DOCSLIB.ORG

Nuclear Weapons FAQ (NWFAQ) Organization Back to Main Index

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Nuclear Weapons FAQ (NWFAQ) Organization Back to Main Index Nuclear Weapons FAQ (NWFAQ) Organization Back to Main Index This is a complete listing of the decimally numbered headings of the Nuclear Weapons Frequently Asked Questions, which provides a comprehensive view of the organization and contents of the document. Index 1.0 Types of Nuclear Weapons 1.1 Terminology 1.2 U.S. Nuclear Test Names 1.3 Units of Measurement 1.4 Pure Fission Weapons 1.5 Combined Fission/Fusion Weapons 1.5.1 Boosted Fission Weapons 1.5.2 Staged Radiation Implosion Weapons 1.5.3 The Alarm Clock/Sloika (Layer Cake) Design 1.5.4 Neutron Bombs 1.6 Cobalt Bombs 2.0 Introduction to Nuclear Weapon Physics and Design 2.1 Fission Weapon Physics 2.1.1 The Nature Of The Fission Process 2.1.2 Criticality 2.1.3 Time Scale of the Fission Reaction 2.1.4 Basic Principles of Fission Weapon Design 2.1.4.1 Assembly Techniques - Achieving Supercriticality 2.1.4.1.1 Implosion Assembly 2.1.4.1.2 Gun Assembly 2.1.4.2 Initiating Fission 2.1.4.3 Preventing Disassembly and Increasing Efficiency 2.2 Fusion Weapon Physics 2.2.1 Candidate Fusion Reactions 2.2.2 Basic Principles of Fusion Weapon Design 2.2.2.1 Designs Using the Deuterium+Tritium Reaction 2.2.2.2 Designs Using Other Fuels 3.0 Matter, Energy, and Radiation Hydrodynamics 3.1 Thermodynamics and the Properties of Gases 3.1.1 Kinetic Theory of Gases 3.1.2 Heat, Entropy, and Adiabatic Compression 3.1.3 Thermodynamic Equilibrium and Equipartition 3.1.4 Relaxation 3.1.5 The Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution Law 3.1.6 Specific Heats and the Thermodynamic Exponent 3.1.7 Properties of Blackbody Radiation 3.2 Properties of Matter 3.2.1 Equations of State (EOS) 3.2.2 Condensed Matter 3.2.3 Matter Under Ordinary Conditions 3.2.4 Matter At High Pressures 3.2.4.1 Thomas-Fermi Theory 3.2.5 Matter At High Temperatures 3.3 Interaction of Radiation and Matter 3.3.1 Thermal Equilibrium 3.3.2 Photon Interaction Mechanisms 3.3.2.1 Bound-Bound Interactions 3.3.2.2 Bound-Free Interactions 3.3.2.3 Free-Free Interactions 3.3.2.3.1 Bremsstrahlung Absorption and Emission 3.3.2.3.2 Scattering 3.3.2.3.2.1 Thomson Scattering 3.3.2.3.2.2 Compton Scattering 3.3.3 Opacity Laws 3.3.4 Radiation Transport 3.3.4.1 Radiation Diffusion 3.3.4.2 Radiation Heat Conduction 3.3.4.2.1 Linear Heat Conduction 3.3.4.2.2 Non-Linear Heat Conduction 3.4 Hydrodynamics 3.4.1 Acoustic Waves 3.4.2 Rarefaction and Compression Waves 3.4.3 Hydrodynamic Shock Waves 3.4.3.1 Classical Shock Waves 3.4.3.2 Detonation Waves 3.4.3.3 Linear Equation of State for Shock Compression 3.5 Radiation Hydrodynamics 3.5.1 Radiative Shock Waves 3.5.2 Subcritical Shocks 3.5.3 Critical Shock Waves 3.5.4 Supercritical Shock Waves 3.5.5 Radiation Dominated Shock Waves 3.5.6 Thermal Waves with Hydrodynamic Flow 3.6 Shock Waves in