Nuclear Chemistry Class Blog

The Hydrogen Bomb-also called the thermonuclear bomb, h-bomb- is known as one of the most powerful nuclear weapons in the world. So powerful that no country dares to use it due to it’s terrifying power. With more than 10 times the power of an atomic bomb, which has leveled cities in seconds, it’s easy to see why. It’s said to hypothetically to cause infinite nuclear reactions in the bomb if utilized in the right way.

How does the Hydrogen Bomb Work?

The true insides of the Hydrogen Bomb is and probably forever be a mystery. But after much research, experts believe to have found the secrets of the hydrogen bomb. The hydrogen bomb relies on 2 things. The Nuclear fusion device and fission device. First, the bomb requires weapons-grade fissile material(materials that can under go nuclear fission) like uranium or plutonium and make it reach critical mass, which makes a self sustaining chain reaction of explosions that then activates the nuclear fusion.

The original fission explosion had produced high energy gamma and x-rays, which is moved down toward the fusion device. Inside the fusion device’s containment shell, there’s polystyrene foam that melts and starts forming a cylindrical casing inside the device. Outside of it, there’s a uranium tamper, which prevents the core from having an early reaction from the x-rays by absorbing the excess rays. There’s also a sparkplug made entirely off fissionable material that sets off a nuclear fission that releases explosive energy. This makes the lithium deuteride react, making tritium which fuses with the deuterium to form more helium for nuclear fusion and even more neutrons. The neutrons then cause more fission reactions, which puts more pressure on the lithium deuteride, which in turn makes more nuclear fusions. This process loops until the fissions and fusions overload and create a huge explosion.

When it has been used

The first time this bomb was used was on November 1, 1952. The U.S airforce was testing it and the operation-code was named “Mike” .It was launched in Enewetak on the Marshall islands. The damage was frightening. The explosion was massive, 10 times larger than the atomic bomb used in wars. The bomb was weighed at 82 tons and was set off in a small building to keep its insides steady. The fireball caused by the explosion was the same size as a quarter of Manhattan, New York. The explosion reached 40,000 feet in height and spread over 100 miles away. In the end, the explosion damage was equivalent to 10.4 million tons of TNT.

Sources

• https://armscontrolcenter.org/fact-sheet-thermonuclear-weapons/#:~:text=Thermonuclear%20weapons%2C%20sometimes%20referred%20to,powerful%20than%20an%20atomic%20bomb.
• https://armscontrolcenter.org/fact-sheet-thermonuclear-weapons/#:~:text=Thermonuclear%20weapons%2C%20sometimes%20referred%20to,powerful%20than%20an%20atomic%20bomb.
• https://www.britannica.com/technology/thermonuclear-bomb