Nonproliferation and fusion power plants

Abstract

This is an abridged abstract; please see the full paper. This paper evaluates whether the nuclear nonproliferation regime applies to fusion power plants and finds that, legally, the regime does not apply. The paper then examines whether the nonproliferation regime should apply to fusion based on a technical evaluation. The paper concludes that fusion should continue to fall outside the nonproliferation regime and that the global, dual-use export control regime, including potentially developing a "controls by design" usage-based control regime, is better suited for commercial fusion energy.

Updates for rev 3: fix typos, clarify text, update figure for clarity and completeness, added a footnote to define dual-use, added a couple sentences on small quantities protocol