Non-Uniform Systems 3.6.1 Shock Waves at an Interface 3.6.1.1 Release Waves 3.6.1.1.1 Free Surface Release Waves in Gases 3.6.1.1.2 Free Surface Release Waves in Solids 3.6.1.1.3 Shock Waves at a Low Impedance Boundary 3.6.1.2 Shock Reflection 3.6.1.2.1 Shock Waves at a Rigid Interface 3.6.1.2.2 Shock Waves at a High Impedance Boundary 3.6.2 Collisions of Moving Bodies 3.6.2.1 Collisions of Bodies With Differing Impedance 3.6.3 Collisions of Shock Waves 3.6.4 Oblique Collisions of Moving Bodies 3.7 Principles of Implosion 3.7.1 Implosion Geometries 3.7.2 Classes of Implosive Processes 3.7.3 Convergent Shock Waves 3.7.3.1 Convergent Shocks With Reflection 3.7.4 Collapsing Shells 3.7.4.1 Shell in Free Fall 3.7.4.2 Shell Collapse Under Constant Pressure 3.7.5 Methods for Extreme Compression 3.8 Instability 3.8.1 Rayleigh-Taylor Instability 3.8.2 Richtmyer-Meshkov Instability 3.8.3 Helmholtz Instability 4.0 Engineering and Design of Nuclear Weapons 4.1 Elements of Fission Weapon Design 4.1.1 Dimensional and Temporal Scale Factors 4.1.2 Nuclear Properties of Fissile Materials 4.1.3 Distribution of Neutron Flux and Energy in the Core 4.1.3.1 Flux Distribution in the Core 4.1.3.2 Energy Distribution in the Core 4.1.4 History of a Fission Explosion 4.1.4.1 Sequence of Events 4.1.4.1.1 Initial State 4.1.4.1.2 Delayed Criticality 4.1.4.1.3 Prompt Criticality 4.1.4.1.4 Supercritical Reactivity Insertion 4.1.4.1.5 Exponential Multiplication 4.1.4.1.6 Explosive Disassembly 4.1.4.2 The Disassembly Process 4.1.4.3 Post Disassembly Expansion 4.1.5 Fission Weapon Efficiency 4.1.5.1 Efficiency Equations 4.1.5.1.1 The Serber Efficiency Equation Revisited 4.1.5.1.2 The Density Dependent Efficiency Equation 4.1.5.1.3 The Mass and Density Dependent Efficiency Equation 4.1.5.1.4 The Mass Dependent Efficiency Equation 4.1.5.1.5 Limitations of the Efficiency Equations 4.1.5.2 Effect of Tampers and Reflectors on Efficiency 4.1.5.2.1 Tampers 4.1.5.2.2 Reflectors 4.1.5.3 Predetonation 4.1.6 Methods of Core Assembly 4.1.6.1 Gun Assembly 4.1.6.1.1 Single Gun Systems 4.1.6.1.2 Double Gun Systems 4.1.6.1.3 Weapon Design and Insertion Speed 4.1.6.1.4 Initiation 4.1.6.2 Implosion Assembly 4.1.6.2.1 Energy Required for Compression 4.1.6.2.2 Shock Wave Generation Systems 4.1.6.2.2.1 Multiple Initiation Points 4.1.6.2.2.2 Explosive Lenses 4.1.6.2.2.3 Advanced Wave Shaping Techniques 4.1.6.2.2.4 Cylindrical and Planar Shock Techniques 4.1.6.2.2.5 Explosives 4.1.6.2.2.6 Detonation Systems 4.1.6.2.3 Implosion Hardware Designs 4.1.6.2.3.1 Solid Pit Designs 4.1.6.2.3.2 Levitated Core Designs 4.1.6.2.3.3 Thin Shell (Flying Plate) Designs 4.1.6.2.3.4 Shock Buffers 4.1.6.2.3.5 Cylindrical Implosion 4.1.6.2.3.6 Planar Implosion 4.1.6.3 Hybrid Assembly Techniques 4.1.6.3.1 Complex Guns 4.1.6.3.2 Linear Implosion 4.1.7 Nuclear Design Principles 4.1.7.1 Fissile Materials 4.1.7.1.1 Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) 4.1.7.1.2 Plutonium 4.1.7.1.2.1 