Nuclear Archaeology for Nonproliferation, Disarmament and Transparency

Uncertainties about global weapons-usable fissile material stockpiles are large. Nuclear archaeology is a concept to reconstruct fissile material histories. It can comprise measurements in shut-down facilities and of radioactive wastes, analyzing documentation of fuel cycle operations and carrying out related simulations. Here, we examine various future scenarios where conducting nuclear archaeology would be helpful. These include typical verification efforts related to confirming the absence of undeclared materials, but also options for transparency efforts absent a formal verification regime.