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| quote: | Originally posted by cmay119
Aren't nukes detonated at a somewhat high altitude to maximize effectiveness (About a mile)?
EDIT: Nou, since you seem pretty studied on Nuclear weapons/energy. Would there be a minimization of nuclear fallout if there were still a way to have hydrogen bomb without the fission aspect involved. Essentially, if you were able to eliminate the Teller design and were able to start the fusion of Tritium/Dueterium, would it be a 'cleaner' than having Plutonium involved as the 'trigger'?
Sorry, I know this must be poorly worded, hopefully you'll understand the question.
EDIT 2: I understand that the fission of the plutonium keeps pushing the fusion process, so the elimination of it would reduce the yield. But would 1 mega-ton still be a possible yield without it? |
Didn't see the edits.
EDIT 1: Pure fusion weapons would not produce fallout (they would produce radiation though in the blast).
EDIT 2: Most very high yield weapons are suspected of all being at least three stages (fission primary, fusion secondary, and then a third fission stage). Mainly they use three stages because they more efficiently produce a higher yield. You can get a higher yield in a smaller physical package if you introduce a stage that undergoes fission from the fusion pressure/heat.
That being said, Tsar Bomba was only two stages, its third stage was made out of lead, and its yield was 57Mt. The intended design had a uranium third stage (btw this third stage is called the tamper) and was expected to be over 100Mt.
On a similar note, most modern variable yield weapons are expected to use a variable output neutron generator to increase/decrease yield.
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