Plutonium Oxide 4.1.7.1.3 U-233 4.1.7.2 Composite Cores 4.1.7.3 Tampers and Reflectors 4.1.7.3.1 Tampers 4.1.7.3.2 Reflectors 4.1.7.3.2.1 Moderation and Inelastic Scattering 4.1.7.3.2.2 Comparison of Reflector Materials 4.1.7.3.3 Combined Tamper/Reflector Systems 4.1.8 Fission Initiation Techniques 4.1.8.1 Modulated Beryllium/Polonium Initiators 4.1.8.2 External Neutron Initiators (ENIs) 4.1.8.3 Internal Tritium/Deuterium Initiators 4.1.9 Testing 4.1.9.1 Nuclear Tests 4.1.9.2 Hydrodynamic Tests 4.1.9.3 Hydronuclear Tests 4.2 Fission Weapon Designs 4.2.1 Low Technology Designs 4.2.1.1 Gun Designs 4.2.1.2 Implosion Designs 4.2.2 High Efficiency Weapons 4.2.3 Low Yield Weapons 4.2.3.1 Minimum Size 4.2.3.2 Minimum Fissile Content 4.2.4 High Yield Weapons 4.2.5 Special Purpose Applications 4.2.5.1 Thermonuclear Primaries (Triggers) 4.2.5.2 Earth Penetrating Warheads 4.2.6 Weapon Design and Clandestine Proliferation 4.2.6.1 Clandestine Weapons Development and Testing 4.2.6.2 Terrorist Bombs 4.3 Fission-Fusion Hybrid Weapons 4.3.1 Fusion Boosted Fission Weapons 4.3.2 Neutron Bombs ("Enhanced Radiation Weapons") 4.3.3 The Alarm Clock/Layer Cake Design 4.4 Elements of Thermonuclear Weapon Design 4.4.1 Development of Thermonuclear Weapon Concepts 4.4.1.1 Early Work 4.4.1.2 The Ignition Problem 4.4.1.3 The Classical Super 4.4.1.4 The Teller-Ulam Design 4.4.2 Schematic of a Thermonuclear Device 4.4.3 Radiation Implosion 4.4.3.1 The Role of Radiation 4.4.3.2 Opacity of Materials in Thermonuclear Design 4.4.3.3 The Ablation Process 4.4.3.3.1 The Ablation Shock 4.4.3.4 Principles of Compression 4.4.3.4.1 Purpose of Compression 4.4.3.4.2 The Fermi Pressure 4.4.3.4.3 Efficient Compression 4.4.3.5 Ignition 4.4.3.5.1 Fission Spark Plugs 4.4.3.5.2 Shock Heating Induced Ignition 4.4.3.6 Burn and Disassembly 4.4.4 Implosion Systems 4.4.4.1 Techniques for Controlled Implosion 4.4.4.1.1 Release Waves 4.4.4.1.2 Standoff Gaps 4.4.4.1.3 Compartmented Radiation Cases 4.4.4.1.4 Modulated Primary Energy Production 4.4.4.1.5 Multiple Staging 4.4.4.1.6 Selection of Pusher Materials 4.4.4.2 Radiation Containment and Transport 4.4.4.2.1 Radiation Case 4.4.4.2.2 Radiation Channel 4.4.4.3 Avoiding Fuel Preheating 4.4.5 Fusion Stage Nuclear Physics and Design 4.4.5.1 Fusionable Isotopes 4.4.5.2 Neutronic Reactions 4.4.5.3 Fusion Fuels 4.4.5.3.1 Pure Deuterium 4.4.5.3.2 "Dry" Fuels (Lithium Hydrides) 4.4.5.3.2.1 Enriched Lithium Deuteride 4.4.5.3.2.2 Natural Lithium Deuteride 4.4.5.3.3 Speculative Fuels 4.4.5.4 Fusion Tampers 4.4.5.4.1 Fissionable Tampers 4.4.5.4.1 "Clean" Non-Fissile Tampers 4.4.5.4.1 "Dirty" Non-Fissile Tampers 4.5 Thermonuclear Weapon Designs 4.5.1 Principle Design Types 4.5.1.1 Early Designs 4.5.1.2 Modular Weapons 4.5.1.3 Compact Light Weight Designs 4.5.1.4 Two Chamber Designs 4.5.1.5 Hollow Shell Designs 4.5.1.4 High Yield and Multiple Staged Designs 4.5.2 "Dirty" and "Clean" Weapons 4.5.3 Maximum Yield/Weight Ratio 4.5.4 Minimum