Short term irradiation nuclear weapon

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of a "short term irradiation nuclear weapon," exploring theoretical and factual aspects of nuclear weapons that would produce temporary effects without long-lasting radiation. Participants are considering the implications of such a weapon in a fictional context, while seeking scientifically plausible explanations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a desire for a weapon that causes effects lasting only a few minutes or days, questioning the feasibility of such a concept given that existing nuclear weapons typically involve fission, which leads to long-term irradiation.
  • Another participant suggests looking into the neutron bomb as a potential example of a weapon that produces short-lived radiation.
  • A different participant introduces the idea of pure fusion bombs, which are hypothesized to not produce fallout, as a possible alternative to meet the criteria of short-term effects.
  • One participant mentions "dirty" or "salted" conventional bombs that spread radioactive material, noting that these can create radioactivity for a few days but raises concerns about the practicality of achieving effects shorter than that.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to reach a consensus on the feasibility of creating a short term irradiation nuclear weapon. Multiple competing views are presented regarding the types of weapons that could fit the criteria, with some suggesting existing models and others proposing hypothetical concepts.

Contextual Notes

Participants emphasize the need for the science to be realistic, indicating a limitation in the discussion regarding the speculative nature of some proposed weapon types. The conversation also reflects uncertainty about the definitions and implications of short-term irradiation.

Who May Find This Useful

Writers or creators interested in the physics of nuclear weapons, particularly in fictional contexts, may find this discussion relevant for exploring scientifically plausible scenarios.

be082
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Hello all. I am not a physicist and would probably be considered a "physics idiot" by people on this site, so please excuse any ignorance on my part.

I am writing a book and need some help with the physics of nuclear weapons. For the purposes of my book, I am looking to have one of my characters create what I as a layman would call a "short term irradiation nuclear weapon" (please forgive if the verbiage is incorrect).

From my research, i have surmised that this could not be any type of in use weapon, as all appear to have fission as some part of the "equation", and this would create long term irradiation in the affected areas. If anyone out there could give me some guidance, theoretical or factual, as to how this type of weapon might be created it would be very helpful to me for the purposes of my book.

Feel free to be as "theoretical" as you like, The more fantastical the better provided the science actually would work. In short, a weapon which the "desired effects" last for only a few minutes or days, and then cease. Thanks in advance for any help.
 
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be082 said:
Hello all. I am not a physicist and would probably be considered a "physics idiot" by people on this site, so please excuse any ignorance on my part.

I am writing a book and need some help with the physics of nuclear weapons. For the purposes of my book, I am looking to have one of my characters create what I as a layman would call a "short term irradiation nuclear weapon" (please forgive if the verbiage is incorrect).

From my research, i have surmised that this could not be any type of in use weapon, as all appear to have fission as some part of the "equation", and this would create long term irradiation in the affected areas. If anyone out there could give me some guidance, theoretical or factual, as to how this type of weapon might be created it would be very helpful to me for the purposes of my book.

Feel free to be as "theoretical" as you like, The more fantastical the better provided the science actually would work. In short, a weapon which the "desired effects" last for only a few minutes or days, and then cease. Thanks in advance for any help.

Just a note to any repliers, I need the science/physics to be real. They moved it to the science fiction section which is ok, but I'm looking for real world physics of these potential types of weapons. Thanks.
 
Do you specifically want a nuclear weapon that produces short lived fallout or would a weapon with no fallout be good too? Pure fusion bombs are a hypothetical type of hydrogen bomb that would not produce any fallout:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pure_fusion_weapon
 
Dirty ("salted") conventional bombs that just spread radioactive material can lead to radioactivity for a few days or more. Less than a few days would lead to serious production and transportation issues.
 

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