Interview Insights: A Discussion with Mike Hepler, a Graduate Student
Mike Hepler, a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, is making waves in his research field. His focus is on developing a method to verify the authenticity of objects without revealing sensitive information about them.
In an interview with Nicholas Wu, the Social Sciences Correspondent, Mike discussed his experiences in graduate school and his groundbreaking research work. Mike's journey into graduate school was motivated by a desire for an intellectually stimulating work environment, personal and family reasons, and a sense of obligation due to his academic success.
Transitioning back to school was initially challenging for Mike, as he grappled with the daunting prospect of classes, exams, and general coursework. However, he found solace in the community of fellow graduate students, whom he considers to be the best part of the graduate experience.
Mike sets aside "sacred" times and spaces to prioritize activities outside of academia, such as sports, reflection, reading, and hobbies. He lives off campus for his entire graduate career to maintain a physical separation between work and personal space.
One of Mike's most significant research contributions is the development of a system using zero-knowledge proofs, specifically zero-knowledge succinct non-interactive arguments of knowledge (zkSNARKs) combined with cryptographic commitment schemes, to create a "Warhead Passport" system. This system securely tracks individual warheads over their life cycle, verifying their authenticity and treaty compliance in real-time without the need for physical or intrusive inspections.
The US and Russia, under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), have a limitation on the number of deployed nuclear weapons. The Warhead Passport system verifies the number of "delivery vehicles," serving as an analog for the total number of weapons a nation might have. Mike's research aims to provide a method for verifying more than just delivery vehicles, potentially enabling the verification of individual warheads.
The research utilizes a zero-knowledge proof method, specifically a beam of neutrons to image an inspected item and compare it to a previously verified "golden warhead." This arrangement enables verification of authenticity purely based on cryptographic proofs rather than direct access to the warhead’s secret design or materials.
Mike has been a mentor and friend to Nicholas Wu during his graduate career. The interview is part of a series of Graduate Student Reflections articles and provides more information about Mike's work through the Science and Global Security Program.
In essence, zero-knowledge proofs allow confirming that a warhead is what it claims to be—authentic and treaty-compliant—without exposing sensitive secrets, thereby facilitating trustworthy arms control verification while maintaining national security and confidentiality of classified nuclear information. The verifier learns only that the prover’s statement (e.g., "this item is a legitimate warhead included in the treaty inventory") is true, but no underlying design or other secret details are disclosed.
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Mike Hepler emphasizes the importance of education, self-development, and learning beyond academics as part of his personal growth in graduate school. He carves out designated times and spaces for hobbies, reflection, and reading to maintain a balanced lifestyle.
Mike's research work, utilizing zero-knowledge proofs, is centered on creating a secure and confidential method for verifying the authenticity of objects, such as warheads, without revealing sensitive information. This innovative approach not only fosters trustworthy arms control verification but also upholds national security and the confidentiality of classified nuclear information.
