Science for Nuclear Diplomacy

Research Profile & Topics

The Science for Nuclear Diplomacy research group conducts research in experimental physics and computational nuclear engineering in collaboration with political science to support the non-proliferation, arms control, and disarmament of nuclear weapons. It is co-located at Technical University Darmstadt and PRIF. We develop novel monitoring and verification techniques and approaches for arms control contexts, evaluate proliferation potentials of nuclear programs and new nuclear technologies, and explore avenues towards reductions in nuclear weapon arsenals and weapons-usable fissile materials.

Research Methods

For our technical work, we exploit computational science and A.I. for modelling and analysis. Simulations of the nuclear fuel cycle are essential for designing verification approaches. Our group's physics laboratory is equipped with modern read-out electronics, manufacturing tools and radiation sources to study gamma, neutron, antineutrino, and muon detectors that can measure and characterise nuclear material and nuclear facility operations. Political scientists contribute to an integrated research design spanning natural and social sciences.

Projects

In addition to being part of CNTR itself – funded by the German Federal Foreign Office – SND engages in additional externally-funded projects. Currently on-going are:

nuSENTRY: Neutrino-based safety monitoring for emerging nuclear technology and reactor types (BMFTR-funded)

VeSPoTec: Verification in a complex and unpredictable world: social, political and technical processes (BMFTR-funded)

Student Theses and Teaching

The Science for Nuclear Diplomacy group offers Bachelor and Master Thesis projects in the field of nuclear verification and disarmament for physics students. For further information see the list of available Bachelor and Master theses. You find information on teaching there.