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The Real Nuclear Threat
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Magnu-@aol.com
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Sep 21, 2009 08:00 PDT
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_http://www.mondovista.com/hbomb.html_
(http://www.mondovista.com/hbomb.html)
The Real Nuclear Threat
by Dan Eden for viewzone.com
In April of this year, 2009, the following story escaped most news outlets
but was widely reported on the Russian and European press:
KIEV, Ukraine -- Ukraine's security service says it has arrested a
regional lawmaker and two companions for trying to sell radioactive plutonium for
$10 million.
A ring of weapons-grade electrorefined plutonium-239 [right], with 99.96%
purity. This 5.3 kg ring is enough plutonium for use in an efficient
nuclear weapon.
The service says the legislator and two businessmen from the western
Ternopyl region were detained last week in possession of a suspected 3.7
kilograms (8.2 pounds) of plutonium-239, which can be used to make a so-called
dirty bomb. Such a bomb spreads radioactive material over a wide area.
The service said in a statement Tuesday it believes the material was
produced in Russia during the Soviet era and smuggled into Ukraine through a
neighboring country. Ukraine renounced nuclear weapons after the Soviet
Union's collapse.
What you need to know about nuclear bombs
If you look in a physics book, you will be told that you need 10 kilograms
(22 pounds) of weapon grade plutonium-239 to make a supercritical mass
(nuclear explosion). For Uranium-235 it's even more -- about 33 pounds. But
there's a lot of information about nuclear material that gets left out of the
books. I hope to share some of this with you in this article even though I
know it will scare you.
The truth is that by using something called a neutron reflector, the
radiation coming from both plutonium and uranium can be sent back in to the
radioactive material, greatly reducing the amount needed to form a critical mass
by a little more than a half.
What's even more horrific to learn is that this small amount of fissionable
material can either be used in a low yield "atomic bomb" -- like the one's
we dropped on Japan in WWII -- or they can be used as a detonator in a
fusion hydrogen bomb.
Atom Bomb or H-Bomb... What's the difference?
An atomic bomb takes advantage of something called critical mass. This is
the amount of radioactive material that, when brought together, will cause
the material to suddenly explode.
Uranium and plutonium are unstable, or radioactive. This means that they
are always shedding neutrons, a particle in their atomic nucleus, at a slow
but steady pace. These neutrons usually fly off harmlessly into space at the
speed of light but can be harmful if they strike a living organism. Their
energy can burn cells and cause damage and mutations to DNA. When enough
uranium or plutonium atoms are brought close together, their neutrons bump
into other radioactive atoms and cause them to instantly shed more neutrons.
So the pace of shedding neutrons can speed up.
If a certain number of radioactive atoms are in close proximity to each
other this shedding of neutrons can multiply exponentially. This is called a
"chain reaction." Allowed to continue the radioactive material will
explode. The amount of material needed to do this is known as the "critical mass."
For natural weapons grade (99% pure) uranium this critical mass is about 33
pounds or a chunck the size of a soccer ball. Plutonium requires about 11
pounds to achieve critical mass.
The typical fission bomb is designed so that the critical mass of uranium
is separated into several smaller pieces, then suddenly brought together for
detonation. The principle is simple and effective.
The preferred technique forms the uranium or plutnium in the shape of a
hollow sphere, so that the empty space in the center effectively separates the
nuclear material and keeps it sub-critical. Explosive charges surround the
sphere and, upon detonation, instantly implode and compress the material
so that it reaches critical mass in the center of the sphere and explodes.
Scientists soon discovered that materials like Baryllium can reflect the
neutrons, like a mirror reflects light. They found that if they enclosed the
sphere of uranium or plutonium in a neutron reflective sphere upon
detonation the amount of fissible material needed was significantly less. Neutrons
that would usually fly off into space were directed back into the material,
where they acted like additional mass.
After WWII, weapon production soon moved from Uranium to the lighter
Plutonium, but the total weight needed for fission bombs dramatically limited
their explosive size. The explosive effect is directly related to the amount
of fissible material and even with the use of neutron reflectors the nuclear
weapons were extremely heavy.
