Physics of Societal Issues
Calculations on National Security, Environment and Energy
David Hafemeister
Springer-Verlag and American Institute of Physics Press, Dec. 2003
Why This Book? The subdivisions of physics——nuclear physics, particle physics, condensed-matter physics, biophysics——have their text books, while the subdivision of physics and society lacks an equation-oriented text on the physics of arms, energy and environment. Physics of Societal Issues is intended for undergraduate and doctoral students who may work on applied topics, or who simply want to know why things are the way they are. Decisions guiding policies on nuclear arms, energy and the environment often seem mysterious and contradictory. What is the science behind the deployment of MIRVed ICBMs, the quest for space-based beam weapons, the fear of powerline EM fields, the wholesale acceptance of SUVs, and the failure of the pre-embargo market to produce buildings and appliances that now save over 50 power plants? Physics of Societal Issues is three "mini-texts" in one:
"Straightforward calculations and supporting analysis can significantly shape public policy. This insight is needed in Congress and the Executive Branch. Hafemeister, a former Congressional fellow with wide Washington experience, has written a book for physicists, chemists and engineers who want to learn science and policy on weapons, energy, and the environment. Scientists who want to make a difference will want this book."
Richard Scribner, Founder, Congressional Science and Engineering Fellow Program
"Hafemeister shows how much one can understand about nuclear weapons and missile issues through simple back-of-the-envelope calculations. He also provides compact explanations of the partially successful attempts that have been made over the past 60 years to control these weapons of mass destruction. Hopefully, Physics of Societal Issues will help interest a new generation of physicists in continuing this work."
Frank von Hippel, Professor,
Princeton University, former Assistant Director, National Security, White House, OSTP"Energy policy must be quantitative. People who don't calculate economic trade-offs often champion simplistic hardware. ‘The solution is more .... nuclear power, or electric cars, or photovoltaics, etc.’ Some simple physics will show that the true solution matches supply and demand as an ‘integrated resource plan.’ Physics of Societal Issues is a good place to begin this journey."
Arthur Rosenfeld, California Energy Commissioner, Professor-emeritus, University of California-Berkeley
(over)
David Hafemeister
is a Professor (emeritus) of Physics at California Polytechnic State University. He spent a dozen years in Washington as Professional Staff Member, Senate Committees on Foreign Relations and Governmental Affairs (1990—93 on arms control treaties at the end of the Cold War), Science Advisor to Senator John Glenn (1975—77), Special Assistant to Under Secretary of State Benson and Deputy-Under Secretary Nye (1977—78), Visiting Scientist in the State Department’s Office of Nuclear Proliferation Policy (1979), the Office of Strategic Nuclear Policy (1987) and Study Director at the National Academy of Sciences (2000—02). He also held appointments at Carnegie Mellon, MIT, Stanford, Princeton, and the Lawrence-Berkeley, Argonne and Los Alamos national laboratories. He was Chair of the APS Forum on Physics and Society (1985—6) and the APS Panel on Public Affairs (1996—7). He has edited nine books, published 140 articles and was awarded the APS Szilard award in 1996. dhafemei@calpoly.edu, (805) 544-5096Contents of Physics of Societal Issues
