Overview

This book examines the prospects and challenges of a global phase-out of highly enriched uranium—and the risks of this material otherwise being used by terrorists to make atom bombs. Terrorist groups, such as Al Qaeda, have demonstrated repeatedly that they seek to acquire nuclear weapons. Unbeknownst even to many security specialists, tons of bomb-grade uranium are trafficked legally each year for ostensibly peaceful purposes. If terrorists obtained even a tiny fraction of this bomb-grade uranium they could potentially construct a nuclear weapon like the one dropped on Hiroshima that killed tens of thousands. Nuclear experts and policymakers have long known of this danger but – so far – have taken only marginal steps to address it. This volume begins by highlighting the lessons of past successes where bomb-grade uranium commerce has been eliminated, such as from Argentina’s manufacture of medical isotopes. It then explores the major challenges that still lie ahead: for example, Russia’s continued use of highly enriched uranium (HEU) in dozens of nuclear facilities. Each of the book’s thirteen case studies offers advice for reducing HEU in a specific sector. These insights are then amalgamated into nine concrete policy recommendations for U.S. and world leaders to promote a global phase-out of bomb-grade uranium. This book will be of much interest to students of nuclear proliferation, global governance, international relations and security studies.

Full Product Details

Author:   Alan J. Kuperman
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
Dimensions:   Width: 15.60cm , Height: 1.40cm , Length: 23.40cm
Weight:   0.362kg
ISBN:  

9781138847620

ISBN 10:   1138847623
Pages:   256
Publication Date:   27 April 2015
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Introduction 1. Global HEU Phase-Out: Prospects & Challenges Alan J. Kuperman Success Stories 2. Argentina: Medical Isotope Production Jared Berenter 3. South Africa: Reactor Fuel and Medical Isotope Production Chloe Colby Hopeful Progress 4. USA and Europe: High-Power Research Reactors Margarita Jimenez 5. Russia: Icebreaker Ships and Floating Reactors Christine Egnatuk 6. Belgium and the Netherlands: Medical Isotope Production Alexander Fay 7. China: Reactors and Nuclear Propulsion, Shing-yao (Sandra) Feng Stubborn Civilian Commerce 8. Germany: The FRM-II Reactor Kenneth Dayman 9. Canada and Russia: Medical Isotope Production Kendra Vessels 10. Russia: Research Reactors Braden Civins 11. Russia: Critical Assemblies and Pulsed Reactors Paul Osborne Military Challenges 12. USA and France: Naval Propulsion Rebecca Ward 13. Russia: Naval Propulsion Yaroslav Primachenko Ahead of the Curve 14. Space Reactors R. Blake Messer Conclusion 15. Achieving a Global HEU Phase-Out Alan J. Kuperman

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Author Information

Alan J. Kuperman is Associate Professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin, where he is also Coordinator of the Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Project (www.nppp.org).

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