Bulletin of the American Physical Society
APS April Meeting 2011
Volume 56, Number 4
Saturday–Tuesday, April 30–May 3 2011; Anaheim, California
Session R5: The Status of Arms Control |
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Sponsoring Units: FPS Chair: Pierce Corden, American Association for the Advancement of Science Room: Royal AB |
Monday, May 2, 2011 1:30PM - 2:06PM |
R5.00001: What Happens to Deterrence as Nuclear Weapons Decrease Toward Zero? Invited Speaker: Steps reducing reliance on deployed nuclear weapons en route to zero will be discussed. They include broadly enhancing cooperation and transparency agreements beyond the provisions for verifying limits on deployed strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems in the New START treaty. Two questions that will be addressed are: What conditions would have to be established in order to maintain strategic stability among nations as nuclear weapons recede in importance? What would nuclear deterrence be like in a world without nuclear weapons? [Preview Abstract] |
Monday, May 2, 2011 2:06PM - 2:42PM |
R5.00002: Confidence in Nuclear Weapons as Numbers Decrease and Time Since Testing Increases Invited Speaker: As numbers and types of nuclear weapons are reduced, the U.S. objective is to maintain a safe, secure and effective nuclear deterrent without nuclear-explosive testing. A host of issues combine to make this a challenge. An evolving threat environment may prompt changes to security systems. Aging of weapons has led to ``life extension programs'' that produce weapons that differ in some ways from the originals. Outdated and changing facilities pose difficulties for life-extension, surveillance, and dismantlement efforts. A variety of factors can make it a challenge to recruit, develop, and retain outstanding people with the skills and experience that are needed to form the foundation of a credible deterrent. These and other issues will be discussed in the framework of proposals to reduce and perhaps eliminate nuclear weapons. [Preview Abstract] |
Monday, May 2, 2011 2:42PM - 3:18PM |
R5.00003: Securing Support from a Skeptical Senate for Further Strategic Arms Controls Invited Speaker: The United States Senate is a forum in which those who doubt the efficacy of strategic arms control, either in general or regarding a specific proposed agreement, can often require arms control proponents to address their concerns. The most telling concerns that were raised regarding past arms control agreements will be specified and examined to gauge their likely impact on pending or future arms control issues. Particular attention will be paid to identifying: (a) those arms control objectives or arguments that are unlikely to secure broad support from a skeptical audience; (b) those arms control measures that are most likely to gain support even from persons who do not believe that a world without nuclear weapons is a feasible objective; and (c) areas in which science and technology can have a positive impact on the scope and success of further arms control efforts. [Preview Abstract] |
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