Fusion programme 'could aid terrorists.'

Article Abstract:

A former weapons designer at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), New Mexico, claims that the fusion program between LANL and Arzamas 16 of Russia is likely to produce information that can be used by terrorists to make neutron bombs. The program is a part of the US Department of Energy's 'lab-to-lab' program. The experiment uses chemical explosives to produce a strong electrical pulse which is converted into a magnetic field. The field compresses a pellet of deuterium and tritium leading to thermonuclear fusion. Debates by nuclear scientists on the issue are given.

Research, Military aspects, Nuclear energy research, Nuclear fusion, United States. Department of Energy. Los Alamos National Laboratory

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California to keep energy labs contracts

Article Abstract:

The University of California gets to keep the contract for operating Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos and Lawrence Berkeley laboratories from the US Department of Energy (DOE). The decision was taken by the DOE to avoid problems arising due to change in management. The university obtains about $7.5 million a year to operate the laboratories. DOE insists that the decision is nonpolitical and may extend the contract period by five years. The University was urged to improve its role in community development and environmental protection.

Management, Contracts, University of California, Nuclear facilities

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Report backs whistleblower

Article Abstract:

The Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Safety (ONS) reported on Apr 2, 1992 that metallurgist James A. Smith was improperly pressured to leave his job at Argonne National Laboratory for repeatedly complaining about mistakes in the Integral Fast Reactor program. The ONS concurred with Smith's assertion that Argonne failed to act on his proposals for improving how errors are detected. Argonne disputes the report but will comply with the ONS's recommendations such as teaching its employees the principles of peer review.

Safety and security measures, Reports, Investigations, Whistle blowing, Whistleblowing, Argonne National Laboratory, Fast reactors

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