Residual Radiation (MRR or "Clean") Designs 4.5.5 Radiological Weapon Designs 4.6 Weapon System Design 4.6.1 Weapon Safety 4.6.1.1 Safeties and Fuzing Systems 5.0 Effects of Nuclear Explosions 5.1 Overview of Immediate Effects 5.2 Overview of Delayed Effects 5.2.1 Radioactive Contamination 5.2.2 Effects on the Atmosphere and Climate 5.2.2.1 Harm to the Ozone Layer 5.2.2.2 Nuclear Winter 5.3 Physics of Nuclear Weapon Effects 5.3.1 Fireball Physics 5.3.1.1 The Early Fireball 5.3.1.2 Blast Wave Development and Thermal Radiation Emission 5.3.2 Ionizing Radiation Physics 5.3.2.1 Sources of Radiation 5.3.2.1.1 Prompt Radiation 5.3.2.1.2 Delayed Radiation 5.4 Air Bursts and Surface Bursts 5.4.1 Air Bursts 5.4.2 Surface Bursts 5.4.3 Sub-Surface Bursts 5.5 Electromagnetic Effects 5.6 Mechanisms of Damage and Injury 5.6.1 Thermal Damage and Incendiary Effects 5.6.1.1 Thermal Injury 5.6.1.2 Incendiary Effects 5.6.1.3 Eye Injury 5.6.2
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Broken Arrows: Radiological Hazards from Nuclear Warhead Accidents (The Minot USAF Base
    Occasional Paper January 2008 Broken Arrows: Radiological hazards from nuclear warhead accidents (the Minot USAF base nuclear weapons incident) by Dr. Theodore E. Liolios Page 1 of 30 ATHENA, the Hellenic Arms Control Center, is a non-profit, nongovernmental, scientific organization dedicated to promoting public understanding of and support for effective arms control policies. It is the only organization in Greece (and probably in the entire Europe) dedicated exclusively to research on arms control and nonproliferation issues. The Director of the Center is Dr. Theodore Liolios1 currently a permanent member of the faculty of the Hellenic Army Academy and Director of its Nuclear Physics Laboratory. ATHENA provides policy-makers, the press, and the interested public with authoritative information, analysis and commentary on scientific aspects of arms control, arms proposals, negotiations and agreements, and all relevant international security issues. ATHENA holds regular press briefings on major arms control developments, providing commentary and analysis on a broad spectrum of issues for journalists and scholars both in Europe and abroad. ATHENA covers numerous peace and security issues affected by proliferation of weapons of mass destruction including European and international nonproliferation programs, missile defenses, failed and post-conflict states and irresponsible defense spending. The non-commercial academic nature of ATHENA ensures that all the proceeds from donations, subsidies and advertisements will be used to support the scientific research of the center (in the form of fellowships) as well as the education of young scientists (in the form of internships) who wish to specialize in arms control and international security subjects. ATHENA’s homepage can also be considered a library, which provides information on various arms control topics.
