How a Lithium Atom Transforms into a Hydrogen Isotope

[Mr_Bojingles]

From what I gather a hydrogen bomb works by exploding a conventional explosive such as TNT which propells fissile Uranium or Plutonium particles at each other which causes fission and this fission causes enough heat to start fusion.

Then I hear lithium is bombarded with by an electrons which cause it to transform into tritium. My question is how does a lithium atom transform directly into a hydrogen isotope??

 

[Hurkyl]

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/nucene/fusion.html#c5

 

[Gruppenpest]

Pressure is needed as well as heat, and for that confinement is a key. Simply suspending an A-bomb inside a vessel of fusion fuel will not work.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teller-Ulam_configuration

 

[Astronuc]

²D + ⁶Li produces the following possible results

³He + ⁴He + ₀¹n, Q = 2.56 or 1.8 MeV

2 ⁴He, Q = 22.4 MeV

¹H + ⁷Li, Q = 5.0 MeV

⁷Be + ₀¹n, Q = 3.4 MeV



²D + ⁷Li produces the following possible results

⁸Be + ₀¹n, Q = 15.0 MeV

2 ⁴He + ₀¹n, Q = 15.1 MeV

Where Q is the energy (as kinetic energy of the products) released from the reaction.


The second reaction cited by Hurkyl applies to fast neutrons, which would be produced by a fission reaction or D + T reaction. Thermal or slow neutrons are not produced in fission or fusion reactions.

₀¹n (fast) + ⁷Li -> ³H + ⁴He + ₀¹n (slow)

Simply suspending an A-bomb inside a vessel of fusion fuel will not work.

The fission trigger and fusion reaction chamber are specially configured, of course.