1095 lines
54 KiB
Plaintext
1095 lines
54 KiB
Plaintext
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File courtesy of Outlaw Labs
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============================================================================
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-------------------------------------------------
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- Documentation and Diagrams of the Atomic Bomb -
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============================================================================
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-----------------------
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-+ Table of Contents +-
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-----------------------
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I. The History of the Atomic Bomb
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------------------------------
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A). Development (The Manhattan Project)
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B). Detonation
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1). Hiroshima
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2). Nagasaki
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3). Byproducts of atomic detonations
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4). Blast Zones
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II. Nuclear Fission/Nuclear Fusion
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A). Fission (A-Bomb) & Fusion (H-Bomb)
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B). U-235, U-238 and Plutonium
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III. The Mechanism of The Bomb
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A). Altimeter
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B). Air Pressure Detonator
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C). Detonating Head(s)
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D). Explosive Charge(s)
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E). Neutron Deflector
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F). Uranium & Plutonium
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G). Lead Shield
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H). Fuses
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IV. The Diagram of The Bomb
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A). The Uranium Bomb
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B). The Plutonium Bomb
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============================================================================
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File courtesy of Outlaw Labs
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I. The History of the Atomic Bomb
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On August 2nd 1939, just before the beginning of World War II, Albert
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Einstein wrote to then President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Einstein and several
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other scientists told Roosevelt of efforts in Nazi Germany to purify U-235
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with which might in turn be used to build an atomic bomb. It was shortly
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thereafter that the United States Government began the serious undertaking
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known only then as the Manhattan Project. Simply put, the Manhattan Project
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was committed to expedient research and production that would produce a viable
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atomic bomb.
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The most complicated issue to be addressed was the production of ample
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amounts of `enriched' uranium to sustain a chain reaction. At the time,
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Uranium-235 was very hard to extract. In fact, the ratio of conversion from
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Uranium ore to Uranium metal is 500:1. An additional drawback is that the 1
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part of Uranium that is finally refined from the ore consists of over 99%
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Uranium-238, which is practically useless for an atomic bomb. To make it even
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more difficult, U-235 and U-238 are precisely similar in their chemical
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makeup. This proved to be as much of a challenge as separating a solution of
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sucrose from a solution of glucose. No ordinary chemical extraction could
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separate the two isotopes. Only mechanical methods could effectively separate
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U-235 from U-238. Several scientists at Columbia University managed to solve
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this dilemma.
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A massive enrichment laboratory/plant was constructed at Oak Ridge,
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Tennessee. H.C. Urey, along with his associates and colleagues at Columbia
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University, devised a system that worked on the principle of gaseous
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diffusion. Following this process, Ernest O. Lawrence (inventor of the
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Cyclotron) at the University of California in Berkeley implemented a process
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involving magnetic separation of the two isotopes.
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Following the first two processes, a gas centrifuge was used to further
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separate the lighter U-235 from the heavier non-fissionable U-238 by their
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mass. Once all of these procedures had been completed, all that needed to be
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done was to put to the test the entire concept behind atomic fission. [For
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more information on these procedures of refining Uranium, see Section 3.]
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Over the course of six years, ranging from 1939 to 1945, more than 2
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billion dollars were spent on the Manhattan Project. The formulas for
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refining Uranium and putting together a working bomb were created and seen to
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their logical ends by some of the greatest minds of our time. Among these
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people who unleashed the power of the atomic bomb was J. Robert Oppenheimer.
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Oppenheimer was the major force behind the Manhattan Project. He
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literally ran the show and saw to it that all of the great minds working on
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this project made their brainstorms work. He oversaw the entire project from
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its conception to its completion.
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Finally the day came when all at Los Alamos would find out whether or not
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The Gadget (code-named as such during its development) was either going to be
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the colossal dud of the century or perhaps end the war. It all came down to
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a fateful morning of midsummer, 1945.
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At 5:29:45 (Mountain War Time) on July 16th, 1945, in a white blaze that
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stretched from the basin of the Jemez Mountains in northern New Mexico to the
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still-dark skies, The Gadget ushered in the Atomic Age. The light of the
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explosion then turned orange as the atomic fireball began shooting upwards at
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360 feet per second, reddening and pulsing as it cooled. The characteristic
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mushroom cloud of radioactive vapor materialized at 30,000 feet. Beneath the
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cloud, all that remained of the soil at the blast site were fragments of jade
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green radioactive glass. ...All of this caused by the heat of the reaction.
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The brilliant light from the detonation pierced the early morning skies
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with such intensity that residents from a faraway neighboring community would
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swear that the sun came up twice that day. Even more astonishing is that a
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blind girl saw the flash 120 miles away.
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Upon witnessing the explosion, reactions among the people who created
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it were mixed. Isidor Rabi felt that the equilibrium in nature had been
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upset -- as if humankind had become a threat to the world it inhabited.
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J. Robert Oppenheimer, though ecstatic about the success of the project,
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quoted a remembered fragment from Bhagavad Gita. "I am become Death," he
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said, "the destroyer of worlds." Ken Bainbridge, the test director, told
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Oppenheimer, "Now we're all sons of bitches."
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Several participants, shortly after viewing the results, signed petitions
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against loosing the monster they had created, but their protests fell on deaf
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ears. As it later turned out, the Jornada del Muerto of New Mexico was not
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the last site on planet Earth to experience an atomic explosion.