    [Show full text]
  • Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
    J Radioanal Nucl Chem (2013) 298:993–1003 DOI 10.1007/s10967-013-2497-8 A multi-method approach for determination of radionuclide distribution in trinitite Christine Wallace • Jeremy J. Bellucci • Antonio Simonetti • Tim Hainley • Elizabeth C. Koeman • Peter C. Burns Received: 21 January 2013 / Published online: 13 April 2013 Ó Akade´miai Kiado´, Budapest, Hungary 2013 Abstract The spatial distribution of radiation within trin- The results from this study indicate that the device-related ititethinsectionshavebeenmappedusingalphatrack radionuclides were preferentially incorporated into the radiography and beta autoradiography in combination with glassy matrix in trinitite. optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Alpha and beta maps have identified areas of higher activity, Keywords Trinitite Á Nuclear forensics Á Radionuclides Á and these are concentrated predominantly within the surfi- Fission and activation products Á Laser ablation inductively cial glassy component of trinitite. Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analyses conducted at high spatial resolution yield weighted average 235U/238Uand240Pu/239Pu ratios of 0.00718 ± 0.00018 (2r) Introduction and 0.0208 ± 0.0012 (2r), respectively, and also reveal the presence of some fission (137Cs) and activation products Nuclear proliferation and terrorism are arguably the gravest (152,154Eu). The LA-ICP-MS results indicate positive cor- of threats to the security of any nation. The ability to relations between Pu ion signal intensities and abundances decipher forensic signatures in post-detonation nuclear of Fe, Ca, U and 137Cs. These trends suggest that Pu in debris is essential, both to provide a deterrence and to trinitite is associated with remnants of certain chemical permit a response to an incident.
    [Show full text]
  • The Russian-A(Merican) Bomb: the Role of Espionage in the Soviet Atomic Bomb Project
    J. Undergrad. Sci. 3: 103-108 (Summer 1996) History of Science The Russian-A(merican) Bomb: The Role of Espionage in the Soviet Atomic Bomb Project MICHAEL I. SCHWARTZ physicists and project coordinators ought to be analyzed so as to achieve an understanding of the project itself, and given the circumstances and problems of the project, just how Introduction successful those scientists could have been. Third and fi- nally, the role that espionage played will be analyzed, in- There was no “Russian” atomic bomb. There only vestigating the various pieces of information handed over was an American one, masterfully discovered by by Soviet spies and its overall usefulness and contribution Soviet spies.”1 to the bomb project. This claim echoes a new theme in Russia regarding Soviet Nuclear Physics—Pre-World War II the Soviet atomic bomb project that has arisen since the democratic revolution of the 1990s. The release of the KGB As aforementioned, Paul Josephson believes that by (Commissariat for State Security) documents regarding the the eve of the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, Soviet sci- role that espionage played in the Soviet atomic bomb project entists had the technical capability to embark upon an atom- has raised new questions about one of the most remark- ics weapons program. He cites the significant contributions able and rapid scientific developments in history. Despite made by Soviet physicists to the growing international study both the advanced state of Soviet nuclear physics in the of the nucleus, including the 1932 splitting of the lithium atom years leading up to World War II and reported scientific by proton bombardment,7 Igor Kurchatov’s 1935 discovery achievements of the actual Soviet atomic bomb project, of the isomerism of artificially radioactive atoms, and the strong evidence will be provided that suggests that the So- fact that L.
    [Show full text]
  • Radiation Poisoning , Also Called Radiation Sickness Or a Creeping Dose , Is a Form of Damage to Organ Tissue Due to Excessive Exposure to Ionizing Radiation
    Radiation poisoning , also called radiation sickness or a creeping dose , is a form of damage to organ tissue due to excessive exposure to ionizing radiation . The term is generally used to refer to acute problems caused by a large dosage of radiation in a short period, though this also has occurred with long term exposure. The clinical name for radiation sickness is acute radiation syndrome ( ARS ) as described by the CDC .[1][2][3] A chronic radiation syndrome does exist but is very uncommon; this has been observed among workers in early radium source production sites and in the early days of the Soviet nuclear program. A short exposure can result in acute radiation syndrome; chronic radiation syndrome requires a prolonged high level of exposure. Radiation exposure can also increase the probability of contracting some other diseases, mainly cancer , tumours , and genetic damage . These are referred to as the stochastic effects of radiation, and are not included in the term radiation sickness. The use of radionuclides in science and industry is strictly regulated in most countries (in the U.S. by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission ). In the event of an accidental or deliberate release of radioactive material, either evacuation or sheltering in place are the recommended measures. Radiation sickness is generally associated with acute (a single large) exposure. [4][5] Nausea and vomiting are usually the main symptoms. [5] The amount of time between exposure to radiation and the onset of the initial symptoms may be an indicator of how much radiation was absorbed. [5] Symptoms appear sooner with higher doses of exposure.
