Nuclear technology weapons

The technologies needed to construct nuclear and radiological weapons and to employ both kinds of weapons either for military purposes or an act of terror are not new. Since their introduction in 1945, nuclear explosives have been the most feared of the weapons of mass destruction, in part because of their ability to cause enormous 

Acquisition of a militarily significant nuclear capability involves, however, more than simply the purchase or construction of a single nuclear device or weapon. It requires attention to issues of safety and handling of the weapons, reliability and predictability of entire systems, efficient use of scarce and valuable special nuclear material (SNM) (plutonium and enriched uranium), chains of custody and procedures for authorizing the use of the weapons, and the careful training of the military personnel who will deliver weapons to their targets. 

In contrast, a nuclear device used for terrorism need not be constructed to survive a complex stockpile-to-target sequence, need not have a predictable and reliable yield, and need not be efficient in its use of nuclear material. Although major acts of terrorism are often rehearsed and the terrorists trained for the operation, the level of training probably is not remotely comparable to that necessary in a military establishment entrusted with the nuclear mission. 

To summarize, the following can be said about nuclear weapon 

Although talented people are essential to the success of any nuclear weapons program, the fundamental physics, chemistry, and engineering involved are widely understood no basic research is required to construct a nuclear weapon. Therefore, a nuclear weapons project begmi in 1996 does not require the brilliant scientists who were needed for the Manhattan Project.  

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North Korea has also been implicated in the work of the so-called A. Q. Khan network, which may have aided the country s acquisition of nuclear weapon technology and knowledge. In 2005 North Korea publicly stated that it possessed nuclear weapons. It is estimated to have between 5 and 10 nuclear warheads. On 9 October 2006, North Korea exploded a nuclear device. Seismic and other monitors confirmed the... 

Linus Pauling (1901-1994) was born in Portland Ore gon and was educated at Oregon State University and at the California Institute of Technology where he earned a Ph D in chemistry in 1925 In addition to re search in bonding theory Pauling studied the structure of proteins and was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry for that work in 1954 Paul ing won a second Nobel Prize (the Peace Prize) in 1962 for his efforts to limit the testing of nuclear weapons He was one of only four scientists to have won two Nobel Prizes The first double winner was a woman Can you name her" ... 

When the NRC, headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, took over the responsibiUties of the AEC in 1974, many of the AEC s research and development functions, particularly many covering new technology development and nuclear weapons production, were assumed by the U.S. Department of Energy. However, the NRC has maintained some research and developmental capabiUties which are handled by the NRC s Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research. 

Hazards Ahead Managing Cleanup Worker Health and Safety at the Nuclear Weapons Complex. U.S. Congress Office of Technology Assessment. Washington, DC U.S. Government Printing Office, 1993, pp. 3, 13. 

The Department of Energy fosters a secure and reliable energy system that is environmentally and economically sustainable, acts as a responsible steward of the nation s nuclear weapons, and seeks methods to clean up our own facilities and to support continued United States leadership in science and technology. 

However, with the experience of Iraq and N. Korea in mind, there is a belief in anti-nuclear quarters that, should a state wish to develop nuclear weapons, access to civil nuclear technology can be a clear advantage. India and Pakistan appear to be additional examples of that. 

Airborne poisons in the nuclear weapons progam were not limited to radioactive materials released from weapons. The weapons technology involved the use of many exotic materials, some of which were toxic (e.g., beryllium). Hazardous releases of these materials occurred in industrial settings in urban areas and were studied by the Atomic Energy Commission as occupational and public health problems. 

Another option is to use nuclear energy. Whereas technologically, with the development of breeder reactors, the uranium resources can be considered non-exhaustible and reactor technology can be considered safe [4] a serious concern is the proliferation of plutonium for nuclear weapons. There is also the unproven solution for disposal of radioactive material. 

Interest in polynitroarylenes has resumed over the past few decades as the demand for thermally stable explosives with a low sensitivity to impact has increased. This is mainly due to advances in military weapons technology but also for thermally demanding commercial applications i.e. oil well exploration, space programmes etc. Explosives like 1,3-diamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (DATB) (13), l,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB) (14), 3,3 -diamino-2,2, 4,4, 6,6 -hexanitrobiphenyl (DIPAM) (15), 2,2, 4,4, 6,6 -hexanitrostilbene(HNS, VOD 7120 m/s, = 1.70 g/cm ) (16) and A,A -bis(l,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-4,4 -diamino-2,2, 3,3, 5,5, 6,6 -octanitroazobenzene (BTDAONAB) (17) fall into this class. TATB is the benchmark for thermal and impact insensitive explosives and finds wide use for military, space and nuclear applications. 

Grace, C.S. (1994) Nuclear Weapons Principles, Effects and Survivability, Land Warfare Brassey s New Battlefield Weapons Systems and Technology Series, (eds F. Hartley and R.G. Lee), vol. 10, Brassey s (UK) Ltd, London,... 

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