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As many know, atomic bombs have been used only twice in warfare. The
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first and foremost blast site of the atomic bomb is Hiroshima. A Uranium
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bomb (which weighed in at over 4 & 1/2 tons) nicknamed "Little Boy" was
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dropped on Hiroshima August 6th, 1945. The Aioi Bridge, one of 81 bridges
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connecting the seven-branched delta of the Ota River, was the aiming point of
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the bomb. Ground Zero was set at 1,980 feet. At 0815 hours, the bomb was
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dropped from the Enola Gay. It missed by only 800 feet. At 0816 hours, in
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the flash of an instant, 66,000 people were killed and 69,000 people were
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injured by a 10 kiloton atomic explosion.
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The point of total vaporization from the blast measured one half of a
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mile in diameter. Total destruction ranged at one mile in diameter. Severe
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blast damage carried as far as two miles in diameter. At two and a half
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miles, everything flammable in the area burned. The remaining area of the
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blast zone was riddled with serious blazes that stretched out to the final
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edge at a little over three miles in diameter. [See diagram below for blast
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ranges from the atomic blast.]
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On August 9th 1945, Nagasaki fell to the same treatment as Hiroshima.
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Only this time, a Plutonium bomb nicknamed "Fat Man" was dropped on the city.
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Even though the "Fat Man" missed by over a mile and a half, it still leveled
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nearly half the city. Nagasaki's population dropped in one split-second from
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422,000 to 383,000. 39,000 were killed, over 25,000 were injured. That
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blast was less than 10 kilotons as well. Estimates from physicists who have
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studied each atomic explosion state that the bombs that were used had utilized
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only 1/10th of 1 percent of their respective explosive capabilities.
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While the mere explosion from an atomic bomb is deadly enough, its
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destructive ability doesn't stop there. Atomic fallout creates another hazard
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as well. The rain that follows any atomic detonation is laden with
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radioactive particles. Many survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki blasts
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succumbed to radiation poisoning due to this occurance.
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The atomic detonation also has the hidden lethal surprise of affecting
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the future generations of those who live through it. Leukemia is among the
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greatest of afflictions that are passed on to the offspring of survivors.
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While the main purpose behind the atomic bomb is obvious, there are many
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by-products that have been brought into consideration in the use of all
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weapons atomic. With one small atomic bomb, a massive area's communications,
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travel and machinery will grind to a dead halt due to the EMP (Electro-
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Magnetic Pulse) that is radiated from a high-altitude atomic detonation.
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These high-level detonations are hardly lethal, yet they deliver a serious
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enough EMP to scramble any and all things electronic ranging from copper wires
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all the way up to a computer's CPU within a 50 mile radius.
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At one time, during the early days of The Atomic Age, it was a popular
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notion that one day atomic bombs would one day be used in mining operations
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and perhaps aid in the construction of another Panama Canal. Needless to say,
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it never came about. Instead, the military applications of atomic destruction
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increased. Atomic tests off of the Bikini Atoll and several other sites were
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common up until the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was introduced. Photos of nuclear
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test sites here in the United States can be obtained through the Freedom of
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Information Act.
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============================================================================
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- Breakdown of the Atomic Bomb's Blast Zones -
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----------------------------------------------
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.
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. .
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. . .
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. .
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[5] [4] [5]
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.
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. . . .
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. . . .
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. [3] _ [3] .
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. . [2] . .
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. _._ .
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. .~ ~. .
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. . [4] . .[2]. [1] .[2]. . [4] . .
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. . . .
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. ~-.-~ .
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. . [2] . .
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. [3] - [3] .
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. . . .
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. ~ ~ .
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~
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[5] . [4] . [5]
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. .
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. .
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============================================================================
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- Diagram Outline -
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[1] Vaporization Point
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Everything is vaporized by the atomic blast. 98% fatalities.
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Overpress=25 psi. Wind velocity=320 mph.
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[2] Total Destruction
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-----------------
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All structures above ground are destroyed. 90% fatalities.
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Overpress=17 psi. Wind velocity=290 mph.
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[3] Severe Blast Damage
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Factories and other large-scale building collapse. Severe damage
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to highway bridges. Rivers sometimes flow countercurrent.
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65% fatalities, 30% injured.
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Overpress=9 psi. Wind velocity=260 mph.
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[4] Severe Heat Damage
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Everything flammable burns. People in the area suffocate due to
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the fact that most available oxygen is consumed by the fires.
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50% fatalities, 45% injured.
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Overpress=6 psi. Wind velocity=140 mph.
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[5] Severe Fire & Wind Damage
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Residency structures are severely damaged. People are blown
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around. 2nd and 3rd-degree burns suffered by most survivors.
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15% dead. 50% injured.
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Overpress=3 psi. Wind velocity=98 mph.
