2 ms·
It's not necessary. You just need to increase the neutron density to a point where the fission reaction can take place. You can do that by: * Reflecting neutr
by dralley 4y ago
It's not necessary. You just need to increase the neutron density to a point where the fission reaction can take place. You can do that by:
* Reflecting neutrons (as in the demon core incidents)
* Bringing too much fissile material together in the same place (the cause of other accidents, the "little boy" nuclear weapon)
* Compressing a subcritical mass of fissile material with explosives such that the increased density makes it critical (most nuclear weapons)
- 01100011 4y agoDon't forget about neutron moderators like water or graphite. Pouring water on a pile of fissile material can be enough to induce criticality. The fast neutrons interact with hydrogen atoms in water to produce thermal neutrons which are much more likely to participate in a chain reaction.