    [Show full text]
  • THE MEETING Meridel Rubenstein 1995
    THE MEETING Meridel Rubenstein 1995 Palladium prints, steel, single-channel video Video assistance by Steina Video run time 4:00 minutes Tia Collection The Meeting consists of twenty portraits of people from San Ildefonso Pueblo and Manhattan Project physicists—who met at the home of Edith Warner during the making of the first atomic bomb—and twenty photographs of carefully selected objects of significance to each group. In this grouping are people from San Ildefonso Pueblo and the objects they selected from the collections of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture to represent their culture. 1A ROSE HUGHES 2A TALL-NECKED JAR 3A BLUE CORN 4A SLEIGH BELLS 5A FLORENCE NARANJO Rose Hughes holding a photograph of WITH AVANYU One of the most accomplished and (Museum of Indian Arts and Culture) Married to Louis Naranjo; her father, Tony Peña, who organized (plumed serpent) made by Julian and recognized of the San Ildefonso Sleigh bells are commonly used in granddaughter of Ignacio and Susana the building of Edith Warner’s second Maria Martinez, ca. 1930 (Museum of potters. Like many women from the ceremonial dances to attract rain. Aguilar; daughter of Joe Aguilar, who house. Hughes worked at Edith Indian Arts and Culture) Edith Warner pueblos, she worked as a maid for the Tilano Montoya returned with bells like helped Edith Warner remodel the Warner’s with Florence Naranjo one was shown a pot like this one in 1922 Oppenheimers. these from Europe, where he went on tearoom. Edith called her Florencita. summer. She recalls that Edith once on her first visit to San Ildefonso, in the tour with a group of Pueblo dancers.
    [Show full text]
  • Nuñez Angles
    5th International Seminar on Security and Defence in the Mediterranean Multi-Dimensional Security Reports (+34) 93 302 6495 - Fax. (+34) 93 302 6495 - [email protected] (+34) 93 302 6495 - Fax. [email protected] Weapons of mass destruction in the Mediterranean: An omnidirectional threat. Jesús A. Núñez Villaverde, Balder Hageraats and Ximena Valente - Calle Elisabets, 12 08001 Barcelona, España Tel. Fundación CIDOB WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN: AN OMNIDIRECTIONAL THREAT Jesús A. Núñez Villaverde Co-director of the Institute of Studies on Conflicts and Humanitarian Action, IECAH Balder Hageraats Researcher at IECAH Ximena Valente Researcher at IECAH Introduction 1. Similar to the first report, the concept of WMD is used in its general understanding of having the Similarly to the first report on Weapons of mass destruction in the three basic components of nuclear, Mediterranean: current status and prospects, released in 2005, this chemical and biological weapons. In practical terms, however, the main second report (Weapons of mass destruction in the Mediterranean: an focus of this report is on nuclear omnidimensional threat) is the result of an initiative – responding to a weapons given that these are the sustained interest in matters of security and defence in the Mediterranean only ones that true fit the profile of WMD at the moment. - by the CIDOB Foundation. It is therefore fitting to mention the annual seminars on security and defence that are held in Barcelona since 2002. In line with the decision taken at the third of these meetings, the aim of this report is to facilitate – both for those attending the sessions directly as well as the wider security community interested in the region - the analysis of one of the most pressing problems on the international agenda.
