Frank von Hippel is a senior research physicist and professor of public and international affairs emeritus with Princeton’s Program on Science & Global Security which he co-founded.
Research Interests
I'm currently working on the technical basis for ending the production of highly enriched uranium, the separation of plutonium and national enrichment of uranium, as well nuclear arms control and limitations on ballistic missile defense.
Publications
Fissile Material Policy
F. N. von Hippel, The Australia-UK-U.S. Submarine Deal: Mitigating Proliferation Concerns, Arms Control Today, November 2021.
R. L. Gallucci, D. G. Kimball, A. J. Kuperman, S. Squassoni, and F. N. von Hippel, Open Letter to President Joe Biden: Mitigate the Proliferation Impact of Offering Submarines Fueled with Weapon-grade Uranium to a Non-nuclear-weapon State by Committing to Design Future U.S. Naval Reactors to Use Low-enriched Uranium Fuel, 6 October 2021.
J. Kang, M. Takubo, and F. N. von Hippel, Plutonium for Nuclear Energy: From Dream to Nightmare, Springer Nature, 2019.
F. N. von Hippel and S. K. Weiner, No Rush to Enrich: Alternatives for Providing Uranium for U.S. National Security Needs, Arms Control Today, July/August 2019.
M. Takubo and F. N. von Hippel, Forty Years of Impasse: The United States, Japan and the Plutonium Problem, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, August 2017.
J. Kang and F. N. von Hippel, Reprocessing Policy and South Korea's New Government, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, May 15, 2017.
S. Philippe and F. N. von Hippel, The Feasibility of Ending HEU Fuel Use in the U.S. Navy, Arms Control Today, November 2016, pp. 15-22.
F. N. von Hippel, Banning the Production of Highly Enriched Uranium, International Panel on Fissile Materials, 2016.
F. N. von Hippel, A Really Good Idea: Multinationalize Iran's Enrichment Program, The National Interest, July 1, 2015.
A. Ahmad, A. Glaser, Z. Mian and F. N. von Hippel, A Win-Win Solution for Iran's Arak Reactor, Arms Control Today, April 2014, pp. 8-13.
A. Kuperman and F. N. von Hippel, Highly Enriched Danger, New York Times, March 22, 2014.
H. A. Feiveson, A. Glaser, Z. Mian and F. N. von Hippel, Unmaking the Bomb: A Fissile Material Approach to Nuclear Disarmament and Nonproliferation, MIT Press, 2014.
T. Clements, E. Lyman and F. N. von Hippel, The Future of Plutonium Disposition, Arms Control Today, July/August 2013, pp. 8-15.
M. Takubo and F. N. von Hippel, Japan's Nuclear Mistake, New York Times, November 28, 2012.
R. Ewing, R. Garwin, A. MacFarlane and F. N. von Hippel, Time to Bury Plutonium, Nature, May 10, 2012, p. 167.
F. N. von Hippel, South Korean Reprocessing: An Unnecessary Threat to the Nonproliferation Regime, Arms Control Today, March 2010, pp. 22-29.
A. Glaser and F. N. von Hippel, Global Cleanout: Reducing the Threat of HEU-fueled Nuclear Terrorism, Arms Control Today, January-February 2006, pp. 18-23.
S. Fetter and F. N. von Hippel, Is U.S. Reprocessing Worth the Risk?, Arms Control Today, September 2005, pp. 6-12.
F. N. von Hippel and M. Bunn, Saga of the Siberian Plutonium Production Reactors, F.A.S. Public Interest Report, November/December 2000.
F. N. von Hippel, Nuclear "Turkey" [plutonium breeder reactor] on Congress' Menu, Los Angeles Times, Sunday, August 22, 1982, p. 5.
H. A. Feiveson, F. N. von Hippel and R. H. Williams, Uranium Security Without the Breeder Reactor, Washington Post, March 16, 1979.
H. A. Feiveson, F. N. von Hippel and R. H. Williams, Fission Power: An Evolutionary Strategy, Science, 203, January 26, 1979, pp. 330-337.
H. A. Feiveson, F. N. von Hippel and R. H. Williams, Alternatives to the Plutonium Breeder, Washington Post, September 16, 1977.
H. A. Feiveson, T. B. Taylor, F. N. von Hippel and R. H. Williams, Breedermania, New York Times, June 20, 1977, p. 27.
F. N. von Hippel and R. H. Williams, Energy Waste and Nuclear Power Growth, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, December 1976, pp. 20-32.
