90
9 How Nuclear Weapons Work
ignited until they merge into a mass fire, which will be discussed in the following
chapter.
The National Academies of Science [10] describe three time domains in which
the physical effects of a nuclear weapon detonation occur:
• “The early time (less than 20 s). In this first phase in the fireball, the mixing of
ejecta and entrained sweep-up (dirt, vegetation, and rubble) with fission debris
occurs.
• The rise and stabilization phase (~10 s to 10 min). In this second phase, the
cloud rises and early fallout is produced. These effects are dependent on the local
atmospheric profile, including temperature, relative humidity, and winds.
• The late time (10 min to 2 days). Wind transport and diffusion, as well as particle
size, are major factors for the precipitation scavenging that occurs during this
third phase.”
References
1. Yusafzai R (1999) Conversation with terror (interview with Osama bin Laden). Time Magazine
2. Mowatt-Larssen R (2010) Al Qaeda weapons of mass destruction threat: Hype or reality?.
Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Cambridge MA
3. Zimmerman P, Lewis J (2009) The bomb in the backyard. Foreign Policy, October 16, 2009
4. Serber R (1992) The los alamos primer: The first lectures on how to build an atomic bomb.
University of California Press, Los Angeles
5. Downes R, Hobbs C, Salisbury D (2019) Combating nuclear smuggling? Exploring drivers
and challenges to detecting nuclear and radiological materials at maritime facilities. The
Nonproliferation Rev 26(1–2):83–104
6. Glasstone S, Dolan P (1977) The effects of nuclear weapons, 3rd edn. Government Printing
Office, Washington DC
7. Paxton H, Pruvost N (1986) Critical dimensions of systems containing 235 U, 239 Pu, and 233 U.
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos NM
8. Rhodes R (1986) The making of the atomic bomb. Simon and Schuster, New York City
9. Reed B (2007). Arthur Compton’s 1941 report on explosive fission of U-235: A look at the
physics. American Journal of Physics 75(12):1065-1072
10. Reed B (2009). A brief primer on tamped fission-bomb cores. American Journal of Physics
77(8):730-733
11. Reed B (2010) Predetonation probability of a fission-bomb core. Am J Phys 78(8):804–808
12. Reed B (2016). A physicists guide to The Los Alamos Primer. Physica Scripta 91
13. National Academies Press (2005) Effects of Nuclear Earth-Penetrator and Other Weapons.
National Academies of Science, Washington DC
14. US Federal Emergency Management Agency/National Security Staff (2010) Planning guidance
for response to a nuclear detonation, 2nd edn. FEMA, Washington DC
15. Brown G, Carlyle M, Harney R, Skroch E, Wood K (2006). Anatomy of a project to produce
a first nuclear weapon. Science and Global Security 14:163-182
16. Mark C, Taylor T, Eyster E, Maraman W, Wechsler J (1987) Can Terrorists Build Nuclear
Weapons? Paper prepared for the International Task Force on the Prevention of Nuclear
Terrorism
9 How Nuclear Weapons Work
ignited until they merge into a mass fire, which will be discussed in the following
chapter.
The National Academies of Science [10] describe three time domains in which
the physical effects of a nuclear weapon detonation occur:
• “The early time (less than 20 s). In this first phase in the fireball, the mixing of
ejecta and entrained sweep-up (dirt, vegetation, and rubble) with fission debris
occurs.
• The rise and stabilization phase (~10 s to 10 min). In this second phase, the
cloud rises and early fallout is produced. These effects are dependent on the local
atmospheric profile, including temperature, relative humidity, and winds.
• The late time (10 min to 2 days). Wind transport and diffusion, as well as particle
size, are major factors for the precipitation scavenging that occurs during this
third phase.”
References
1. Yusafzai R (1999) Conversation with terror (interview with Osama bin Laden). Time Magazine
2. Mowatt-Larssen R (2010) Al Qaeda weapons of mass destruction threat: Hype or reality?.
Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Cambridge MA
3. Zimmerman P, Lewis J (2009) The bomb in the backyard. Foreign Policy, October 16, 2009
4. Serber R (1992) The los alamos primer: The first lectures on how to build an atomic bomb.
University of California Press, Los Angeles
5. Downes R, Hobbs C, Salisbury D (2019) Combating nuclear smuggling? Exploring drivers
and challenges to detecting nuclear and radiological materials at maritime facilities. The
Nonproliferation Rev 26(1–2):83–104
6. Glasstone S, Dolan P (1977) The effects of nuclear weapons, 3rd edn. Government Printing
Office, Washington DC
7. Paxton H, Pruvost N (1986) Critical dimensions of systems containing 235 U, 239 Pu, and 233 U.
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos NM
8. Rhodes R (1986) The making of the atomic bomb. Simon and Schuster, New York City
9. Reed B (2007). Arthur Compton’s 1941 report on explosive fission of U-235: A look at the
physics. American Journal of Physics 75(12):1065-1072
10. Reed B (2009). A brief primer on tamped fission-bomb cores. American Journal of Physics
77(8):730-733
11. Reed B (2010) Predetonation probability of a fission-bomb core. Am J Phys 78(8):804–808
12. Reed B (2016). A physicists guide to The Los Alamos Primer. Physica Scripta 91
13. National Academies Press (2005) Effects of Nuclear Earth-Penetrator and Other Weapons.
National Academies of Science, Washington DC
14. US Federal Emergency Management Agency/National Security Staff (2010) Planning guidance
for response to a nuclear detonation, 2nd edn. FEMA, Washington DC
15. Brown G, Carlyle M, Harney R, Skroch E, Wood K (2006). Anatomy of a project to produce
a first nuclear weapon. Science and Global Security 14:163-182
16. Mark C, Taylor T, Eyster E, Maraman W, Wechsler J (1987) Can Terrorists Build Nuclear
Weapons? Paper prepared for the International Task Force on the Prevention of Nuclear
Terrorism