    [Show full text]
  • Bob Farquhar
    1 2 Created by Bob Farquhar For and dedicated to my grandchildren, their children, and all humanity. This is Copyright material 3 Table of Contents Preface 4 Conclusions 6 Gadget 8 Making Bombs Tick 15 ‘Little Boy’ 25 ‘Fat Man’ 40 Effectiveness 49 Death By Radiation 52 Crossroads 55 Atomic Bomb Targets 66 Acheson–Lilienthal Report & Baruch Plan 68 The Tests 71 Guinea Pigs 92 Atomic Animals 96 Downwinders 100 The H-Bomb 109 Nukes in Space 119 Going Underground 124 Leaks and Vents 132 Turning Swords Into Plowshares 135 Nuclear Detonations by Other Countries 147 Cessation of Testing 159 Building Bombs 161 Delivering Bombs 178 Strategic Bombers 181 Nuclear Capable Tactical Aircraft 188 Missiles and MIRV’s 193 Naval Delivery 211 Stand-Off & Cruise Missiles 219 U.S. Nuclear Arsenal 229 Enduring Stockpile 246 Nuclear Treaties 251 Duck and Cover 255 Let’s Nuke Des Moines! 265 Conclusion 270 Lest We Forget 274 The Beginning or The End? 280 Update: 7/1/12 Copyright © 2012 rbf 4 Preface 5 Hey there, I’m Ralph. That’s my dog Spot over there. Welcome to the not-so-wonderful world of nuclear weaponry. This book is a journey from 1945 when the first atomic bomb was detonated in the New Mexico desert to where we are today. It’s an interesting and sometimes bizarre journey. It can also be horribly frightening. Today, there are enough nuclear weapons to destroy the civilized world several times over. Over 23,000. “Enough to make the rubble bounce,” Winston Churchill said. The United States alone has over 10,000 warheads in what’s called the ‘enduring stockpile.’ In my time, we took care of things Mano-a-Mano.
    [Show full text]
  • Weapon Physics Division
    -!! Chapter XV WEAPON PHYSICS DIVISION Introduction 15.1 At the time of its organization in August 1944, the Weapon Physics or G Division (G for gadget, code for weapon) was given a directive to carry out experiments on the critical assembly of active materials, to de- vise methods for the study of the implosion, and to exploit these methods to gain information about the implosion. In April 1945, the G Division directive was extended to fnclude the responsibility for the design and procurement of the hnplosion tamper, as well as the active core. In addition to its primary work with critical assemblies and implosion studies, G Division undertook the design and testing of an implosion initiator and of electric detonators for the high explosive. The Electronics Group was transferred from the Experi- mental Physics Division to G Division, and the Photographic Section of the Ordnance Division became G Divisionts Photographic Group. 15.2 The initial organization of the division, unchanged during the year which this account covers, was as follows: G-1 Critical Assemblies O. R. Frisch G-2 The X-Ray Method L. W. Parratt G-3 The Magnetic Method E. W. McMillan G-4 Electronics W. A. Higginbotham G-5 The Betatron Method S. H. Neddermeyer G-6 The RaLa Method B. ROSSi G-7 Electric Detonators L. W. Alvarez G-8 The Electric Method D. K. Froman G-9 (Absorbed in Group G-1) G-10 Initiator Group C. L. Critchfield G-n Optics J. E. Mack - 228 - 15.3 For the work of G Division a large new laboratory building was constructed, Gamma Building.
    [Show full text]
  • Uranium-238 Which Inhibits Fission by Absorbing Neutrons Not Emitting Them
    The Mushroom Farm By Joseph Cleveland Brown, III U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (Fellow of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, (Retired Civil Works Project Engineer, (Retired) CONTENTS Introduction Chapter 1: Einstein’s Legacy. Chapter 2: The Stars of Nuclear Physics. Chapter 3: Nuclear Energy Explained. Chapter 4: Our Race for the Bomb. Chapter 5: Our Bombs. Chapter 6: The Weapon Delivery Systems. Chapter 7: Our Nuclear Warheads. Chapter 8: Our Missiles. Chapter 9: Our Nuclear Powered Navy. Chapter 10: The Anatomy of a Nuclear Explosion. Chapter 11: U. S. Military Nuclear Safety record! Chapter 12: The Cuban Missile Crisis! Chapter 13: Our Testing. Chapter 14: Our Atomic Power Generation versus the World. Chapter 15: Our Planned Nuclear Waste Repository. Chapter 16: Our Cost so far. Chapter 17: How to prepare for the future. Glossary References and Sources Introduction OOPS! In 2007 I watched a one hour documentary on TV. I was shocked to learn that our government, Yes, You guessed it, the same government that looses all of our money in the Stock Market and Mortgage Market and puts space shuttles up, launches missiles that attack and kill other missiles and builds Nuclear Submarines so sophisticated that they are impossible to detect underwater has lost a Hydrogen Bomb close to a major American city and can’t find it! And as a middle manager in the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers for over 30 years I was never officially informed of this fact! I had to learn of this disturbing event on TV! It was on The Discovery Channel one day and titled, “America’s Lost H- Bomb” and was indeed an eye opener.
