• TankieTanuki [he/him]
    ·
    edit-2
    4 years ago

    The destructive power is still coming from the fission reaction.

    It says about half of the destructive power comes from the fusion of deuterium and tritium, and the remaining half of the energy released is from the final fission reaction.

    These fission events account for about half of the total energy released in typical designs.

    The final fission event isn't possible without the fusion event, so I wouldn't call the fusion part a technicality. It's essential for releasing ~99% of the bomb's energy.

    Moreover, the final fission event isn't even necessary for a fusion bomb to function, it's just an added boost. The real purpose for adding the U-238 is to to act as a "tamper", an extremely strong cylinder that houses the fusion fuel so that it can be compressed to pressures and temperatures high enough to undergo fusion. You can replace the U-238 with lead and it will still work.

    • ferristriangle [he/him]
      ·
      4 years ago

      Fair. I'm just a dummy that can be ignored. Everyone can listen to this guy instead.