Roots and risks of total nuclear disarmament

Notably absent from Sid Drell’s otherwise comprehensive review of nuclear reductions (Physics Today, July 2010, page 30 ) is one of the most efficacious and irreversible nuclear-disarmament measures — demilitarization of fissile materials. ¹

Demilitarizing weapons-grade uranium and plutonium is an established industrial practice: These fissile weapons materials are blended with industrial-grade low-enriched uranium oxide, resulting in the mixed oxide that fuels commercial reactors.

In fact, most fuel rods in civilian US power reactors contain at least some weapons-origin fissile material. Civilian nuclear reactors can profitably consume weapons-source materials while rendering them militarily useless.

Fissile conversion and demilitarization is a valuable disarmament method because it is cost-effective and irreversible in the long term; the fuel supply is reliable; and industry personnel have decades of experience in the process.

Demilitarization, which applies to both fission and thermonuclear weapons, would preclude reconstruction of proven weapons and reduce fears of treaty violations among both nuclear- and non-nuclear-weapons states.

Coupled with a ban on production of weapons-grade materials, demilitarization would most durably and tangibly impede nuclear rearmament and would be attractive to a wide array of nations.