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Nuclear weapons: Difference between revisions

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** <sup>238</sup>U is not fissile, but can be bred into <sup>239</sup>Pu. Furthermore, it ''can'' be fissioned by the 14.7 MeV neutron resulting from D-T fusion, and there's an absolute ton of it.
** <sup>238</sup>U is not fissile, but can be bred into <sup>239</sup>Pu. Furthermore, it ''can'' be fissioned by the 14.7 MeV neutron resulting from D-T fusion, and there's an absolute ton of it.
** <sup>239</sup>Pu is fissile, and can be chemically extracted from activated actinides (primarily <sup>238</sup>U breeding). Without subsequent physical enrichment, however, it'll be contaminated to some degree by:
** <sup>239</sup>Pu is fissile, and can be chemically extracted from activated actinides (primarily <sup>238</sup>U breeding). Without subsequent physical enrichment, however, it'll be contaminated to some degree by:
*** <sup>240</sup>Pu becomes a <sup>241</sup>Pu rather than compound {<sup>241</sup>Pu} (fission precursor), meaning two neutrons (and associated time) to yield a fission event. Predetonation hazard due to spontaneous fissions. Burnable in a recycling reactor, but undesirable for weapon material.
*** <sup>240</sup>Pu becomes a <sup>241</sup>Pu rather than compound {<sup>241</sup>Pu} (fission precursor), meaning two neutrons (and associated time) minimum to yield a possible fission event. Predetonation hazard due to spontaneous fissions. Burnable in a recycling reactor, but a weapon contaminant.
*** <sup>241</sup>Pu is highly fissile. Undesirable in weapons due to short half-life (α to useless <sup>241</sup>Am).
*** <sup>241</sup>Pu is highly fissile. Undesirable in weapons due to short half-life (α to useless <sup>241</sup>Am).
*** <sup>242</sup>Pu is plutonium gone wrong every possible way. The only redeeming grace is scarcity. Do not purchase <sup>242</sup>Pu, or accept it as a gift.
*** <sup>242</sup>Pu is the Smerdyakov of plutonium, gone wrong every possible way. The only redeeming grace is scarcity. Neither purchase <sup>242</sup>Pu nor accept it as a gift.
** Fission energy neutrons' effects generally follow those of thermal neutrons (probability of fission is generally reduced, but comparable).
** Fission energy neutrons' effects generally follow those of thermal neutrons (probability of fission is generally reduced, but comparable).
* Enrichment levels - enrichment methods - degradation - downblending
* Enrichment levels - enrichment methods - degradation - downblending