H. A. Feiveson, T. B. Taylor, F. N. von Hippel, and R. H. Williams, The Plutonium Economy: Why We Should Wait and Why We Can Wait, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, December 1976, pp. 10-14.
Nuclear Arms Control Policy
F. N. von Hippel, Two risk-benefit analyses that should be undertaken as part of the Biden Administration’s Nuclear Posture Review: on Strategic BMD and Launch on Warning, November 2021.
F. N. von Hippel, US Expenditures on Ballistic Missile Defense Through Fiscal Year 2021, October 2021.
G. N. Lewis and F. N. von Hippel, Limitations on Ballistic Missile Defense—Past and Possibly Future, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 74 (4), pp. 199–209, August 2018.
G. N. Lewis and F. N. von Hippel, Improving U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense Policy, Arms Control Today, May 2018, pp. 16-22.
S. Fetter, R. Garwin, and F. N. von Hippel, Nuclear Weapons Dangers and Policy Options, Physics Today, April 2018, pp. 32-39.
S. Fetter and F. N. von Hippel, Does the United States Need a New Plutonium-Pit Facility?, Arms Control Today, May 2004, pp. 10-14.
B. Blair and F. N. von Hippel, A Longer Nuclear Fuse, Washington Post, June 6, 2000, p. A27.
P. Bleek and F. N. von Hippel, Missile defense -- A Dangerous Move, Washington Post, Sunday, December 12, 1999, p. B09.
M. V. Ramana and F. N. von Hippel, Does India Need the H-bomb?, The Hindu, December 23, 1998, p. 12.
B. Blair, H. A. Feiveson and F. N. von Hippel, Taking Nuclear Weapons off Hair-Trigger Alert, Scientific American, 277, November 1997, pp. 74-81.
S. Jones and F. N. von Hippel, Take a Hard Look at Subcritical Tests, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 52, November-December 1996, pp. 44-47.
R. E. Kidder and F. N. von Hippel, A Pentagon Shell Game with Everything to Lose, Los Angeles Times, July 26, 1995, p. B9.
F. N. von Hippel, M. Miller, H. Feiveson, A. Diakov, and F. Berkhout, Eliminating Nuclear Warheads, Scientific American, August 1993.
S. Fetter and F. N. von Hippel, The Hazard from Plutonium Dispersal by Nuclear Warhead Accidents, Science & Global Security, 2 (1), 1990, pp. 21-42.
F. N. von Hippel and R. Z. Sagdeev (eds.), Reversing the Arms Race: How to Achieve and Verify Deep Reductions in Nuclear Weapons, Gordon and Breach Science Publishers, New York, 1990.
F. N. von Hippel and T. B. Cochran, The Myth of the Soviet 'Killer' Laser, New York Times, August 19, 1989.
F. N. von Hippel, B. G. Levi, T. B. Postol, and W. H. Daugherty, Civilian Casualties from Counterforce Attacks, Scientific American, September 1988, pp. 36-42.
A. Boserup, R. Nield, F. N. von Hippel, and A. von Müller, Analysts Address Gorbachev (with a response from Gorbachev) in Federation of American Scientists' Public Interest Report, February 1988, pp. 14-15.
F. N. von Hippel, A U.S. Scientist Addresses Gorbachev, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, May 1987, pp. 12-13.
J. Stein and F. N. von Hippel, Laboratories vs. a Nuclear Ban, New York Times, March 28, 1986.
D. H. Albright, B. G. Levi and F. N. von Hippel, Stopping the Production of Fissile Material for Weapons, Scientific American, September 1985, pp. 40-47.
H. A. Feiveson, R. Ullman and F. N. von Hippel, Reducing U.S. and Soviet Nuclear Arsenals, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, August 1985, pp. 144-150.
F. N. von Hippel, The Myths of Edward Teller, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, March 1983, pp. 6-12.
H. A. Feiveson and F. N. von Hippel, The Freeze and the Counterforce Race, Physics Today, January 1983.
S. D. Drell and F. N. von Hippel, Limited Nuclear Warfare, Scientific American, November 1976, pp. 27-37.
Citizen Scientist: Frank Von Hippel’s Adventures in Nuclear Arms Control
F. N. von Hippel and T. Kurokawa, Citizen Scientist: Frank Von Hippel’s Adventures in Nuclear Arms Control, Journal for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament, 3, 2020.