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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- Blast Zone Radii -
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[3 different bomb types]
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____________________________________________________________________________
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______________________ ______________________ ______________________
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| -[10 KILOTONS]- | | -[1 MEGATON]- | | -[20 MEGATONS]- |
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|----------------------| |----------------------| |----------------------|
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| Airburst - 1,980 ft | | Airburst - 8,000 ft | | Airburst - 17,500 ft |
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|______________________| |______________________| |______________________|
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| [1] 0.5 miles | | [1] 2.5 miles | | [1] 8.75 miles |
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| [2] 1 mile | | [2] 3.75 miles | | [2] 14 miles |
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| [3] 1.75 miles | | [3] 6.5 miles | | [3] 27 miles |
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| [4] 2.5 miles | | [4] 7.75 miles | | [4] 31 miles |
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| [5] 3 miles | | [5] 10 miles | | [5] 35 miles |
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|______________________| |______________________| |______________________|
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____________________________________________________________________________
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============================================================================
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-End of section 1-
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File courtesy of Outlaw Labs
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II. Nuclear Fission/Nuclear Fusion
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There are 2 types of atomic explosions that can be facilitated by U-235;
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fission and fusion. Fission, simply put, is a nuclear reaction in which an
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atomic nucleus splits into fragments, usually two fragments of comparable
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mass, with the evolution of approximately 100 million to several hundred
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million volts of energy. This energy is expelled explosively and violently in
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the atomic bomb. A fusion reaction is invariably started with a fission
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reaction, but unlike the fission reaction, the fusion (Hydrogen) bomb derives
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its power from the fusing of nuclei of various hydrogen isotopes in the
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formation of helium nuclei. Being that the bomb in this file is strictly
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atomic, the other aspects of the Hydrogen Bomb will be set aside for now.
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The massive power behind the reaction in an atomic bomb arises from the
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forces that hold the atom together. These forces are akin to, but not quite
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the same as, magnetism.
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Atoms are comprised of three sub-atomic particles. Protons and neutrons
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cluster together to form the nucleus (central mass) of the atom while the
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electrons orbit the nucleus much like planets around a sun. It is these
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particles that determine the stability of the atom.
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Most natural elements have very stable atoms which are impossible to
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split except by bombardment by particle accelerators. For all practical
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purposes, the one true element whose atoms can be split comparatively easily
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is the metal Uranium. Uranium's atoms are unusually large, henceforth, it is
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hard for them to hold together firmly. This makes Uranium-235 an exceptional
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candidate for nuclear fission.
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Uranium is a heavy metal, heavier than gold, and not only does it have
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the largest atoms of any natural element, the atoms that comprise Uranium have
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far more neutrons than protons. This does not enhance their capacity to
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split, but it does have an important bearing on their capacity to facilitate
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an explosion.
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There are two isotopes of Uranium. Natural Uranium consists mostly of
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isotope U-238, which has 92 protons and 146 neutrons (92+146=238). Mixed with
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this isotope, one will find a 0.6% accumulation of U-235, which has only 143
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neutrons. This isotope, unlike U-238, has atoms that can be split, thus it is
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termed "fissionable" and useful in making atomic bombs. Being that U-238 is
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neutron-heavy, it reflects neutrons, rather than absorbing them like its
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brother isotope, U-235. (U-238 serves no function in an atomic reaction, but
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its properties provide an excellent shield for the U-235 in a constructed bomb
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as a neutron reflector. This helps prevent an accidental chain reaction
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between the larger U-235 mass and its `bullet' counterpart within the bomb.
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Also note that while U-238 cannot facilitate a chain-reaction, it can be
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neutron-saturated to produce Plutonium (Pu-239). Plutonium is fissionable and
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can be used in place of Uranium-235 {albeit, with a different model of
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detonator} in an atomic bomb. [See Sections 3 & 4 of this file.])
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Both isotopes of Uranium are naturally radioactive. Their bulky atoms
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disintegrate over a period of time. Given enough time, (over 100,000 years or
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more) Uranium will eventually lose so many particles that it will turn into
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the metal lead. However, this process can be accelerated. This process is
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known as the chain reaction. Instead of disintegrating slowly, the atoms are
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forcibly split by neutrons forcing their way into the nucleus. A U-235 atom
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is so unstable that a blow from a single neutron is enough to split it and
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henceforth bring on a chain reaction. This can happen even when a critical
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mass is present. When this chain reaction occurs, the Uranium atom splits
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into two smaller atoms of different elements, such as Barium and Krypton.
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When a U-235 atom splits, it gives off energy in the form of heat and
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Gamma radiation, which is the most powerful form of radioactivity and the most
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lethal. When this reaction occurs, the split atom will also give off two or
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three of its `spare' neutrons, which are not needed to make either Barium or
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Krypton. These spare neutrons fly out with sufficient force to split other
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atoms they come in contact with. [See chart below] In theory, it is
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necessary to split only one U-235 atom, and the neutrons from this will split
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other atoms, which will split more...so on and so forth. This progression
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does not take place arithmetically, but geometrically. All of this will
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happen within a millionth of a second.
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The minimum amount to start a chain reaction as described above is known
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as SuperCritical Mass. The actual mass needed to facilitate this chain
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reaction depends upon the purity of the material, but for pure U-235, it is
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110 pounds (50 kilograms), but no Uranium is never quite pure, so in reality
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more will be needed.
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Uranium is not the only material used for making atomic bombs. Another
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material is the element Plutonium, in its isotope Pu-239. Plutonium is not
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found naturally (except in minute traces) and is always made from Uranium.
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The only way to produce Plutonium from Uranium is to process U-238 through a
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nuclear reactor. After a period of time, the intense radioactivity causes the
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metal to pick up extra particles, so that more and more of its atoms turn into
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Plutonium.
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Plutonium will not start a fast chain reaction by itself, but this
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difficulty is overcome by having a neutron source, a highly radioactive
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material that gives off neutrons faster than the Plutonium itself. In certain
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types of bombs, a mixture of the elements Beryllium and Polonium is used to
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bring about this reaction. Only a small piece is needed. The material is not
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fissionable in and of itself, but merely acts as a catalyst to the greater
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reaction.
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============================================================================
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- Diagram of a Chain Reaction -
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-------------------------------
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[1]------------------------------> o
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. o o .
