Unmaking the Bomb: A Fissile Material Approach to Nuclear Disarmament and Nonproliferation

A new approach to nuclear disarmament nonproliferation and the prevention of nuclear terrorism that focuses on controlling the production and stockpiling of nuclear materials. Achieving nuclear disarmament stopping nuclear proliferation and preventing nuclear terrorism are among the most critical challenges facing the world today. Unmaking the Bomb proposes a new approach to reaching these long-held goals. Rather than considering them as separate issues the authorsphysicists and experts on nuclear securityargue that all three of these goals can be understood and realized together if we focus on the production stockpiling and disposal of plutonium and highly enriched uraniumthe fissile materials that are the key ingredients used to make nuclear weapons. The authors describe the history production national stockpiles and current military and civilian uses of plutonium and highly enriched uranium and propose policies aimed at reducing and eventually eliminating these fissile materials worldwide. These include an end to the production of highly enriched uranium and plutonium for weapons an end to their use as reactor fuels and the verified elimination of all national stockpiles.