Part 2: Engaging with nuclear-weapons policy
Part 3: Working with Gorbachev’s Advisors to End the Nuclear Arms Race
Part 4: Soviet Nuclear Transparency, the Collapse and After
Part 5: Working in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
Part 6: A Global Agenda and Beginning the Handoff to the Next Generation
Part 7: The Obama Administration, Iran, Foundations, and the Next Generation
Part 8: Nuclear-reactor Safety Again
Scientists and Policymaking
F. N. von Hippel, Sakharov, Gorbachev, and Nuclear Reductions, Physics Today, April 2017, pp. 49-54.
F. N. von Hippel, The Federation of American Scientists' Contribution to Ending the Cold War Nuclear Arms Race, Federation of American Scientists Public Interest Report, Special 70th Anniversary Issue, May 2016. (CHECK)
F. N. von Hippel, Gorbachev's Unofficial Arms-control Advisors, Physics Today, September 2013.
F. N. von Hippel, James Franck: Science and Conscience, Physics Today, May 2010.
F. N. von Hippel, Big Government and Little Analysts, Physics Today, 48 (6), June 1995.
F. N. von Hippel, Working in the White House on Nuclear Nonproliferation and Arms Control: A Personal Report, F.A.S. Public Interest Report 48, 2, March/April 1995.
F. N. von Hippel, Citizen Scientist, American Institute of Physics, Masters of Modern Physics Series, New York, 1991.
F. N. von Hippel, Finding Common Ground: Activists & Analysts Must Work Together, Nuclear Times, March-April 1986, pp. 19-20.
F. N. von Hippel, The Emperor's New Clothes – 1981, Physics Today, July 1981, pp. 34-41.
R. Chalk and F. N. von Hippel, Due Process for Dissenting Whistle‑Blowers, Technology Review, June/July 1979, pp. 45-55. (CHECK)
J. Primack and F. N. von Hippel, Advice and Dissent: Scientists in the Political Arena, Basic Books, New York, 1974.
J. Primack and F. N. von Hippel, Public Interest Science, Science, 177, 1972, pp. 1166-1171.
Nuclear Safety
E. Lyman, M. Schöppner, and F. N. von Hippel, Nuclear Safety Regulation in the Post-Fukushima Era, Science, 356, May 26, 2017.
F. N. von Hippel and M. Schöppner, Economic Losses from a Fire in a Dense-Packed U.S. Spent Fuel Pool, Science & Global Security, 25, 2017, pp. 80-92.
F. N. von Hippel and M. Schöppner, Reducing the Danger from Fires in Spent Fuel Pools, Science & Global Security, 24, 2016, pp. 141-173.
L. Kahn and F. N. von Hippel, Nuclear Power Plant Emergencies and Thyroid Cancer Risk: What New Jersey Physicians Need to Know, NJ Medicine, April 2004, pp. 22-27.
R. Alvarez, J. Beyea, K. Janberg, J. Kang, E. Lyman, A. Macfarlane, G. Thompson and F. N. von Hippel, Reducing the Hazards from Stored Spent Power-reactor Fuel in the United States, Science & Global Security, 11, 2003.
T. B. Cochran and F. N. von Hippel, Chernobyl, The Emerging Story: Estimating Long-Term Health Effects, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, August/September 1986, pp. 18-24.
J. Beyea and F. N. von Hippel, Containment of a Reactor Melt‑Down, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, September 1982, pp. 52-59.
F. N. von Hippel, The NRC and Thyroid Protection: One Excuse After Another, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 36, October 1980, pp. 44-46.
F. N. von Hippel, Looking Back on the Rasmussen Report, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, February 1977, pp. 42-47.
H. W. Lewis, R.J . Budnitz, A. W. Castleman, D. E. Dorfan, F. C. Finlayson, R. L. Garwin, L. C. Hebel, S. M. Keeny Jr., R. A. Muller, G. F. Smoot, T. B. Taylor and F. N. von Hippel, Report to the American Physical Society by the Study Group on Light Water Reactor Safety, Reviews of Modern Physics, 47, Supplement 1, Summer 1975.
Auto Fuel Efficiency
B. Levi and F. N. von Hippel, Automobile Fuel Efficiency: The Opportunity and the Weakness of Existing Market Incentives, Resources and Conservation, 10, 1983, pp. 103-124.
C. Gray and F. N. von Hippel, The Fuel Economy of Light Vehicles, Scientific American, May 1981, pp. 48-59.