Nuclear forensics : comprehensive interagency plan needed to address human capital issues / [Gene Aloise].

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

Aloise, Gene

Contributor:

United States. Government Accountability Office

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Nuclear activation analysis--United States.

Nuclear activation analysis.

Nuclear weapons--United States--Identification.

Nuclear weapons.

Forensic sciences--United States.

Forensic sciences.

Nuclear terrorism--United States--Prevention.

Nuclear terrorism.

Chemistry, Forensic.

Interagency coordination--United States.

Interagency coordination.

Nuclear terrorism--Prevention.

United States.

Genre:

Field guides.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (15 pages)

Other Title:

Comprehensive interagency plan needed to address human capital issues

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : U.S. Govt. Accountability Office, [2009]

Summary:

The detonation of a nuclear weapon or radiological dispersal device (RDD) in the United States or elsewhere would cause decision makers to immediately demand information on the nature of the device, including its design, the materials used to build it, and the materials' source, as well as the identification of the perpetrators. Technical nuclear forensics, the analysis of nuclear or radiological materials that are intercepted or the radioactive debris and prompt output signals (such as gamma rays) produced by a nuclear event, can contribute to the identification of the sources of these materials and the processes used to create them. Nuclear forensic techniques also could potentially be used to determine the origin of nuclear or radiological materials or devices seized prior to their use in a weapon (known as "predetonation" nuclear forensics). The departments of Defense (DOD), Energy (DOE), Homeland Security (DHS), and State (State), as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the intelligence community, would play key roles in a nuclear forensics investigation. In this context, you asked us to assess the (1) challenges the U.S. government faces in developing and maintaining a comprehensive nuclear forensics capability and (2) current and future costs associated with the U.S. government's nuclear forensics efforts. In February 2009, we reported to you on the results of our work in a classified report. This letter summarizes certain aspects of our classified report.

Notes:

Title from p. [1] title screen (GAO, viewed June 2, 2009).

"April 30, 2009."

Includes bibliographical references.

"GAO-09-527R."

OCLC:

368800878