

Such weapons would produce far fewer radioactive byproducts than current designs, although they would release huge numbers of neutrons. Ī fourth type, pure fusion weapons, are a theoretical possibility. This process affords potential yields up to hundreds of times those of fission weapons. This sets in motion a sequence of events which results in a thermonuclear, or fusion, burn. Its detonation causes it to shine intensely with x-radiation, which illuminates and implodes the second stage filled with a large quantity of fusion fuel. The first stage is normally a boosted fission weapon as above (except for the earliest thermonuclear weapons, which used a pure fission weapon instead). staged thermonuclear weapons are essentially arrangements of two or more "stages", most usually two.Boosting can more than double the weapon's fission energy yield. boosted fission weapons increase yield beyond that of the implosion design by using small quantities of fusion fuel to enhance the fission chain reaction.pure fission weapons, the simplest and least technically demanding, were the first nuclear weapons built and have so far been the only type ever used in warfare (by the United States on Japan during WWII).There are three existing basic design types: Nuclear weapon designs are physical, chemical, and engineering arrangements that cause the physics package of a nuclear weapon to detonate. Pictured is the Gadget device being prepared for the first nuclear test, Trinity. The first nuclear explosive devices, cumbersome and inefficient, provided the basic design building blocks of all future weapons.
