: The charge for this study was to evaluate the feasibility of achieving the goals of the Integrated Topsides program, to identify potential roadblocks in the program and long-term opportunities. We were asked to do this in the context of Navy needs and in the context of contractor proposals for development programs. In the course of our evaluation, we found that many concerns about the multi-function concept, as well as many aspects of proposals to address it were narrowly focused to design concepts intrinsic to traditional approaches. At the same time we were greatly heartened to see the dynamism of research and development in relevant RF technologies, and increasing interest and willingness to adapt commercial developments to military needs.

Quantification of Margins and Uncertainties is a formalism for dealing with the reliability of complex technical systems, and the confidence which can be placed in estimates of that reliability. We are specifically concerned with its application to the performance and safety of the nuclear stockpile, because the test moratorium precludes direct experimental verification. We define performance “gates”, margins and uncertainties and discuss how QMU differs from conventional error propagation. Finally, we review the history of QMU and its meaning, and explore how it may evolve to meet future needs.

System-level flight tests are an important part of the overall effort by the United States to maintain confidence in the reliability, safety, and performance of its nuclear deterrent forces. This study of activities by the Department of Energy in support of operational tests by the Department of Defense was originally suggested by Dr. Rick Wayne, Director, National Security Programs, Sandia National Laboratory/Livermore, and undertaken at the request of the Department of Energy, Defense Programs Division. It follows two 1997 studies by JASON that focused on the Department of Energy's Enhanced Surveillance Program for the physics package — i.e. the nuclear warhead.

This study is a follow-on to the review made by JASON during its 1997 Summer Study of what is known about the aging of critical constituents, particularly the high explosives, metals (Pu, U), and polymers in the enduring stockpile. The JASON report (JSR-97-320) that summarized the findings was based on briefings by the three weapons labs (LANL, LLNL, SNL). They presented excellent technical analyses covering a broad range of scientific and engineering problems pertaining to determining signatures of aging. But the report also noted: `Missing, however, from the briefings and the written documents made available to us by the labs and DOE, was evidence of an adequately sharp focus and high priorities on a number of essential near-term needs of maintaining weapons in the stockpile.

Abstract : This report examines some potential near term and long term applications of conventional integration in micro-electro mechanical systems (MEMs).

: A group of scientists have for a number of years been claiming that relativistic corrections are not taken into account in GPS system design. Rather, they claim that there are fundamental errors in system design having to do with relativity theory, and that the system will consequently fail to meet its specifications. DARPA requested that JASON consider the issue during its 1984 Summer Study. Our major conclusion is that these claims about GPS are completely invalid; the fundamentals of relativistic time synchronization on which the system is based are valid. Originator-supplied keywords: GPS; General relativity; NAVSTAR.