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Variable yield, colloquially known as dial-a-yield, works by modifying a variety of factors which adjust the strength of the nuclear (or thermonuclear) explosion.
Most modern nuclear weapons are boosted weapons which contain a hollow-pit. There is a tank with some quantity of deuterium / tritium gas mixture which is injected into the hollow pit to increase the yield of the primary before detonation. The amount of gas can be adjusted, increasing or decreasing the yield of the primary.
Also, the timing, duration and intensity of the neutron beam fired into the core upon compression of the primary, can be adjusted as well, which can also affect the yield of the primary detonation.
Another proposed method involves firing the primary at such a low yield, preventing a fusion reaction from starting in the weapon's secondary. There may also be a means to control the amount of radiation or plasma sent to the secondary by means of the interstage assembly to allow the secondary to ignite (or not).
In earlier weapons, sometimes the secondary was removed, or the primary was augmented with rings of fissile material around the primary, which would have increased the amount of fissile material in the weapons. These adjustments would have been done when the weapon was assembled, producing the various types of mods where one weapon in the same class would have a significantly different yield than another weapon sharing the same pit, explosive package, etc.
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What is a dial-a-yield nuclear bomb - fission or fusion?
"Dial-a-yield," or Variable Yield, is a method of adjusting the yield of a nuclear weapon through various means. While most modern high-energy weapons are thermonuclear, both fission and thermonuclear weapons can have their yield adjusted. In a boosted fission weapon (which can also be the primary to a staged radiation implosion weapon), the yield can be adjusted by changing the amount of deuterium/tritium gas that is injected into the plutonium pit, or by the timing of the external neutron initiator, or both. In a staged weapon, causing the secondary to not ignite by adjusting the yield of the primary (see above), or blocking the radiation channel in some way, can also change the yield of the weapon.
Which explosive agent is NOT used to manufacture high-yield explosives?
One explosive agent that is not used in the manufacture of high-yield explosives is baking soda. Ingredients commonly used in high-yield explosives include chemicals like nitroglycerin, ammonium nitrate, and TNT.
What is radioactive uranium used for?
Uranium is a radioactive element used in creating nuclear fission reactions. It is commonly used in nuclear power plants to generate energy, but also for nuclear weaponry.Applications of uranium:- nuclear fuel for nuclear power reactors- explosive and yield booster in nuclear weapons- material for armor and armor-piercing projectiles- ballast (counter weights)- shielding material (depleted uranium)In the past uranium was used in small amounts as:- catalyst- additive for glass and ceramics (to obtain beautiful green or yellow colors)- toner in photography- mordant for textiles- additive for the preparation of biological samples for electron microscopyand other minor applications
Is fusion the difference between a nuclear weapon detonation and a conventional explosion?
Yes, the conventional explosives would trigger an explosion of the conventional explosives inside the nuclear bomb which would blow apart the nuclear components of the nuclear bomb, causing significant alpha emitter radiological contamination but no nuclear yield.
What is the role of tritium in a nuclear bomb?
Tritium is used as a fuel in a fusion reaction in nuclear bombs. It serves to increase the efficiency and power of the explosion by boosting the yield of the detonation. The fusion reaction involving tritium releases a significant amount of energy, contributing to the destructive force of the bomb.
How powerful is the most powerful nuclear explosive in the world?
The most powerful nuclear explosive device ever built was the USSR's Tsar Bomba (casing shown above), designed for a yield of 100 megatons and tested October 30, 1961 above the Novaya Zemlya archipelago at Sukhoy Nos at a reduced yield of just over 50 megatons. Only the one was built. No modern nuclear explosive currently fielded has a yield above about 300 kilotons.
What was the codename and yield of the highest yield British nuclear test?
Operation Grapple Y was detonated off Christmas Island on 28 April 1958 with an explosive yield of around 3 megatons.
How big was the nuclear explosion?
The size of a nuclear explosion can vary depending on the yield of the weapon. The explosions can range from several kilotons (thousands of tons of TNT) to megatons (millions of tons of TNT) of explosive power.
How much mechanical energy is in a nuclear bomb?
The mechanical energy in a nuclear bomb is typically released as a result of the explosive force generated by the rapid chain reaction of nuclear fission or fusion. The exact amount of mechanical energy can vary depending on the size and yield of the bomb, but it is usually in the range of millions to billions of joules.
What is a dial-a-yield nuclear bomb - fission or fusion?
"Dial-a-yield," or Variable Yield, is a method of adjusting the yield of a nuclear weapon through various means. While most modern high-energy weapons are thermonuclear, both fission and thermonuclear weapons can have their yield adjusted. In a boosted fission weapon (which can also be the primary to a staged radiation implosion weapon), the yield can be adjusted by changing the amount of deuterium/tritium gas that is injected into the plutonium pit, or by the timing of the external neutron initiator, or both. In a staged weapon, causing the secondary to not ignite by adjusting the yield of the primary (see above), or blocking the radiation channel in some way, can also change the yield of the weapon.
What is the difference between a bomb and an nuclear bomb?
Basically, a conventional bomb uses a chemical explosive as the source of its destructive power. A nuclear weapon uses nuclear material to create an explosion. A nuclear explosion is much larger, and also emits ionizing radiation. A chemical weapon does not emit any radiation. A nuclear weapon's yield is measured in Kilotons (thousand tons). In very simplified terms, this means that a nuclear weapon with a 475 kiloton yield produces an explosion comparable to 475,000 tons of TNT (TNT is a chemical explosive). That's A LOT of TNT and it would take up a bit of space. A nuclear weapon with this yield may only be a few feet long and a foot wide, and the actual nuclear material may be the size of a grapefruit.
What is one kiloton?
One kiloton is a unit of measure equal to 1,000 metric tons or 1,000,000 kilograms. It is often used to describe the explosive energy yield of nuclear weapons.
How many nuclear bombs make a megaton of tnt?
A nuclear bomb can be made with any desired yield from about 10 tons to well over 50 megatons in one single bomb. These numbers are just for tested devices that worked, there is no theoretical upper limit on the yield of fusion based bombs.
What does CBIRF mean?
CBIRF stands for Chemical Biological Incident Response Force, and the Marines and Sailors there respond to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or high-yield explosive (CBRNE) incidents.
What has more power an atomic bomb or a nuclear missile?
The question you are asking is equivalent in many ways to asking "Which number is bigger 27 or 27?" as an atomic explosive and a nuclear explosive are generally considered the same. The only difference is a bomb is typically an explosive delivered by a manned airplane whereas the explosive warhead on a missile is delivered by either a rocket or an unmanned airplane called a cruise missile. Either one could be a higher yield explosive, or as I stated in the example at the beginning of this answer both could be identical.
Which is the best fuel for nuclear bomb plutonium or uranium?
Plutonium is the preferred fuel for nuclear bombs due to its greater efficiency in sustaining a nuclear chain reaction compared to uranium. Its higher fissionability and smaller critical mass make it the more suitable choice for achieving the explosive yield required in nuclear weapons.
What is the most dangerous nuclear bomb?
The most dangerous nuclear bomb is either:the one with the greatest explosive powerthe one that explodes closest to youthe one controlled by non-state actors (terrorists)
