Decision Theoretical Justification of Optimization Criteria for Near-Real-Time Accountancy Procedures

In the beginning ofnuclearmaterial safeguards, emphasis was placed on safe detection of diversion of nuclear material. Later, the aspect of timely detection became equally important. Since there is a trade-off between these two objectives, the question of an appropriate compromise was raised. In this paper, a decision theoreticalframework is presented in which the objectives of the two "players," inspector and inspectee, are expressed in terms of general utility functions. Within this framework, optimal safeguards strategies are defined, and furthermore, conditions are formulated under which the optimization criteria corresponding to the objectives mentioned above can be justified.