A fizzle occurs when the detonation of a device for creating a nuclear explosion (such as a nuclear weapon) grossly fails to meet its expected yield. The bombs still detonate, but the detonation is much less than anticipated. The cause(s) for the failure can be linked to improper design, poor construction, or lack of expertise.[1][2] All countries that have had a nuclear weapons testing program have experienced some fizzles.[3] A fizzle can spread radioactive material throughout the surrounding area, involve a partial fission reaction of the fissile material, or both.[4] For practical purposes, a fizzle can still have considerable explosive yield when compared to conventional weapons.
If two pieces of subcritical material are not brought together fast enough, nuclear predetonation (fizzle) can occur, whereby a very small explosion will blow the bulk of the material apart with much less energy released than a proper nuclear explosion.
In multistage fission-fusion weapons, full yield of the fission primary that fails to initiate fusion ignition in the fusion secondary (or produces only a small degree of fusion) is also considered a "fizzle", as the weapon failed to reach its design yield despite the fission primary working correctly. Such fizzles can have very high yields, as in the case of Castle Koon, where the secondary stage of a device with a 1 megaton design fizzled, but its primary still generated a yield of 100 kilotons, and even the fizzled secondary still contributed another 10 kilotons, for a total yield of 110 kT.
If a deuterium-tritium mixture is placed at the center of the device to be compressed and heated by the fission explosion, a fission yield of 250 tons is sufficient to cause D-T fusion releasing high-energy fusion neutrons which will then fission much of the remaining fission fuel. This is known as a boosted fission weapon.[5] If a fission device designed for boosting is tested without the boost gas, a yield in the sub-kiloton range may indicate a successful test that the device's implosion and primary fission stages are working as designed, though this does not test the boosting process itself.
Nuclear fission tests considered to be fizzlesedit
Tower for the Upshot–Knothole Ruth test. The explosion failed even to demolish the testing tower, only somewhat damaging it. (1953)
Testing a uranium hydride bomb. The test failed to declassify the site (erase evidence) as it left the bottom third of the 300-foot (91 m) shot tower still standing.[7]
Similar test conducted the following month. Allegedly a shorter 100-foot (30 m) tower was chosen, to ensure that the tower would be completely destroyed.[7]
Russia claimed to have measured 5–15 kt yield, whereas the United States, France, and South Korea measured less than 1 kt yield.[8] This North Korean debut test was weaker than all other countries' initial tests by a factor of 20,[9] and the smallest initial test in history.[10]
A thermonuclear device whose fusion secondary did not successfully ignite, with only low-level fusion burning taking place.
Short Granite
Dropped by the United Kingdom over Malden Island in the Pacific on May 15, 1957, during Operation Grapple 1, this bomb had an expected yield of over 1 megaton, but only exploded with a force of a quarter of the anticipated yield.[3] The test was still considered successful, as thermonuclear ignition occurred and contributed substantially to the bomb's yield. Another bomb dropped during Grapple 1, Purple Granite, was hoped to give an improved yield over Short Granite, but the yield was even lower.
Terrorist concernsedit
One month after the September 11, 2001 attacks, a CIA informant known as "Dragonfire" reported that al-Qaeda had smuggled a low-yield nuclear weapon into New York City.[11] Although the report was found to be false, concerns were expressed that even a "fizzle bomb" capable of yielding a fraction of the known 10-kiloton weapons could cause "horrific" consequences. A detonation in New York City would mean thousands of civilian casualties.[2][12]
In popular cultureedit
The nuclear weapon which detonates in Tom Clancy's The Sum of all Fears results in a fizzle, caused by tritium poisoning, which causes the secondary core to fail to ignite.
^Theodore E. Liolios." The Effects of Nuclear Terrorism: Fizzles." (PDF) European Program on Science and International Security. Retrieved on 2008-05-04.