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. o_0_o . <-----------------------[2]
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. o 0 o .
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. o o .
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\|/
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~
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. o o. .o o .
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[3]-----------------------> . o_0_o"o_0_o .
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. o 0 o~o 0 o .
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. o o.".o o .
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/ | \
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|/_ | _\|
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~~ | ~~
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o o | o o
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[4]-----------------> o_0_o | o_0_o <---------------[5]
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o~0~o | o~0~o
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o o ) | ( o o
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/ o \
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/ [1] \
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/ \
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/ \
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/ \
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o [1] [1] o
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. o o . . o o . . o o .
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. o_0_o . . o_0_o . . o_0_o .
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. o 0 o . <-[2]-> . o 0 o . <-[2]-> . o 0 o .
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. o o . . o o . . o o .
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/ | \
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|/_ \|/ _\|
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~~ ~ ~~
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. o o. .o o . . o o. .o o . . o o. .o o .
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. o_0_o"o_0_o . . o_0_o"o_0_o . . o_0_o"o_0_o .
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. o 0 o~o 0 o . <--[3]--> . o 0 o~o 0 o . <--[3]--> . o 0 o~o 0 o .
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. o o.".o o . . o o.".o o . . o o.".o o .
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. | . . | . . | .
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/ | \ / | \ / | \
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: | : : | : : | :
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: | : : | : : | :
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\:/ | \:/ \:/ | \:/ \:/ | \:/
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~ | ~ ~ | ~ ~ | ~
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[4] o o | o o [5] [4] o o | o o [5] [4] o o | o o [5]
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o_0_o | o_0_o o_0_o | o_0_o o_0_o | o_0_o
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o~0~o | o~0~o o~0~o | o~0~o o~0~o | o~0~o
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o o ) | ( o o o o ) | ( o o o o ) | ( o o
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/ | \ / | \ / | \
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/ | \ / | \ / | \
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/ | \ / | \ / | \
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/ | \ / | \ / | \
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/ o \ / o \ / o \
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/ [1] \ / [1] \ / [1] \
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o o o o o o
|
|
[1] [1] [1] [1] [1] [1]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
============================================================================
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Diagram Outline -
|
|
---------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
[1] - Incoming Neutron
|
|
[2] - Uranium-235
|
|
[3] - Uranium-236
|
|
[4] - Barium Atom
|
|
[5] - Krypton Atom
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
===========================================================================
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-End of section 2-
|
|
-Diagrams & Documentation of the Atomic Bomb-
|
|
--------------------------------
|
|
File courtesy of Outlaw Labs
|
|
--------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
III. The Mechanism of The Bomb
|
|
-------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Altimeter
|
|
---------
|
|
|
|
An ordinary aircraft altimeter uses a type of Aneroid Barometer which
|
|
measures the changes in air pressure at different heights. However, changes
|
|
in air pressure due to the weather can adversely affect the altimeter's
|
|
readings. It is far more favorable to use a radar (or radio) altimeter for
|
|
enhanced accuracy when the bomb reaches Ground Zero.
|
|
|
|
While Frequency Modulated-Continuous Wave (FM CW) is more complicated,
|
|
the accuracy of it far surpasses any other type of altimeter. Like simple
|
|
pulse systems, signals are emitted from a radar aerial (the bomb), bounced off
|
|
the ground and received back at the bomb's altimeter. This pulse system
|
|
applies to the more advanced altimeter system, only the signal is continuous
|
|
and centered around a high frequency such as 4200 MHz. This signal is
|
|
arranged to steadily increase at 200 MHz per interval before dropping back to
|
|
its original frequency.
|
|
|
|
As the descent of the bomb begins, the altimeter transmitter will send
|
|
out a pulse starting at 4200 MHz. By the time that pulse has returned, the
|
|
altimeter transmitter will be emitting a higher frequency. The difference
|
|
depends on how long the pulse has taken to do the return journey. When these
|
|
two frequencies are mixed electronically, a new frequency (the difference
|
|
between the two) emerges. The value of this new frequency is measured by the
|
|
built-in microchips. This value is directly proportional to the distance
|
|
travelled by the original pulse, so it can be used to give the actual height.
|
|
|
|
In practice, a typical FM CW radar today would sweep 120 times per
|
|
second. Its range would be up to 10,000 feet (3000 m) over land and 20,000
|
|
feet (6000 m) over sea, since sound reflections from water surfaces are
|
|
clearer.
|
|
|
|
The accuracy of these altimeters is within 5 feet (1.5 m) for the higher
|
|
ranges. Being that the ideal airburst for the atomic bomb is usually set for
|
|
1,980 feet, this error factor is not of enormous concern.
|
|
|
|
The high cost of these radar-type altimeters has prevented their use in
|
|
commercial applications, but the decreasing cost of electronic components
|
|
should make them competitive with barometric types before too long.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Air Pressure Detonator
|
|
----------------------
|
|
|
|
The air pressure detonator can be a very complex mechanism, but for all
|
|
practical purposes, a simpler model can be used. At high altitudes, the air
|
|
is of lesser pressure. As the altitude drops, the air pressure increases. A
|
|
simple piece of very thin magnetized metal can be used as an air pressure
|
|
detonator. All that is needed is for the strip of metal to have a bubble of
|
|
extremely thin metal forged in the center and have it placed directly
|
|
underneath the electrical contact which will trigger the conventional
|
|
explosive detonation. Before setting the strip in place, push the bubble in
|
|
so that it will be inverted.
