Types of Fusion
Bombs
The H-bomb, is an example of a fusion bomb. This weapon
derives a large portion of its energy from the nuclear fusion of hydrogen isotopes.
The hydrogen bomb functions by the fusion, or joining together, of lighter elements into heavier elements. The end product again weighs less than its components, the difference once more appearing as energy. Because extremely high temperatures are required in order to initiate fusion reactions, the hydrogen bomb is also known as a thermonuclear bomb.
Nuclear fusion is actually a very
simple process. The definition of nuclear fusion is when you bring
together two hydrogen isotopes, most of the time it is Tritium and Deuterium.
If you combine them you get a larger atom and a lot of energy. This
is exactly how the stars produce their energy.
In a fusion bomb you use uranium-238 and the lithium deuterate as your fuel for the reaction. These are kept in the center of a
plutonium-239 cylinder. The cylinder is separated from the implosion
bomb, the one that starts the reaction, is some uranium-238.
The bomb is detonated in a few easy steps. First
you blow up the implosion bomb which gives off heat and x-rays. Next
the heat causes the uranium-238 to wear away which allows pressure to build
up on the lithium deuterate. Fission begins within the plutonium-239
rod, this releases neutrons which combines with the deuterate to make tritium.
The tritium and deuterium begin to react producing more heat. Fission
begins to take place in all of the plutonium and uranium. Fusion
begins to take place with the tritium and deuterium. The bomb finally
explodes. This whole process takes place in the blink of an eye.
It only takes about 600 billionths of a second for the bomb to explode!
This bomb can create a 7,000,000-kiloton explosion.
The Teller-Ulam configuration is the physical configuration on which most, if not all, of the hydrogen bombs in the modern stockpile are based.
Click on the remove shell button below to view the inside of the
shell. Continue to view various stages of bomb detonation
by clicking on the button as instructed.
