Abstract
Fission explosions produce large numbers of antineutrinos. It is occasionally asked whether this distinctive, unshieldable emission could help reveal clandestine nuclear weapon explosions. The practical challenge encountered is that detectors large enough for this application are cost prohibitive, likely on the multi-billion-dollar scale. In this paper, we review several hypothetical use cases for antineutrino detectors as supplements to the seismic, infrasound, hydroacoustic, and airborne radionuclide sensors of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization’s International Monitoring System. In each case, if an anti-neutrino detector could be constructed that would compete with existing capabilities, we conclude that the cost would considerably outstrip the value it might add to the existing monitoring network, compared to the significantly lower costs for the same or superior capability.
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28 April 2020
A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-020-02488-y
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Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the support of the National Nuclear Security Administration Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development, U.S. Department of Energy, for funding this work. Any subjective views or opinions expressed in the paper do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Department of Energy or the United States Government.
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Foxe, M., Bowyer, T., Carr, R. et al. Antineutrino Detectors Remain Impractical for Nuclear Explosion Monitoring. Pure Appl. Geophys. 178, 2753–2763 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-020-02464-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-020-02464-6