|
|
|
|
Once the air pressure has achieved the desired level, the magnetic bubble
|
|
will snap back into its original position and strike the contact, thus
|
|
completing the circuit and setting off the explosive(s).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Detonating Head
|
|
---------------
|
|
|
|
The detonating head (or heads, depending on whether a Uranium or
|
|
Plutonium bomb is being used as a model) that is seated in the conventional
|
|
explosive charge(s) is similar to the standard-issue blasting cap. It merely
|
|
serves as a catalyst to bring about a greater explosion. Calibration of this
|
|
device is essential. Too small of a detonating head will only cause a
|
|
colossal dud that will be doubly dangerous since someone's got to disarm and
|
|
re-fit the bomb with another detonating head. (an added measure of discomfort
|
|
comes from the knowledge that the conventional explosive may have detonated
|
|
with insufficient force to weld the radioactive metals. This will cause a
|
|
supercritical mass that could go off at any time.) The detonating head will
|
|
receive an electric charge from the either the air pressure detonator or the
|
|
radar altimeter's coordinating detonator, depending on what type of system is
|
|
used. The Du Pont company makes rather excellent blasting caps that can be
|
|
easily modified to suit the required specifications.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conventional Explosive Charge(s)
|
|
--------------------------------
|
|
|
|
This explosive is used to introduce (and weld) the lesser amount of
|
|
Uranium to the greater amount within the bomb's housing. [The amount of
|
|
pressure needed to bring this about is unknown and possibly classified by the
|
|
United States Government for reasons of National Security]
|
|
|
|
Plastic explosives work best in this situation since they can be
|
|
manipulated to enable both a Uranium bomb and a Plutonium bomb to detonate.
|
|
One very good explosive is Urea Nitrate. The directions on how to make Urea
|
|
Nitrate are as follows:
|
|
|
|
- Ingredients -
|
|
---------------
|
|
[1] 1 cup concentrated solution of uric acid (C5 H4 N4 O3)
|
|
[2] 1/3 cup of nitric acid
|
|
[3] 4 heat-resistant glass containers
|
|
[4] 4 filters (coffee filters will do)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Filter the concentrated solution of uric acid through a filter to remove
|
|
impurities. Slowly add 1/3 cup of nitric acid to the solution and let the
|
|
mixture stand for 1 hour. Filter again as before. This time the Urea Nitrate
|
|
crystals will collect on the filter. Wash the crystals by pouring water over
|
|
them while they are in the filter. Remove the crystals from the filter and
|
|
allow 16 hours for them to dry. This explosive will need a blasting cap to
|
|
detonate.
|
|
|
|
|
|
It may be necessary to make a quantity larger than the aforementioned
|
|
list calls for to bring about an explosion great enough to cause the Uranium
|
|
(or Plutonium) sections to weld together on impact.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Neutron Deflector
|
|
-----------------
|
|
|
|
The neutron deflector is comprised solely of Uranium-238. Not only is
|
|
U-238 non-fissionable, it also has the unique ability to reflect neutrons back
|
|
to their source.
|
|
|
|
The U-238 neutron deflector can serve 2 purposes. In a Uranium bomb, the
|
|
neutron deflector serves as a safeguard to keep an accidental supercritical
|
|
mass from occurring by bouncing the stray neutrons from the `bullet'
|
|
counterpart of the Uranium mass away from the greater mass below it (and vice-
|
|
versa). The neutron deflector in a Plutonium bomb actually helps the wedges
|
|
of Plutonium retain their neutrons by `reflecting' the stray particles back
|
|
into the center of the assembly. [See diagram in Section 4 of this file.]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Uranium & Plutonium
|
|
-------------------
|
|
|
|
Uranium-235 is very difficult to extract. In fact, for every 25,000 tons
|
|
of Uranium ore that is mined from the earth, only 50 tons of Uranium metal can
|
|
be refined from that, and 99.3% of that metal is U-238 which is too stable to
|
|
be used as an active agent in an atomic detonation. To make matters even more
|
|
complicated, no ordinary chemical extraction can separate the two isotopes
|
|
since both U-235 and U-238 possess precisely identical chemical
|
|
characteristics. The only methods that can effectively separate U-235 from
|
|
U-238 are mechanical methods.
|
|
|
|
U-235 is slightly, but only slightly, lighter than its counterpart,
|
|
U-238. A system of gaseous diffusion is used to begin the separating process
|
|
between the two isotopes. In this system, Uranium is combined with fluorine
|
|
to form Uranium Hexafluoride gas. This mixture is then propelled by low-
|
|
pressure pumps through a series of extremely fine porous barriers. Because
|
|
the U-235 atoms are lighter and thus propelled faster than the U-238 atoms,
|
|
they could penetrate the barriers more rapidly. As a result, the
|
|
U-235's concentration became successively greater as it passed through each
|
|
barrier. After passing through several thousand barriers, the Uranium
|
|
Hexafluoride contains a relatively high concentration of U-235 -- 2% pure
|
|
Uranium in the case of reactor fuel, and if pushed further could
|
|
(theoretically) yield up to 95% pure Uranium for use in an atomic bomb.
|
|
|
|
Once the process of gaseous diffusion is finished, the Uranium must be
|
|
refined once again. Magnetic separation of the extract from the previous
|
|
enriching process is then implemented to further refine the Uranium. This
|
|
involves electrically charging Uranium Tetrachloride gas and directing it past
|
|
a weak electromagnet. Since the lighter U-235 particles in the gas stream are
|
|
less affected by the magnetic pull, they can be gradually separated from the
|
|
flow.
