuclear forensics.

In conclusion, this textbook provides a thorough and insightful examination of the multifaceted world of nuclear energy and nuclear weapons. Through its comprehensive coverage, it offers valuable insights into the historical, scientific, and policy dimensions of these critical subjects, empowering readers with a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with these powerful technologies.

\n Weight: 730g\n
Dimension: 160 x 241 x 25 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9783030750848\n
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021\n