Igor Moric is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Program on Science and Global Security (SGS) at Princeton University. Prior to joining Princeton, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher on the MIMAC and PandaX dark matter detectors at Tsinghua University in Beijing and SJTU in Shanghai, respectively. During his PhD at CNES and Paris Sorbonne he worked on characterization and optimization of the space atomic clock PHARAO. He also holds an advanced master in “Space Systems Engineering” from ISAE-SUPAERO in Toulouse.
Research Interests
My research centers on developing the technical and policy basis to assess and reduce risks from nuclear weapons, with a focus on space-related issues. I am particularly interested in the development and application of innovative monitoring and verification technologies that can increase the transparency and completeness of information on nuclear materials and weapons, and be used as a tool for arms control. As part of that work, I have modeled how overhead transparency provided by large constellations of observational satellites can support nuclear verification and monitoring, and examined how evolving transparency impacts nuclear stability and nuclear decision-making.
In addition, to assess the dangers and capabilities of novel hypersonic boost glide vehicles, I have performed simulations on their flight and visibility to space-based detectors. Most recently, I have been studying the feasibility of U.S. ballistic missile defense by focusing on its cost effectiveness, rather than technical limitations.
Publications
Igor Moric, Advances in Earth Observation Capabilities and their Impact on Nuclear Deterrence, American Physical Society newsletter, January 2024.
Igor Moric, Nuclear Stability in a World with Overhead Transparency, Comparative Strategy, Volume 42, July 2023.
J. Hoster, S. Al-Sayed, F. Biessmann, A. Glaser, K. Hildebrand, Igor Moric, and V. Nguyen, Using Game Engines and Machine Learning to Create Synthetic Satellite Imagery for a Nuclear Verification Tabletop Exercise, INMM & ESARDA Joint Annual Meeting, Vienna, May 2023.
Igor Moric, How Commercial Satellite Imagery Could Soon Make Nuclear Secrecy Very Difficult—If Not Impossible, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, July 2022.
Igor Moric, Capabilities of Commercial Satellite Earth Observation Systems and Applications for Nuclear Verification and Monitoring, Science & Global Security, 30, 2022
Y. Tao, C. Beaufort, Igor Moric, et al., Dark Matter Directionality Detection Performance of the Micromegas-based TPC-MIMAC Detector, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment Volume 1021, 1 January 2022.
T. Kojic, Igor Moric, et al., Virtual Reality in Support of Nuclear Disarmament: Interactivity, Curveballs, and Gameplay, INMM/ESARDA Joint Annual Meeting, August 2021.
Y. Tao, C. Beaufort, Igor Moric, et al., Track Length Measurement of 19F+ ions with the MIMAC Directional Dark Matter Detector Prototype, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 985, January 2021.
P. Laurent, Igor Moric, et al., Qualification and Frequency Accuracy of the Space Based Primary Frequency Standard PHARAO, Metrologia, 57 (5), September 2020.
A. Tartari, B. Bélier, N. Bleurvacq, M. Calvo, D. Cammilleri, T. Decourcelle, A. Monfardini, Igor Moric, M. Piat, D. Prêle, G.F. Smoot, LEKIDs as mm-Wave Polarisation Analysers: Fabrication, Test Bench and Early Results, Proceedings, 16th International Workshop on Low Temperature Detectors, July, 2015.
Igor Moric and P. Laurent, Status of the flight model of the cold atoms space clock PHARAO, Conference: European Frequency and Time Forum & International Frequency Control Symposium (EFTF/IFC), 2013
Igor Moric et al, Magnetic shielding of the cold atom space clock PHARAO, Acta Astronautica 102(4):287–294, September 2014
Igor Moric et al, Hysteresis prediction inside magnetic shields and application, The Review of scientific instruments 85(7):075117-075117-8, July 2014
Igor Moric et al, A Closer View of the Radio-FIR Correlation: Disentangling the Contributions of Star Formation and Active Galactic Nucleus Activity, The Astrophysical Journal 724(1), November 2010
Talks
"Advances in Earth Observation Capabilities and their Impact on Nuclear Stability", American Physical Society (APS) Meeting, Sacramento, United States, April 2024.
"The Increasing Danger of Nuclear Weapons: How Physicists Can Help Reduce the Threat", Workshop at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy, October 2023.
“The Emerging Technologies Arms Race, Nuclear Weapons, and Global Security”, Workshop at Princeton University, June 2023.
“Rethinking Nuclear Disarmament Verification: Revisiting Societal Verification,” Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, United Nations, August 23, 2022.
"Development and Capabilities of Commercial Satellite Earth Observation Systems: Applications for Nuclear Verification and Monitoring", Global Security Technical Webinar Series, June 14, 2022.
“Satellite-based tracking and monitoring: applications for nuclear arms control and nonproliferation”, Program on Science and Global Security Seminar, March 3, 2021.