|
|
|
|
Following the first two procedures, a third enrichment process is then
|
|
applied to the extract from the second process. In this procedure, a gas
|
|
centrifuge is brought into action to further separate the lighter U-235 from
|
|
its heavier counter-isotope. Centrifugal force separates the two isotopes of
|
|
Uranium by their mass. Once all of these procedures have been completed, all
|
|
that need be done is to place the properly molded components of Uranium-235
|
|
inside a warhead that will facilitate an atomic detonation.
|
|
|
|
Supercritical mass for Uranium-235 is defined as 110 lbs (50 kgs) of
|
|
pure Uranium.
|
|
|
|
Depending on the refining process(es) used when purifying the U-235 for
|
|
use, along with the design of the warhead mechanism and the altitude at which
|
|
it detonates, the explosive force of the A-bomb can range anywhere from 1
|
|
kiloton (which equals 1,000 tons of TNT) to 20 megatons (which equals 20
|
|
million tons of TNT -- which, by the way, is the smallest strategic nuclear
|
|
warhead we possess today. {Point in fact -- One Trident Nuclear Submarine
|
|
carries as much destructive power as 25 World War II's}).
|
|
|
|
While Uranium is an ideally fissionable material, it is not the only one.
|
|
Plutonium can be used in an atomic bomb as well. By leaving U-238 inside an
|
|
atomic reactor for an extended period of time, the U-238 picks up extra
|
|
particles (neutrons especially) and gradually is transformed into the element
|
|
Plutonium.
|
|
|
|
Plutonium is fissionable, but not as easily fissionable as Uranium.
|
|
While Uranium can be detonated by a simple 2-part gun-type device, Plutonium
|
|
must be detonated by a more complex 32-part implosion chamber along with a
|
|
stronger conventional explosive, a greater striking velocity and a
|
|
simultaneous triggering mechanism for the conventional explosive packs. Along
|
|
with all of these requirements comes the additional task of introducing a fine
|
|
mixture of Beryllium and Polonium to this metal while all of these actions are
|
|
occurring.
|
|
|
|
Supercritical mass for Plutonium is defined as 35.2 lbs (16 kgs). This
|
|
amount needed for a supercritical mass can be reduced to a smaller quantity of
|
|
22 lbs (10 kgs) by surrounding the Plutonium with a U-238 casing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
To illustrate the vast difference between a Uranium gun-type detonator
|
|
and a Plutonium implosion detonator, here is a quick rundown.
|
|
|
|
============================================================================
|
|
|
|
|
|
[1] Uranium Detonator
|
|
-----------------
|
|
|
|
Comprised of 2 parts. Larger mass is spherical and concave.
|
|
Smaller mass is precisely the size and shape of the `missing'
|
|
section of the larger mass. Upon detonation of conventional
|
|
explosive, the smaller mass is violently injected and welded
|
|
to the larger mass. Supercritical mass is reached, chain
|
|
reaction follows in one millionth of a second.
|
|
|
|
|
|
[2] Plutonium Detonator
|
|
-------------------
|
|
|
|
Comprised of 32 individual 45-degree pie-shaped sections of
|
|
Plutonium surrounding a Beryllium/Polonium mixture. These 32
|
|
sections together form a sphere. All of these sections must
|
|
have the precisely equal mass (and shape) of the others. The
|
|
shape of the detonator resembles a soccerball. Upon detonation
|
|
of conventional explosives, all 32 sections must merge with the
|
|
B/P mixture within 1 ten-millionths of a second.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
____________________________________________________________________________
|
|
|
|
- Diagram -
|
|
-------------
|
|
____________________________________________________________________________
|
|
|
|
|
[Uranium Detonator] | [Plutonium Detonator]
|
|
______________________________________|_____________________________________
|
|
_____ |
|
|
| :| | . [2] .
|
|
| :| | . ~ \_/ ~ .
|
|
| [2]:| | .. . ..
|
|
| :| | [2]| . |[2]
|
|
| .:| | . ~~~ . . . ~~~ .
|
|
`...::' | . . . . .
|
|
_ ~~~ _ | . . ~ . .
|
|
. `| |':.. | [2]\. . . . [1] . . . ./[2]
|
|
. | | `:::. | ./ . ~~~ . \.
|
|
| | `::: | . . : . .
|
|
. | | :::: | . . . . .
|
|
| [1] | ::|:: | . ___ . ___ .
|
|
. `. .' ,::||: | [2]| . |[2]
|
|
~~~ ::|||: | .' _ `.
|
|
.. [2] .::|||:' | . / \ .
|
|
::... ..::||||:' | ~ -[2]- ~
|
|
:::::::::::::||||::' |
|
|
``::::||||||||:'' |
|
|
``:::::'' |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[1] = Collision Point | [1] = Collision Point
|
|
[2] - Uranium Section(s) | [2] = Plutonium Section(s)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________________|_____________________________________
|
|
============================================================================
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lead Shield
|
|
-----------
|
|
|
|
The lead shield's only purpose is to prevent the inherent radioactivity
|
|
of the bomb's payload from interfering with the other mechanisms of the bomb.
