Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!military
From: rsiatl!jgd@gatech.edu (John G. De Armond)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Linear implosion in nuclear weapons?
Keywords: nuclear implosion fusion fission
Message-ID: <11400@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 14 Nov 89 03:57:17 GMT
References: <10711@cbnews.ATT.COM> <10744@cbnews.ATT.COM> <11336@cbnews.ATT.COM>
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From: rsiatl!jgd@gatech.edu (John G. De Armond)

In article <11336@cbnews.ATT.COM> annala%neuro.usc.edu@usc.edu (A J Annala) writes:
>
>
>From: annala%neuro.usc.edu@usc.edu (A J Annala)
>
>The idea that fusion weapons depend on xrays or styrofoam/plastic is
>totally FUBAR.  The fact is that when the fission device used as the
>trigger is detonated a whole lot of neutrons is released.  The next
>stage of the device (the actual fusion weapon) consists of a uranium
>wrapper around a lithium6-deuteride core.  The initial neutrons make
>the Li6D convert to tritium-deuterium (T-D) and cause fast fissions 
>in the uranium wrapper.  The fast fissions generate heat causing the
>uranium wrapper to expand (both away from and toward the Li6D core).
>The expansion toward the core compresses the T-D to fusion pressure
>and temperature.  The T-D burns releasing additional fast neutrons.
>These new neutrons cause additional fast fissions in the uranium
>wrapper.  The cycle repeats and the wrapper holds the core together
>until the fuel in the core is completely burned.
>
>xrays and styrofoam/plastic are more or less irrelevant to the process.

This is a joke, right?  Just in case it is not.  Sir, would you care to
explain how the neutrons in your scenario would reach the fusionable fuel
before the gamma/X/thermal radiation destroy it considering that fast neutrons 
are not relativistic?  Or how elastic collisions between the neutrons 
(which can approach the density of molecules in the structure) and the 
resultant disruptive heating is going to be controlled long enough to allow 
the fusion reaction to start?  Or could you explain how uniform ignition
along a rod of fusionable material is going to be accomplished (remember
neutron transit time)?  Magic?

Perhaps you have access to much more highly classified material than I and
therefore know some secret that I don't.  I doubt it.  If you do, you 
could probably explain why most of the weapons in the arsenal contain
this big FUBAR?  Or why a large facility exists for the express purpose
of fabricating X-ray mirrors?  Or why the government continues intense
research into improving the efficiency of X-ray mirrors?  You could 
probably save all us taxpayers a lot of money.

Tell us more.



-- 
John De Armond, WD4OQC                     | Manual? ... What manual ?!? 
Radiation Systems, Inc.     Atlanta, GA    | This is Unix, My son, You 
emory!rsiatl!jgd          **I am the NRA** | just GOTTA Know!!!