TY  - JOUR
T1  - The effects of nuclear test-ban regimes on third-generation-weapon innovation
AU  - Dan L. Fenstermacher
PY  - 1990
T2  - Science & Global Security
SP  - 187
EP  - 223
VL  - 1
IS  - 3-4
N2  - Under the rationale of assessing potential Soviet threats, several third-generation weapon concepts are being actively studied in the US. This paper presents a technical analysis of the physical principles and likely capabilities of three nuclear directed-energy concepts (x-ray lasers, nuclear kinetic-energy weapons, and microwave devices) and describes the implications for their development of threshold test bans at thresholds above and below 1 kiloton. Inertial Confinement Fusion, specialized non-nuclear weapon effects simulation, and seismically quiet containment vessels for low-yield tests may complicate arguments about the verifiability and long-term effectiveness of a test ban.
UR  - http://scienceandglobalsecurity.org/archive/sgs01fenstermacher.pdf
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