The H-Bomb
The next big improvement in nuclear bombs was the hydrogen bomb. Here the
main source of the explosive reaction is not fission -- the breaking down of
radioactive atoms and the release of energy -- but fusion, where atoms are
forced together to form new elements with the release of even greater
energy.
The main reaction in a hydrogen bomb is, of course, hydrogen. This is the
lightest atom -- number 1 on the periodic table of elements. It has one
electron orbiting its nucleus but the nucleus can exist with either one proton,
a proton and a neutron, or a proton and two neutrons. The last two
configurations are not usually found in nature and are the result of something
either natural or artificial adding neutrons to the nucleus.
Hydrogen with a proton and neutron, call deuterium is created in the
atmosphere from bombardment by cosmic radiation and is found in relative
abundance in the ocean. Hydrogen with a proton and two neutrons in the nucleus is
called tritium and is rarely found in nature. Tritium has a short life and
degrades back to regular hydrogen in nature. To obtain a supply of tritium,
scientists had to be very clever.
The exlosive power of a hydrogen bomb comes from the interaction -- fusion
-- of a deuterium and tritium atom. The fusion reaction results in the
formation of a Helium atom (number 2 on the periodic table) plus a free neutron
and, here's the important part, the release of an amazing 17.6 MeV of
energy!
Secrets Inside the H-Bomb
The nuclei of tritium and deuterium both have a positive charge and
naturally repel eachother. Enormous pressure and energy must be used to compress
them and allow the "strong nuclear force" to take over. This is achieved by
detonating a small fission atomic bomb in the confined space of the bomb
casing and designing special reflecting surfaces to focus the intense x-rays
and neutrons from this primary explosion to the secondary cylinder where
the hydrogen will fuse.
One of the main problems with the H-bomb was obtaining the tritium.
Scientists found that they could generate this on-the-spot with a compound
combining lithium (number 3 on the periodic table of elements) and deuterium,
obtained from heavy water used to cool a reactor. The result was a dry, solid
powder called Lithium-deuteride.
When a neutron (from the primary explosion) combines with a lithium atom,
the result is a helium atom and a tritium atom. The tritium quickly finds
and fuses with the deuteritium atom to fuse into a Helium atom and shoots a
free neutron to start the reaction all over again. The fusion reaction
causes the plutonium rod and the uranium cylinder case to contribute additional
neutrons from fission and the resulting explosion is many magnitudes
greater than an atomic bomb.
A:The stable bomb. B:The explosive charges surrounding the plutonium
sphere detonate and compress against the barrylium reflector. C: The reflector
compressed the plutonium sphere to critical mass where it ignites the
tritium gas and causes a fission explosion. X-rays and heat cause the styrofoam
to turn to plasma and reflect off the baryllium lined walls and focus on the
secondary cylinder. D: The plasma and explosion compress the secondary
cylinder causing the lithium-deuteride to react, releasing tritium and
resulting in a fusion reaction. E: The uranium casing and plutonium rod contribute
to the flux reaction and a fireball explodes.
The worlds most powerful hydrogen bomb was detonated on the 30th of October
1961. The bomb had an explosive force of 58 megatons, or almost 6,000
times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb. The bomb was dropped by an
aircraft, and detonated 365 metres (1,200 feet) above the surface. The shock wave
produced by this bomb was so powerful, it went thrice around the earth. The
mushroom cloud extended almost 60 kilometres into the atmosphere.
Resulting downfall was measured over the entire northern hemisphere. A flash of
light could be observed all the way to Hopen in the Norwegian Sea,
Sor-Varanger in the Norwegian county of Finnmark and by the Inari Lake in Finnish
Lappland.
The REAL threat in 2009
The main purpose of this article is to make you aware that a hydrogen bomb
is just a very small, low yield atom bomb which has been combined with a
non-radioactive compound that is readily available and plentiful. The
compound is made from lithium -- the same element used in your laptop batteries
-- and hydrogen -- plentiful in the earth's oceans. Manufactured correctly,
even a small amount of either plutonium or uranium is capable of
detonating a hydrogen bomb which could vaporize everything for a 30 mile radius in
less then a second.