|
|
The neutron flux of the bomb's payload is strong enough to short circuit the
|
|
internal circuitry and cause an accidental or premature detonation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fuses
|
|
-----
|
|
|
|
The fuses are implemented as another safeguard to prevent an accidental
|
|
detonation of both the conventional explosives and the nuclear payload. These
|
|
fuses are set near the surface of the `nose' of the bomb so that they can be
|
|
installed easily when the bomb is ready to be launched. The fuses should be
|
|
installed only shortly before the bomb is launched. To affix them before it
|
|
is time could result in an accident of catastrophic proportions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
============================================================================
|
|
|
|
|
|
-End of section 3-
|
|
-Documentation & Diagrams of the Atomic Bomb-
|
|
|
|
--------------------------------
|
|
File courtesy of Outlaw Labs
|
|
--------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
IV. The Diagram of the Atomic Bomb
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
[Gravity Bomb Model]
|
|
----------------------------
|
|
-> Cutaway Sections Visible <-
|
|
|
|
|
|
============================================================================
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/\
|
|
/ \ <---------------------------[1]
|
|
/ \
|
|
_________________/______\_________________
|
|
| : ||: ~ ~ : |
|
|
[2]-------> | : ||: : |
|
|
| : ||: : |
|
|
| : ||: : |
|
|
| : ||: : |
|
|
| : ||: : |
|
|
| : ||: : |
|
|
| : ||: : |
|
|
| : ||: : |
|
|
| : ||: : |
|
|
| : ||: : |
|
|
| : ||: : |
|
|
| :______||:_____________________________: |
|
|
|/_______||/______________________________\|
|
|
\ ~\ | | /
|
|
\ |\ | | /
|
|
\ | \ | | /
|
|
\ | \ | | /
|
|
\ |___\ |______________| /
|
|
\ | \ |~ \ /
|
|
\|_______\|_________________\_/
|
|
|_____________________________|
|
|
/ \
|
|
/ _________________ \
|
|
/ _/ \_ \
|
|
/ __/ \__ \
|
|
/ / \ \
|
|
/__ _/ \_ __\
|
|
[3]_______________________________ \ _|
|
|
/ / \ \ \
|
|
/ / \/ \ \
|
|
/ / ___________ \ \
|
|
| / __/___________\__ \ |
|
|
| |_ ___ /=================\ ___ _| |
|
|
[4]---------> _||___|====|[[[[[[[|||]]]]]]]|====|___||_ <--------[4]
|
|
| | |-----------------| | |
|
|
| | |o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o| <-------------------[5]
|
|
| | \_______________/ | |
|
|
| |__ |: :| __| |
|
|
| | \______________ |: :| ______________/ | |
|
|
| | ________________\|: :|/________________ | |
|
|
| |/ |::::|: :|::::| \| |
|
|
[6]----------------------> |::::|: :|::::| <---------------------[6]
|
|
| | |::::|: :|::::| | |
|
|
| | |::==|: :|== <------------------------[9]
|
|
| | |::__\: :/__::| | |
|
|
| | |:: ~: :~ ::| | |
|
|
[7]----------------------------> \_/ ::| | |
|
|
| |~\________/~\|:: ~ ::|/~\________/~| |
|
|
| | ||:: <-------------------------[8]
|
|
| |_/~~~~~~~~\_/|::_ _ _ _ _::|\_/~~~~~~~~\_| |
|
|
[9]-------------------------->_=_=_=_=_::| | |
|
|
| | :::._______.::: | |
|
|
| | .:::| |:::.. | |
|
|
| | ..:::::'| |`:::::.. | |
|
|
[6]---------------->.::::::' || || `::::::.<---------------[6]
|
|
| | .::::::' | || || | `::::::. | |
|
|
/| | .::::::' | || || | `::::::. | |
|
|
| | | .:::::' | || <-----------------------------[10]
|
|
| | |.:::::' | || || | `:::::.| |
|
|
| | ||::::' | |`. .'| | `::::|| |
|
|
[11]___________________________ ``~'' __________________________[11]
|
|
: | | \:: \ / ::/ | |
|
|
| | | \:_________|_|\/__ __\/|_|_________:/ | |
|
|
/ | | | __________~___:___~__________ | | |
|
|
|| | | | | |:::::::| | | | |
|
|
[12] /|: | | | | |:::::::| | | | |
|
|
|~~~~~ / |: | | | | |:::::::| | | | |
|
|
|----> / /|: | | | | |:::::::| <-----------------[10]
|
|
| / / |: | | | | |:::::::| | | | |
|
|
| / |: | | | | |::::<-----------------------------[13]
|
|
| / /|: | | | | |:::::::| | | | |
|
|
| / / |: | | | | `:::::::' | | | |
|
|
| _/ / /:~: | | | `: ``~'' :' | | |
|
|
| | / / ~.. | | |: `: :' :| | |
|
|
|->| / / : | | ::: `. .' <----------------[11]
|
|
| |/ / ^ ~\| \ ::::. `. .' .:::: / |
|
|
| ~ /|\ | \_::::::. `. .' .::::::_/ |
|
|
|_______| | \::::::. `. .' .:::<-----------------[6]
|
|
|_________\:::::.. `~.....~' ..:::::/_________|
|
|
| \::::::::.......::::::::/ |
|
|
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
|
|
`. .'
|
|
`. .'
|
|
`. .'