1. Nuclear Weapons
1.1. Nuclear Age
1.2. Fission Energetics
1.3. Scaling Laws and Critical Masses
1.4. Efficiency/Neutron Generations
1.5. Plutonium Implosion Weapons.
1.6. Boosted Primaries and H Bombs
1.7. Neutron Bomb
1.8. Nuclear Weapon Effects
2. The Offense
2.1. Rocket Equation
2.2. ICBM Trajectories
2.3. ICBM Accuracy
2.4. GPS Accuracy
2.5. Kill Probability
2.6. Nuclear Conflicts
2.7. Conventional Conflicts
3. The Defense
3.1. ABM History
3.2. Target Interactions
3.3. Nuclear ABMs
3.4. Particle Beams Weapons
3.5. Laser Weapons
3.6. Orbital Chemical Lasers
3.7. Earth-Based Lasers
3.8. X-ray Laser/Nuclear Explosion
3.9. Kinetic Kill Vehicles
3.10. Airborne Laser
3.11. Anti-Satellite Weapons
3.12. Rail Guns
4. Verification and Arms Treaties
4.1. Verification Context
4.2. Arms Control Treaties
4.3. Optical Reconnaissance
4.4. Adaptive Optics
4.5. Digital Image Processing
4.6. Infrared Reconnaissance
4.7. Radar Reconnaissance
4.8. Nuclear Tests in Space
4.9. Atmospheric Nuclear Tests
4.10. Underground Nuclear Tests
4.11. How Much Verification?
5. Nuclear Proliferationn
5.1. Proliferation: Baruch to 9-11
5.2. Uranium Enrichment
5.3. Separative Work Units
5.4. Nonproliferation in former USSR
5.5. Plutonium Production
5.6. MTCR and Scuds
6. Air and Water Pollution
6.1. Acid Rain pH
6.2. Clean-Air-Act Trading
6.3. Pollution Scaling Laws
6.4. Power Plant Plumes
6.5. LA Air Basin
6.6. Stratospheric Ozone
6.7. Purifying Water
6.8. Environmental Chemistry
6.9. Flowing Water
7. Nuclear Pollution
7.1. Low-Dose Radiation
7.2. Loss-of-Coolant Accidents
7.3. 137Cs Plume from a LOCA
7.4. Warhead Accident Pu Plume
7.5. Dirty Bombs
7.5. Fault Tree Analysis
7.6. Geological Repositories
7.7. Indoor Radon
8. Climate Change
8.1. Introduction
8.2. Carbon Burning
8.2. CO2 Projections
8.3. Atmospheric/Surface Temperatures
8.4. Temperature Refinements
8.5. Link Between CO2 /Temperature
8.6. Solar and Oceanic Variations
8.7. Heat Islands
8.8. Policy Options
9. EM-Fields and Epidemiology
9.1. Power Line Health Effects?
9.2. Epidemiology
10. The Energy Situation
10.1. Introduction
10.2. Energy Order-of-Magnitudes
10.3. Fossil Fuel Models
10.4. Energy Rates of Change
10.5. Population and Sustainability
10.6. Single/Combined-Cycle Plants
10.7. LNG Explosions
11. Energy in Buildings
11.1. Heat Transfer
11.2. Single/Double Glazed Windows
11.3. Degree Days
11.4. Energy Standards
11.5. Scaling Law for Buildings
12. Solar Buildings
12.1. Solar Flux
12.2. Integrated Solar Flux
12.3. Solar Hot Water
12.4. Active Solar Space Heat
12.5. Passive Solar Thermal Flywheel
13. Renewable Energy
13.1. Sustainable Energy
13.2. Photovoltaic Solar Power
13.3. Solar Thermal Power
13.4. Hydropower
13.5. OTEC and Thermoclines
13.6. Wind Power
13.7. Tidal and Wave Power
13.8. Geothermal Power
13.9. Biomass Power
13.10. Fusion Power
14. Enhanced End-Use Efficiency
14.1.
Heat/Cold Storage in Buildings14.2. Improved Lighting
14.3. Improved Windows
14.4. Heat Pumps
14.5. Improved Appliances
14.6. House Doctors
14.7. Co-Generation
14.8. Utility Load Management
14.9. Energy Storage
15. Transportation
15.1. Auto Basics
15.2. Corporate Average Fuel Economy
15.3. IC Engines
15.4. Hybrid Car
15.5. Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Car
15.6. Safety
15.7. Transportation Potpourri
16. Energy Economics
16.1 Basic Economics
16.2. Discounted Benefits, Paybacks
16.3. Cost of Conserved Energy
16.4. Minimum Life-Cycle Costs
16.5. Energy Tax Credits
16.6. Petroleum Economy
16.7. Imports, Synfuels and Gasohol
16.8. Plutonium Economy
Appendicies (A-G)