So much of what we are told through tne media assumes that the radioactive
material acquired by rogue nations or terrorists will be used in a fission
bomb or a so-called "dirty bomb". The yields and limited areas of
destruction are vastly out dated.
While the public's understanding of nuclear technology has been frozen in
the post WWII era, huge advances have been made under the veil of secrecy.
Neutron reflectors and sophisicated detonation methods have increased the
efficiency of even the most basic fission bomb while the discovery of
lithium-deuteride has unfortunately made quantum leaps in the potential explosive
destruction of fusion bombs.
It's a new world -- a dangerous one.
North Korea is believed to have refined both enriched uranium and
plutonium. In recent underground tests it is believed that an implosion fission
bomb was successfully tested, although the world press immediately claimed it
must have been a failure as the yield was not large, as suggested by
monitoring the surrounding seismic readings.
In fact, underground tests often are used to test small implosion devices
such as would be used for a primary detonator for a much larger H-bomb. The
technology for the inert uranium-328 cylinder, filled with
lithium-deuteride, is so simple that it needs no test. Simple electronic instruments can
determine if the x-rays, neutrons and thermal pressure are adequate to
activate a fusion reaction in a large scale H-bomb.
Hypothetically, North Korea could produce around 20 kilograms of 90 percent
weapons grade uranium per year. Since Pyongyang already has developed
implosion-type bombs, it could theoretically also produce an implosion-type
design for an H-bomb, which would save considerable amounts of uranium. For
example, if Pyongyang is already capable of building a compact, lower-yield
atomic fission bomb (let's say the 4-kiloton bomb it told China it tested in
2006), it could easily use this as the primary stage of an H-bomb!
Iran is already enriching uranium and may have accumulated enough uranium
for a primary trigger already. The technology for converting this uranium
to an H-bomb is dangerously simple. The media and politicians warn us of
rogue nations being years away from making a bomb and speak of tens of
kilotons of fissionable material needed for even a low yield or ""dirty" bomb, but
the truth is much more terrible. This technology is easily within reach of
any nation seeking to use its apocalyptic power. The physics is well
understood and the amount of fissible material for the primary detonation is
within reach. It is likely that several pounds of plutonium or uranium has
already been secured and an H-bomb has been assembled.
Missing Uranium & Plutonium -- whose got it?
Sweden missing 100 kilograms of enriched uranium - The Swedish nuclear
energy monitoring agency is currently disputing claims by the CIA that 100
kilograms of uranium have disappeared. Sweden's nuclear inspection agency
(SKI) has repeatedly recorded significant discrepencies between the wmount of
waste received for recycling by the Swedish company Ranstad Minerals. The
uranium has yet to be accounted for but is believed to have ended up in
Syria.
CIA officials told a Swedish newspaper, "The company (Ranstad Mineral) is a
security risk and we have taken the matter to top levels to get the Swedes
to stop them... If it transpires that radioactive or nuclear material has
been sent on from Sweden to Syria then this is a very serious matter for
Sweden."
China missing 8 kilograms of U-235 -- Eight kilograms or 17 pounds of
uranium has gone missing in China, delaying the verdict in a trial of four men
charged with attempting to sell it on the black market, state media said. A
court in Gaungzhou, capital of China's southern province of Guangdong,
heard the four tried to sell the material between 2005 anf January 2007. The
men were arrested after a potential buyer in Hong Kong turned them in to the
authorities. However, despite having the men in custody, they were unable
or unwilling to locate the uranium. More than 20 people had fallen ill after
being exposed to the enriched uranium (235) but the material remains
missing.
Scotland loses 10.2 kilograms of uranium (235) -- Vice President of the
European Commission, Frans Andriessen, said the uranium "disappeared" from
the nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in Dounreay, Scotland. Authorities are
still trying to locate the material which could be used to make a nuclear
bomb.
