The Manhattan Project: a very brief introduction to the physics of nuclear weapons

Description

The development of nuclear weapons by the Manhattan Project during World War II was one of the most dramatic scientific/technological episodes in human history. This book, prepared by a recognized expert on the Manhattan Project, offers a concise survey of the essential physics concepts underlying fission weapons. The text describes the energetics and timescales of fast-neutron chain reactions, why only certain isotopes of uranium and plutonium are suitable for use in fission weapons, how critical mass and bomb yield can be estimated, how the efficiency of nuclear weapons can be enhanced, how the fissile forms of uranium and plutonium were obtained, some of the design details of the 'Little Boy' and 'Fat Man' bombs, and some of the thermal, shock, and radiation effects of nuclear weapons. Calculation exercises are provided, and a Bibliography lists authoritative print and online sources of information for readers who wish to pursue more detailed study of this fascinating topic.;2. Nuclear fission -- 2.1. Energy release in fission -- 2.2. Chain reaction timescale -- 2.3. Temperature equivalent of fission fragments -- 2.4. A first glimpse of the efficiency issue -- 2.5. Neutron pairing energy, the fission barrier, and plutonium -- 2.6. Decay mechanisms and the ([alpha], n) problem -- 2.7. Spontaneous fission;Preface -- 1. The background -- 1.1. The physics -- 1.2. The Manhattan Project;7. Legacy -- 7.1. Postwar proliferation, tests, and deployments -- 7.2. Nuclear arms treaties and the baggage of the Cold War -- 7.3. Final thoughts.;4. Obtaining fissile material -- 4.1. U-235 : the electromagnetic method -- 4.2. U-235 : the gaseous diffusion method -- 4.3. Pu-239 : the Hanford reactors;5. Los Alamos, Little Boy, Fat Man, Trinity, Hiroshima and Nagasaki -- 5.1. Predetonation probability -- 5.2. Little Boy -- 5.3. Implosion and Fat Man -- 5.4. Yield probability -- 5.5. Trinity -- 5.6. Hiroshima and Nagasaki;3. Criticality and efficiency -- 3.1. Bare criticality -- 3.2. Supercriticality and the radius-density effect -- 3.3. Tamped criticality -- 3.4. Efficiency;6. Effects of nuclear weapons -- 6.1. Brightness and thermal radiation -- 6.2. Shock wave -- 6.3. Neutron scattering -- 6.4. A brief tutorial on radioactivity and radiation exposure units -- 6.5. Prompt radioactivity from a nuclear weapon Preface -- 1. The background -- 1.1. The physics -- 1.2. The Manhattan Project 2. Nuclear fission -- 2.1. Energy release in fission -- 2.2. Chain reaction timescale -- 2.3. Temperature equivalent of fission fragments -- 2.4. A first glimpse of the efficiency issue -- 2.5. Neutron pairing energy, the fission barrier, and plutonium -- 2.6. Decay mechanisms and the ([alpha], n) problem -- 2.7. Spontaneous fission 3. Criticality and efficiency -- 3.1. Bare criticality -- 3.2. Supercriticality and the radius-density effect -- 3.3. Tamped criticality -- 3.4. Efficiency 4. Obtaining fissile material -- 4.1. U-235 : the electromagnetic method -- 4.2. U-235 : the gaseous diffusion method -- 4.3. Pu-239 : the Hanford reactors 5. Los Alamos, Little Boy, Fat Man, Trinity, Hiroshima and Nagasaki -- 5.1. Predetonation probability -- 5.2. Little Boy -- 5.3. Implosion and Fat Man -- 5.4. Yield probability -- 5.5. Trinity -- 5.6. Hiroshima and Nagasaki 6. Effects of nuclear weapons -- 6.1. Brightness and thermal radiation -- 6.2. Shock wave -- 6.3. Neutron scattering -- 6.4. A brief tutorial on radioactivity and radiation exposure units -- 6.5. Prompt radioactivity from a nuclear weapon 7. Legacy -- 7.1. Postwar proliferation, tests, and deployments -- 7.2. Nuclear arms treaties and the baggage of the Cold War -- 7.3. Final thoughts.