Nuclear+Fusion

= Nuclear Fusion Weapons =

From David Olson and Pat Lee, Dr. Green - C Period

=**Overview**= Fusion is the process of combining nuclei (the particles inside of an atom)together with atoc release of a large amount of kinetic energy. This reaction is what powers the sun. Fusion in general is considered a possible alternative energy source in the future as it would produce limitless energy with hardly any environmental impact but it has yet to be achieved in a continuous reaction. The use of fusion as nuclear weapons of mass destruction is much more prevalent in modern society than that of an energy source. 1]

= = = = = = = = == =History= Research for the production of a Fusion based weapon can be dated back to around 1942 when J. Robert Oppenheimer held the first major theoretical conference on the development of an atomic bomb. The idea was to create a “super” bomb that would use the same nuclear process that powers the sun. This plan was based off earlier research which brought about the discovery of the elements that power the process used by the sun and other stars to produce energy. In late 1942, Emil Konopinski developed the idea of adding a liquid deuterium-tritium (D-T) mixture into the weapon. Edward Teller, in the same year, discovered the ionization-implosion principle which led to his proposal of adding a boron-10 neutron absorber into the center of the active nuclear material. Two years later, John von Neumann proposed replacing the Boron-10 with a D-T mixture. This lead to an increased rate of fission in the weapon leading to the first fusion weapon the world had seen.2 ]

=Tsar Bomba= On October 30, 1961 at exactly 11:32 AM the world was changed forever. The Russians launched a test of the largest fusion bomb ever to be created. This weapon was nicknamed Tsar Bomba (Big Bomb). This bomb, released from an airplane at 10,500 meters, made a parachute retarded descent and was detonated 188 seconds later at 4000 meters. The 50 Megaton weapon produced so much energy that the flash was seen at over 1000 Kilometers from the epicenter and windows were shattered out to 900 Kilometers. Tsar Bomba, designed to be a 100 Megaton Bomb, only produced 50% of its theoretical yield due to the inclusion of lead in the bomb where more fissionable material would have been placed in the weaponized version of the system. Although a yield of only 50 Megatons was accomplished, the pressure generated by the reaction produced 300 PSI under the burst point, 6 times the pressure created by the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.3 ]

One cameraman recalled:

The clouds beneath the aircraft and in the distance were lit up by the powerful flash. The sea of light spread under the hatch and even clouds began to glow and became transparent. At that moment, our aircraft emerged from between two cloud layers and down below in the gap a huge bright orange ball was emerging. The ball was powerful and arrogant like Jupiter. Slowly and silently it crept upwards.... Having broken through the thick layer of clouds it kept growing. It seemed to suck the whole earth into it. The spectacle was fantastic, unreal, supernatural.3 ]

Another observer, farther away, described what he witnessed as:

... a powerful white flash over the horizon and after a long period of time he heard a remote, indistinct and heavy blow, as if the earth has been killed!3 ]

=Future Uses= Nuclear Fusion is the epitome of clean energy as it is self-contained and produces little to no waste. If continuous nuclear fusion could be harnessed, a few reactors could replace all the world's fission reactors. As explained in the included PowerPoint, deuterium is utilized in the fusion process. This element is found naturally occurring in the ocean, and if all of the available deuterium could be gathered and put into a reactor, it would produce enough energy to power the entire world for approximately 50 billion years. (according to figures from 1998) 4 ]

Nuclear fusion may also be a possible candidate for fuel for a spacecraft propulsion system, as it would allow for a large amount of energy for a small amount of nuclear material. The efficiency of this would allow for the spacecraft to travel much further than the current methods. It would also allow for much faster space travel, cutting travel time to Mars nearly in half. Hydrogen fuel, needed to advance the reaction, would never run out because not only is it found in space, but also in the atmosphere of many planets. Therefore, theoretically speaking, the spacecraft could dip into various planets' atmospheres to acquire the necessary hydrogen gas.5 ]

"If the United States can be the first to commercialize fusion, we'll rule the market for green energy and create jobs for half a century as we build and sell power plants to the rest of the world. If someone else gets there first, we'll be buying our power plants from them. " 6 ]

=Chemical Explanation= =media type="custom" key="6307965"= media type="youtube" key="FfoQsZa8F1c" height="405" width="500" align="left"

=Sources=

[1]"Fission and Fusion." //University of Wisconsin Nuclear Reactor Laboratory: Neutron Activation Analysis Service, Training, Reactor Sharing Program, Neutron Radiography//. Web. 04 June 2010. .

[5]"Nuclear Fusion and Its Future Uses In Spacecraft." //Weirdwarp//. 28 Aug. 2009. Web. 30 May 2010. .

// [6] Lyons, Daniel. "Could This [Image of pellet on layout] Power the [Image Of Planet Earth on layout]?(Science and Technology)." //Newsweek. //154. 21 (Nov 23, 2009): 42.// Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center//. Gale. EDWIN O SMITH HIGH SCHOOL. 3 June 2010 .

// //Pike, John. "Hydrogen Bomb / Fusion Weapons."// Blog//. 8 Mar. 2005. Web. 30 May 2010. .

[2] "Race for the Hydrogen Bomb | History of the Atomic Age | Atomicarchive.com."// Atomicarchive.com: Exploring the History, Science, and Consequences of the Atomic Bomb//. Web. 04 June 2010. .

[4] Shultis, J. Kenneth., and Richard E. Faw. "6.7 Fusion Reactions."// Fundamentals of Nuclear Science and Engineering//. New York: Marcel Dekker, 2002. 151.// Google Books//. Web. 30 May 2010. .

[3] Sublette, Carey. "Section 1.0 Types of Nuclear Weapons." //The Nuclear Weapon Archive - A Guide to Nuclear Weapons//. 1 May 1998. Web. 30 May 2010. . 