4 ms·
No? They use fission.
by cweagans 9y ago
No? They use fission.
- falava 9y agohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermonuclear_weapon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermonuclear_weapon
- philipkglass 9y agoThey use both. Weapons incorporating fusion (boosted fission bombs, or "true" Teller-Ulam fusion weapons) have several advantages. Fusion fuel is cheaper than weapons grade plutonium, per unit of yield. Fusion weapons scale up to higher yields. Fusion weapons deliver more yield in a compact package. That's why the world's nuclear arsenals are overwhelmingly thermonuclear, with few pure-fission weapons.
- icebraining 9y agoOn that note, here's an interesting podcast episode about nuclear weapons that explains their history and current configuration for us laymen: http://omegataupodcast.net/270-nuclear-weapons/ http://omegataupodcast.net/270-nuclear-weapons/
- whuuut 9y agoWow. I’m assigning you some reading material. Start here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Teller https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Teller Further material: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Ivy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Ivy
- cweagans 9y agoI'm not above admitting that I was wrong. Thanks for correcting me!