Nuclear theft: real and imagined dangers

Abstract

Nuclear Theft: Real and Imagined Dangers, examines the possibility of theft of fissionable material from the U.S. nuclear power industry by non-governmental individuals or groups. The study investigates the availability of fissionable material, vulnerable port ions of the nuclear fuel cycles, weapon construction, and the regulations regarding the protection of fissionable material. The study uses a morphological approach to evaluate the capability of potential thieves by group size and classification. Possible motivations for committing nuclear theft are discussed.