Stockpile stewardship of existing nuclear weapons

Frazier currently works in the upkeep and organization of weapons-related science activities without needing to conduct explosive nuclear testing. Since the United States has also not tested nuclear weapons since 1992,[3] this leaves the task of its stockpile maintenance resting on the use of simulations (using non-nuclear explosives tests and supercomputers, among other methods) and applications of scientific knowledge about physics and chemistry to the specific problems of weapons aging (the latter method is what is meant when various agencies refer to their work as "science-based"). It also involves the manufacture of additional plutonium "pits" to replace ones of unknown quality, and finding other methods to increase the lifespan of existing warheads and maintain a credible nuclear deterrent.

None

Category:
Physics, nuclear

Completion Status:
yes

Patent Number:
N/A

Co-Inventor:
none