Publicatie Laka-bibliotheek:
Uranium enrichment and Nuclear Weapon Proliferation
Auteur | Krass, P.Boskma, B.Elzen, W.Smit, SIPRI |
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6-03-0-50-08.pdf |
Datum | 1983 |
Classificatie | 6.03.0.50/08 (PROLIFERATIE - VERRIJKING/OPWERKING/KWEEKreactoren) |
Voorkant | ![]() |
Uit de publicatie:
Uranium Enrichment and Nuclear Weapon Proliferation Allan S. Krass Peter Boskma Boelie Elzen Wim A. Smit Stockholm International Peace Research Institute 1983 Preface In the years following World War II, when gaseous diffusion was the only practical means of enriching uranium, the potential contribution of uranium enrichment to weapon proliferation seemed small. It was assumed that gaseous diffusion plants were so technically complex and costly that only the most wealthy, industrialized countries could afford them. The potential for the diversion of plutonium to weapon use seemed far more dangerous and received far more attention from people concerned about weapon proliferation. However, during the past 20 years there has been a steadily accelerating technological advance across the broad spectrum of enrichment technology. These developments have made the enrichment route to proliferation more accessible to smaller, poorer and less technically advanced countries. This has in no way reduced the danger associated with plutonium, but has instead added a new set of dangers and problems for those who would attempt to stop and reverse the spread of nuclear weapons. This book presents a comprehensive review of the state of the art of enrichment technology and attempts to evaluate the impact of this technology on the proliferation problem. It places the technical development into ihe context of the economic and institutional environment within which the enrichment industry has evolved to its present state, and it suggests some measures which might be taken to reduce the proliferation dangers inherent in this industry. Part of this book was prepared in Sweden and part in the Netherlands. The total work was co-ordinated at SIPRI in Stockholm by Allan Krass, who is Professor of Physics and Science Policy at Hampshire College (Amherst, Massachusetts, USA). Dr Peter Boskma holds the chair of Philosophy of Science and Technology and Dr Wim A. Smit is Director of 'de Boerderij' Centre for Studies on Problems of Science and Society, both at Twente University of Technology (Enschede, the Netherlands). Mr Boelie Elzen is a research fellow at 'de Boerderij' Centre and holds a university degree in electrotechnical engineering. Special gratitude is extended to Mr Gerard W.M. Tiemessen, who is also a research fellow at 'de Boerderij' Centre, and who has made substantial contributions to parts of this book; he holds a university degree in physical engineering.