User:Kylesenior/sandbox/Subcritical nuclear testing



Subcritical (or cold) nuclear weapon tests are any type of tests involving nuclear materials and possibly high-explosives that purposely result in no yield. The name refers to the lack of creation of a critical mass of fissile material. They are the only type of tests allowed under the interpretation of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty tacitly agreed to by the major atomic powers. Subcritical tests continue to be performed by the United States, Russia, and the People's Republic of China.

China
Arms control expert Jeffrey Lewis stated in 2009 that while China does not publicly admit to subcritical testing, facilities consistent with subcritical testing exist at Lop Nur. Further, the United States believes that China conducted three tests in June and July 2001 and another in December 2001. A declassified 1995 intelligence report suggests that subcritical tests were previously performed at the Southwest Institute of Fluid Physics, but that in 1993 an accident occurred during a subcritical test, leading to their relocation to Lop Nur.

United States and United Kingdom
The United States and United Kingdom conduct subcritical tests at the Nevada Test Site. Some of these tests are joint US-UK tests.

Subcritical test executed by the United States and United Kingdom include: