Explosion, 2006
title: Fig. 001 "Explosion" material: JPEG size: a4 year: 2006
Teller-Ulam hydrogen bomb firing sequence, modified from Howard Morland, The Secret that Exploded (Random House, 1981). / A Warhead before firing; primary at top, first at top. Both components are fusion-boosted fission bombs. B High-explosive fires in primary, compressing plutonium core into supercriticality and beginning a fission reaction. C Fission in primary emits X-rays which channel along the inside of the casing, irradiating the polystyrene foam channel filler. D Polystyrene foam becomes plasma, compressing secondary, and plutonium sparkplug inside the secondary begins to fission, supplying heat. E Compressed and heated, lithium-6 deuterium fuel begins fusion reaction, neutron flux causes tamper to fission. A fireball is starting to form... (source: wikimedia commons)