    [Show full text]
  • DOE-OC Green Book
    SUBJECT AREA INDICATORS AND KEY WORD LIST FOR RESTRICTED DATA AND FORMERLY RESTRICTED DATA U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AUGUST 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS PURPOSE ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................................... 2 Where It All Began .................................................................................................................................... 2 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RD/FRD and NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION (NSI) ......................................... 3 ACCESS TO RD AND FRD ................................................................................................................................ 4 Non-DoD Organizations: ........................................................................................................................... 4 DoD Organizations: ................................................................................................................................... 4 RECOGNIZING RD and FRD ............................................................................................................................ 5 Current Documents ................................................................................................................................... 5 Historical Documents ...............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • In the PHYSICAL SCIENCES
    UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION RESEARCH CONTRACTS in the PHYSICAL SCIENCES he JULY 1, 1969 DIVISION OF RESEARCH INDEX Page Introduction .................................. ....................... ......... 2 List of Federally Funded Research and Development Centers ..................... 5 Summary of Off-Site Contracts ................................................. 6 Summary of New Proposals Received and Actions Taken ........................... 7 Summary of Contracts by State ................................................. 8 Contract Listing: High Energy Physics .................................................. 13 Medium Energy Physics ................................................ 15 Low Energy Physics ................................................... 16 Mathematics and Computer Research .................................... 20 Chemistry ......... .............................................. 22 Metallurgy and Materials ............................................. 32 Controlled Thermonuclear Research .................................... 41 1 INTRODUCT ION The Physical Research Program is chiefly concerned with basic research investigations undertaken to discover new scientific knowledge and also includes some applied research investigations relevant to certain aspects of the practical utilization of nuclear energy. Research is conducted in the fields of high, medium, and low energy physics, mathematics and computers, chemistry, metallurgy and materials, and controlled thermonuclear reactions. Approximately three-fourths
    [Show full text]
  • Center for History of Physics Newsletter, Spring 2008
    One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740-3843, CENTER FOR HISTORY OF PHYSICS NIELS BOHR LIBRARY & ARCHIVES Tel. 301-209-3165 Vol. XL, Number 1 Spring 2008 AAS Working Group Acts to Preserve Astronomical Heritage By Stephen McCluskey mong the physical sciences, astronomy has a long tradition A of constructing centers of teaching and research–in a word, observatories. The heritage of these centers survives in their physical structures and instruments; in the scientific data recorded in their observing logs, photographic plates, and instrumental records of various kinds; and more commonly in the published and unpublished records of astronomers and of the observatories at which they worked. These records have continuing value for both historical and scientific research. In January 2007 the American Astronomical Society (AAS) formed a working group to develop and disseminate procedures, criteria, and priorities for identifying, designating, and preserving structures, instruments, and records so that they will continue to be available for astronomical and historical research, for the teaching of astronomy, and for outreach to the general public. The scope of this charge is quite broad, encompassing astronomical structures ranging from archaeoastronomical sites to modern observatories; papers of individual astronomers, observatories and professional journals; observing records; and astronomical instruments themselves. Reflecting this wide scope, the members of the working group include historians of astronomy, practicing astronomers and observatory directors, and specialists Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Santa encounters tight security during in astronomical instruments, archives, and archaeology. a wartime visit to Oak Ridge. Many more images recently donated by the Digital Photo Archive, Department of Energy appear on page 13 and The first item on the working group’s agenda was to determine through out this newsletter.
    [Show full text]