|
|
`:. .:'
|
|
`::. .::'
|
|
`::.. ..::'
|
|
`:::.. ..:::'
|
|
`::::::... ..::::::'
|
|
[14]------------------> `:____:::::::::::____:' <-----------------[14]
|
|
```::::_____::::'''
|
|
~~~~~
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
============================================================================
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Diagram Outline -
|
|
---------------------
|
|
|
|
[1] - Tail Cone
|
|
[2] - Stabilizing Tail Fins
|
|
[3] - Air Pressure Detonator
|
|
[4] - Air Inlet Tube(s)
|
|
[5] - Altimeter/Pressure Sensors
|
|
[6] - Lead Shield Container
|
|
[7] - Detonating Head
|
|
[8] - Conventional Explosive Charge
|
|
[9] - Packing
|
|
[10] - Uranium (U-235) [Plutonium (See other diagram)]
|
|
[11] - Neutron Deflector (U-238)
|
|
[12] - Telemetry Monitoring Probes
|
|
[13] - Receptacle for U-235 upon detonation
|
|
to facilitate supercritical mass.
|
|
[14] - Fuses (inserted to arm bomb)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
============================================================================
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Diagram for Plutonium Bomb -
|
|
--------------------------------
|
|
[Gravity Bomb - Implosion Model]
|
|
--------------------------------
|
|
-> Cutaway Sections Visible <-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
============================================================================
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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/\
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/ \ <---------------------------[1]
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/ \
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_________________/______\_________________
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| : ||: ~ ~ : |
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[2]-------> | : ||: : |
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| : ||: : |
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| : ||: : |
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| : ||: : |
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| : ||: : |
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| : ||: : |
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| : ||: : |
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| : ||: : |
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| : ||: : |
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| : ||: : |
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| : ||: : |
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| :______||:_____________________________: |
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|/_______||/______________________________\|
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\ ~\ | : |:| /
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\ |\ | : |:| /
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\ | \ | :__________|:| /
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\ |:_\ | :__________\:| /
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\ |___\ |______________| /
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\ | \ |~ \ /
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\|_______\|_________________\_/
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|_____________________________|
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/ \
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/ \
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/ \
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/ _______________ \
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/ ___/ \___ \
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/____ __/ \__ ____\
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[3]_______________________________ \ ___|
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/ __/ \ \__ \
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/ / \/ \ \
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/ / ___________ \ \
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/ / __/___________\__ \ \
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./ /__ ___ /=================\ ___ __\ \.
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[4]-------> ___||___|====|[[[[[|||||||]]]]]|====|___||___ <------[4]
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/ / |=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=| <-------------------[5]
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.' / \_______ _______/ \ `.
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: |___ |*| ___| :
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.' | \_________________ |*| _________________/ | `.
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: | ___________ ___ \ |*| / ___ ___________ | :
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: |__/ \ / \_\\*//_/ \ / \__| :
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: |______________:|:____:: **::****:|:********\ <---------[6]
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.' /:|||||||||||||'`|;..:::::::::::..;|'`|||||||*|||||:\ `.
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[7]----------> ||||||' .:::;~|~~~___~~~|~;:::. `|||||*|| <-------[7]
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: |:|||||||||' .::'\ ..:::::::::::.. /`::. `|||*|||||:| :
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: |:|||||||' .::' .:::''~~ ~~``:::. `::. `|\***\|:| :
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: |:|||||' .::\ .::''\ | [9] | /``::: /::. `|||*|:| :
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[8]------------>::' .::' \|_________|/ `::: `::. `|* <-----[6]
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`. \:||' .::' ::'\ [9] . . . [9] /::: `::. *|:/ .'
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: \:' :::'.::' \ . . / `::.`::: *:/ :
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: | .::'.::'____\ [10] . [10] /____`::.`::.*| :
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: | :::~::: | . . . | :::~:::*| :
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: | ::: :: [9] | . . ..:.. . . | [9] :: :::*| :
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: \ ::: :: | . :\_____________________________[11]
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`. \`:: ::: ____| . . . |____ ::: ::'/ .'
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: \:;~`::. / . [10] [10] . \ .::'~::/ :
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`. \:. `::. / . . . \ .::' .:/ .'
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: \:. `:::/ [9] _________ [9] \:::' .:/ :
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`. \::. `:::. /| |\ .:::' .::/ .'
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: ~~\:/ `:::./ | [9] | \.:::' \:/~~ :
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`:=========\::. `::::... ...::::' .::/=========:'
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`: ~\::./ ```:::::::::''' \.::/~ :'
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`. ~~~~~~\| ~~~ |/~~~~~~ .'
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`. \:::...:::/ .'
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`. ~~~~~~~~~ .'
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`. .'
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`:. .:'
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`::. .::'
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`::.. ..::'
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`:::.. ..:::'
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`::::::... ..::::::'
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[12]------------------> `:____:::::::::::____:' <-----------------[12]
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```::::_____::::'''
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~~~~~
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============================================================================
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- Diagram Outline -
|
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---------------------
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[1] - Tail Cone
|
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[2] - Stabilizing Tail Fins
|
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[3] - Air Pressure Detonator
|
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[4] - Air Inlet Tube(s)
|
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[5] - Altimeter/Pressure Sensors
|
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[6] - Electronic Conduits & Fusing Circuits
|
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[7] - Lead Shield Container
|
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[8] - Neutron Deflector (U-238)
|
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[9] - Conventional Explosive Charge(s)
|
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[10] - Plutonium (Pu-239)
|
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[11] - Receptacle for Beryllium/Polonium mixture
|
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to facilitate atomic detonation reaction.
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[12] - Fuses (inserted to arm bomb)
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============================================================================
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-End of section 4-
|
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-Documentation & Diagrams of the Atomic Bomb-
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