What will happen if materials for a nuclear bomb are found in the U.S.?

[addinator]

Originally posted by: f95toli

Originally posted by: Todd33
Knowing the concepts of an A-bomb is a lot different than building one. Unless they bought a complete bomb then they would only be able to build a dirty bomb. I've also never seen instructions for a bomb in a physics book, please tell the author's name. I used to work at one of the largest weapons lab and know a few people still there, I doubt any of them could build one either, it's just not a basement type project.

"Introductory Nuclear Physics" by Kenneth S. Krane

I didn't say there were explicit instructions. As I remember most of the basic information is in there: The amount of uranium you need (including purit), design of the cannon etc
There is also information about blast radius and how large the affected area will be.

You need to keep in mind that when we talk about "A-bombs" we generally mean plutonium based weapons which are very complicated, a uranium based bomb is MUCH simpler (it is also bigger and less efficient than plutonium based bombs, amd I am not sure you can use it to initiate a fusion reaction).
Of course I can't be sure but I think I could probably come up with a working design if I spent a few months on research (nothing secret, just information which is available to the public). I suspect my main problem would be that I do not have any experience with explosives (for the canon) but I guess the required information is available.

Even during the Manhattan project they were quite confident about their design of the uranium bomb (which is why it was never tested before it was used). The main design issue was how to design a canon which was short enough to fit in the bomb-bay of an aircraft.

the other problem is that attaining the full yield of the uranium relies on the simultaneous detonation of shaped charges around the uranium itself, allowing the bomb to reach full yield. if on fails to go off with all the others, a lower yield is achieved. if it fails totally, then nothing. personally, what scares me, is that i think the hardest part for them is picking the target in the U.S.

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: Meuge

Originally posted by: techs

Originally posted by: msparish

Originally posted by: Forsythe
That terrorists should be able to build a nuke is a load of crock. It requires loads of excperience and all that.

If you have weapon grade uranium, building a nuke isn't too difficult. I imagine that someone with my educational experience might be able to do it (I'm finishing up my B.S. in physics) given enough time. The concepts are very easy to understand and are widely available. Basically you just have to compress a sufficient amount of uranium so that it reaches "critical mass." Much of the more advanced knowledge is to optimize the weapon. The problem is getting the material...luckily not widely available from your friendly neighborhood arms dealer.

Edit: clarification

Which is why when about 8 oz. of enriched uranium is found in the US we can kiss our democracy goodbye.

Well, it might happen if 8 oz were found, but a single critical mass for a well-enriched Uranium-235 bomb is about 15kg of 90% U235/238. For a gun-type device, you'd need at least 1.5X critical mass, or 20-25kg - more than 800 ounces, or 100 times what you suggested.

I accept your numbers but my point was that the fear that will be whipped up over any amount being found will effecitively end life as we know it in the US.

 

[EatSpam]

Originally posted by: Rainsford

Originally posted by: irwincur
Not if but when...

Geez, and you guys suggest we liberals are guilty of "doom and gloom".

Its only ok to be "doom and gloom" about Republican negative issues, like blowjobs, TERRARRRISTS!!!, OH NOES TEH DIRTY BOMB!!, and such. Don't you dare talk down our "great economy" or insinuate that George W. Bush is anything less than a prophetic visionary.

 

[f95toli]

Originally posted by: addinator

the other problem is that attaining the full yield of the uranium relies on the simultaneous detonation of shaped charges around the uranium itself, allowing the bomb to reach full yield. if on fails to go off with all the others, a lower yield is achieved. if it fails totally, then nothing. personally, what scares me, is that i think the hardest part for them is picking the target in the U.S.

No, in the "canon design" used in the first uranium bombs one piece of uranium is simply smashed into another piece, that is why it is so simple to design. It is not very efficient but it still results in a 15-20 kT explosion.

In order to detonate a plutonium bomb you need a well controlled impliosion (the "canon design" does not work), which is why you need shaped charges. That is why plutonium bombs are much more complicated to design.

 

[Mark R]

The thing that is concerning is the simplicity of the uranium bomb. While high explosives are required to get an optimal yield (which is still somewhat less than a good Pu bomb), it is likely to be quite easy to get a 'fizzle' yield. A 'fizzle' results when the chain reaction begins before the core is fully assembled, causing the core to disintegrate before the peak reaction rate is reached. However, even if a fizzle yields only 1-10% of optimal, then that is still a fearsome weapon.

By contrast, a conventional bomb greater than about 1 ton of yield would be difficult to construct and move - and even military weapons rarely exceed that, let alone home made bombs. Now consider a 100 ton yield from a fizzling improvised nuclear device...

At the extreme end of simplicity, you could probably get a significant blast even withough any high explosives. Take 2 parts of a uranium core and a 6 foot length of PVC drain pipe. Drive to the detonation site, keeping the 2 parts of the core separated (e.g. one in the trunk, one on the passenger seat). Place one part of the core on the ground, Place the pipe on top. Drop the other half of the core down the pipe so it lands on the first. Do that right, and you'll probably blow the windows out for several blocks around.

Of course, such a super simple device would need a significant amount of weapons material - probably close to 100 kg.