Republic of Congo missing 100 "bars" of uranium -- Arrests were made in
Kenshasa, Congo, in response to the reports of the disappearance of "more
than 100 bars" of uranium from the Regional Center for Nuclear Studies in
Kenshasa. Arrested were the director, Fortunat Lumu, and an aide who have so far
not shed light on the whereabouts of the missing uranium.
Virginia (US) site missing 55 kilograms of uranium -- A reprocessing
plant, BWXT, located in Mt. Athos, Virginia, reported an inventory "accounting
problem" upon receipt of uranium shipped from a plant in Kazakstan. The
shortfall appears to be about 55 kilograms of uranium "on the order of plus or
minus 100 percent" pure. During repackaging in Kazakhstan, data was compiled
on the mass of uranium in each can. The U-235 enrichment level was also
determined, with two separate tests for each can. After BWXT received the
material, it verified the tamper-safe seals and identified the weight and
contents of the containers before securing them in a vault. NRC records show
the uranium/beryllium scrap was removed from sealed containers, tested for
dissolution rate, baked and returned to containers in tamper-proof seals. But
one problem was noted. "During the same period, a security vulnerability
existed relative to searches of personnel exiting the processing area under
emergency conditions," said the memo.
Los Alamos missing enough plutonium for 150 nuclear boombs -- The
beleaguered Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is unable to account for 765
kilograms of plutonium according to a statement from the nuclear watchdog froup
to director G. Peter Nanos. According to the statement, "The Department of
Energy (DOE) reported a discharge to waste from LANL of 610 kilograms of
plutonium; Los Alamos indicates a figure of 1,375 kilograms, the equivalent
of 150 nuclear weapons. This is unacceptable by any imaginable standards and
constitutes a crucial safety, environmental, and security issue."
Japan loses 206 kilograms of plutonium -- Japan announced that 206
kilograms of its plutonium stockpiule -- enough to make about 25 nuclear bombs --
is missing. Government scientists said that 6,890 kilograms of plutonium had
been extracted since 1977 from spent nuclear fuel at a processing plant
about 120 kilometers north east of Tokyo. But that is 3 percent short of the
amount the plant was estimated to have produced. Experts say the missing
amount is disturbingly large and rumors have linkrd the missing plutonium to
North Korea.
Britain missing 19.1 kilograms of highly enriched plutonium -- Enough
plutonium to make five nuclear bombs has gone missing from Sellafield in Cumbria
in the past 12 months. The official report lists the "materials
unaccounted for" seem to have disappeared from a reprocessing plant. No further
details are available.
Somewhere, someone has the material for a nuclear trigger. The other
components, specifically the lithium-deuteride, are relatively easy to secure.
We now just wait and see if some nation or group is crazy enough to use it.
But wait!... there's more...
Enter the DOOMSDAY BOMB!
Since the fusion reaction produces mostly neutrons and very little that is
radioactive, the concept of a 'clean' bomb has resulted: one having a
small atomic trigger, a less fissionable tamper, and therefore less radioactive
fallout . Carrying this progression further would result in the suggested
neutron bomb, which would have a minimum trigger and a nonfissionable
tamper; there would be blast effects and a hail of lethal neutrons but almost no
radioactive fallout; this theoretically would cause minimal physical
damage to buildings and equipment but kill most living things.
The theorized cobalt bomb is, on the contrary, a radioactively "dirty bomb"
having a cobalt tamper. Instead of generating additional explosive force
from fission of the uranium, the cobalt is transmuted into cobalt-60, which
has a half-life of 5.26 years and produces energetic and highly lethal (and
thus penetrating) gamma rays. The half-life of Co-60 is just long enough
so that airborne particles will settle and coat the earth's surface before
significant decay has occurred, thus making it impractical to hide in
shelters. This prompted physicist Leo Szilard to call it a "doomsday device"
since it was capable of wiping out life on earth. Such a device might be made
and used as the ultimate threat in a political stand-off, effectively saying
to the world, "Do as we say or we all die!"
Sleep well tonight.
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