View Single Post
Unread 09-22-2002, 06:33 PM   #11
gmat
Thermophile
 
gmat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: France
Posts: 1,221
Default

Well, high speed neutrons are a byproduct of some nuclear reactions. Here in France they tried to build a nuke reactor which could re-use those neutrons, by splitting plutonium atoms IIRC. The result was more uranium which in turn could be used in a conventional reactor to give plutonium... and so forth. They called it "surrégénérateur" which would mean over-generator since the process feeds itselff and "produces" matter.
They built it, performed tests and everything went well.The problem was, no one, and really *no one* could predict what would happen if *something* went wrong. Specialists predictions were ranging from a simple shutdown to the end of known universe.
That scared authorities off a bit.
So they eventually shut it down, that was about 10y ago. The project dated from the 70's. It was called "superphoenix" - from the legendary bird which could raise from its flames...

Aside from this, modern nuke weapons produce neutrons. They tested such weapons indeed, and it resulted that "free" neutrons wouldnt go that far... So big deal. What's important is the fusion reaction, which is partly fueled by the fission, partly by free neutrons, until everything is cooled off and has lots its energy.
Pure EMP weapons exist, the british have even field-tested some of them with success. Those were EMP guns though, i dont know about bombs.
gmat is offline   Reply With Quote