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arXiv:physics/0510071physics.soc-ph

Fourth Generation Nuclear Weapons: Military effectiveness and collateral effects

Andre Gsponer

Abstract

The paper begins with a general introduction and update to Fourth Generation Nuclear Weapons (FGNW), and then addresses some particularly important military aspects on which there has been only limited public discussion so far. These aspects concern the unique military characteristics of FGNWs which make them radically different from both nuclear weapons based on previous-generation nuclear-explosives and from conventional weapons based on chemical-explosives: yields in the 1 to 100 tons range, greatly enhanced coupling to targets, possibility to drive powerful shaped-charge jets and forged fragments, enhanced prompt radiation effects, reduced collateral damage and residual radioactivity, etc.

arXiv comments
55 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables. Abridged version of an invited paper presented at the 2nd Symposium "Nukleare und radiologische Waffen," INT, Euskirchen, 20-22 Sept., 2005. Final version with an updated in section 3.1
Journal reference
DOI
Subjects
physics.soc-phPhysics and Society

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    • >I wonder if the next step - designing a thermonuclear device given an A-bomb And then there's the theoretical possibility of designing a thermonuclear device without the A-bomb part. I remember skimming through a paper from someone from CERN about it…

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