Arms control A

Below is a list of the current work priorities of the Physics section in the field of Arms Control:

Consultancy work with regard to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in Vienna. The treaty has yet to come into force, but has been signed by 180 states and ratified by 148 (status Jan. 2009). The work of the CTBTO includes the development of a global network of monitoring stations capable of detecting covert nuclear tests, and the provision of the necessary equipment, procedures and inspectors for on-site inspections to clarify whether the triggering event was a nuclear explosion. The Spiez Laboratory represents the Swiss mission to the Vienna-based CTBTO Working Group B during discussions and work on technical issues connected to on-site inspections.
Switzerland, represented by the SFOE (Swiss Federal Office of Energy), is elected on a rotating basis to serve for two years on the Board of Governors of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency). We advise the SFOE on technical questions which may arise during the course of its work on the Board (e.g. the measurement of isotopes in environmental samples, mass spectrometry etc.).
Participation in international disarmament missions and post-conflict environmental assessment missions (e.g. the investigation of use/non-use of depleted uranium in Lebanon and capacity-building in Côte d’Ivoire).