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From: jmc@riccb.UUCP (Jeff McQuinn )
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.sci
Subject: Re: Re: Plutonium
Message-ID: <683@riccb.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 14-May-86 06:03:13 EDT
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Posted: Wed May 14 06:03:13 1986
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> >
> >Aren't neutron bombs intended to do something like this?

> No. Neutron bombs are not designed to spread plutonium or any other
> radioactive substance. A neutron bomb is a device which has a much
> higher than normal prompt neutron flux, thus causing more deaths
> from PROMPT radiation than a normal bomb of the same explosive power.
> Neutron bombs, by the way, do still make a big bang, just not as
> big as they would otherwise. There is a difference between a prompt
> release of radiation (which means photons and fast moving particles)
> and the release of radioactive material (which LATER releases photons
> or fast moving particles).
> -- 

 This is basicly correct however I don't believe that prompt neutrons are
are any more damaging then any other kind.  The concept behind the neutron bomb
is to deliver more radiation per kiloton of bomb.  This concept was 
controversial because it's intent is to kill people more efficiently then to
destroy property.  A smaller yield bomb can kill as many people as a larger
bomb.  Neutron radiation is the particle of choice because neutrons can be
highly energetic like gamma rays and beta particles and they still pack a
wallop like alpha particles because they are massive particles.  Neutron
radition is the most damaging (at distances greater then 3 cm) and the hardest
to shield from since they are neutral particles.  

 It is interesting to note that mutual assured destruction (MAD) policies did
not take radiation effects into account when setting targets.  Destructive
capabilities were calculated based solely on blast pressures.  Nice world we
live in, huh.

				Jeff McQuinn just VAXing around