Atomic bomb explosion and its mechanism of action

The atomic bomb explosion is one of the most amazing, mysterious and scary processes. The principle of operation of nuclear weapons is based on a chain reaction. This is such a process, the very course of which initiates its continuation. The principle of the hydrogen bomb is based on a nuclear fusion reaction .

Atomic bomb

The nuclei of some isotopes of radioactive elements (plutonium, California, uranium and others) can decay, while capturing a neutron. After that, two or three more neutrons are released. The destruction of the nucleus of one atom under ideal conditions can lead to the decay of two or three more, which, in turn, can initiate other atoms. Etc. An avalanche-like process of destruction of an increasing number of nuclei occurs with the release of a gigantic amount of energy for breaking atomic bonds. During an explosion, huge energies are released in an extremely small period of time. This happens at one point. Therefore, an atomic bomb explosion is so powerful and destructive.

To initiate the onset of a chain reaction, it is necessary that the amount of radioactive substance exceeds the critical mass. Obviously, you need to take several parts of uranium or plutonium and combine into one. However, to cause an atomic bomb to explode, this is not enough, because the reaction will stop before enough energy is released, or the process will proceed slowly. In order to achieve success, it is necessary not only to exceed the critical mass of a substance, but to do so in an extremely small amount of time. It is best to use a few critical masses. This is achieved by using other explosives. Moreover, alternating fast and slow explosives.

The first nuclear test was conducted in July 1945 in the United States near the town of Almogordo. In August of that year, the Americans used these weapons against the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The atomic bomb explosion in the city led to terrible destruction and the death of most of the population. In the USSR, atomic weapons were created and tested in 1949.

H-bomb

The hydrogen bomb is a weapon with a very large destructive force. The principle of its action is based on a thermonuclear reaction, which is a synthesis of heavy helium nuclei from lighter hydrogen atoms. In this case, a very large amount of energy is released. This reaction is similar to the processes that occur on the Sun and other stars. Thermonuclear fusion most easily takes place using hydrogen isotopes (tritium, deuterium) and lithium.

The test of the first hydrogen warhead was conducted by the Americans in 1952. In the modern sense, this device can hardly be called a bomb. It was a three-story building filled with liquid deuterium. The first hydrogen bomb explosion in the USSR was made six months later. The Soviet RDS-6 thermonuclear munition was blown up in August 1953 near Semipalatinsk. The USSR tested the largest hydrogen bomb with a capacity of 50 megatons (Tsar bomb) in 1961. The wave after the explosion of ammunition circled the planet three times.