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A fizzle occurs when the detonation of a device for creating a nuclear explosion such as a nuclear weapon grossly fails to meet its expected yield The bombs still detonate but the detonation is much less than anticipated The cause s for the failure can be linked to improper design poor construction or lack of expertise 1 2 All countries that have had a nuclear weapons testing program have experienced some fizzles 3 A fizzle can spread radioactive material throughout the surrounding area involve a partial fission reaction of the fissile material or both 4 For practical purposes a fizzle can still have considerable explosive yield when compared to conventional weapons If two pieces of subcritical material are not brought together fast enough nuclear predetonation fizzle can occur whereby a very small explosion will blow the bulk of the material apart with much less energy released than a proper nuclear explosion In multistage fission fusion weapons full yield of the fission primary that fails to initiate fusion ignition in the fusion secondary or produces only a small degree of fusion is also considered a fizzle as the weapon failed to reach its design yield despite the fission primary working correctly Such fizzles can have very high yields as in the case of Castle Koon where the secondary stage of a device with a 1 megaton design fizzled but its primary still generated a yield of 100 kilotons and even the fizzled secondary still contributed another 10 kilotons for a total yield of 110 kT Contents 1 Fusion boosting 2 Nuclear fission tests considered to be fizzles 3 Nuclear fusion tests that fizzled 4 Terrorist concerns 5 In popular culture 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksFusion boosting editIf a deuterium tritium mixture is placed at the center of the device to be compressed and heated by the fission explosion a fission yield of 250 tons is sufficient to cause D T fusion releasing high energy fusion neutrons which will then fission much of the remaining fission fuel This is known as a boosted fission weapon 5 If a fission device designed for boosting is tested without the boost gas a yield in the sub kiloton range may indicate a successful test that the device s implosion and primary fission stages are working as designed though this does not test the boosting process itself Nuclear fission tests considered to be fizzles edit nbsp Tower for the Upshot Knothole Ruth test The explosion failed even to demolish the testing tower only somewhat damaging it 1953 Buster Able Considered to be the first known failure of any nuclear device 6 Upshot Knothole Ruth Testing a uranium hydride bomb The test failed to declassify the site erase evidence as it left the bottom third of the 300 foot 91 m shot tower still standing 7 Upshot Knothole Ray Similar test conducted the following month Allegedly a shorter 100 foot 30 m tower was chosen to ensure that the tower would be completely destroyed 7 North Korean nuclear test in 2006 Russia claimed to have measured 5 15 kt yield whereas the United States France and South Korea measured less than 1 kt yield 8 This North Korean debut test was weaker than all other countries initial tests by a factor of 20 9 and the smallest initial test in history 10 Nuclear fusion tests that fizzled editCastle Koon A thermonuclear device whose fusion secondary did not successfully ignite with only low level fusion burning taking place Short Granite Dropped by the United Kingdom over Malden Island in the Pacific on May 15 1957 during Operation Grapple 1 this bomb had an expected yield of over 1 megaton but only exploded with a force of a quarter of the anticipated yield 3 The test was still considered successful as thermonuclear ignition occurred and contributed substantially to the bomb s yield Another bomb dropped during Grapple 1 Purple Granite was hoped to give an improved yield over Short Granite but the yield was even lower Terrorist concerns editOne month after the September 11 2001 attacks a CIA informant known as Dragonfire reported that al Qaeda had smuggled a low yield nuclear weapon into New York City 11 Although the report was found to be false concerns were expressed that even a fizzle bomb capable of yielding a fraction of the known 10 kiloton weapons could cause horrific consequences A detonation in New York City would mean thousands of civilian casualties 2 12 In popular culture editThe nuclear weapon which detonates in Tom Clancy s The Sum of all Fears results in a fizzle caused by tritium poisoning which causes the secondary core to fail to ignite See also editList of nuclear tests Lists of nuclear disasters and radioactive incidents Uranium hydride bomb Dirty bombReferences edit Staff Writer NBC Weapons North Korean Fizzle Bomb Strategy Page Retrieved on 2008 05 04 a b Earl Lane Nuclear Experts Assess the Threat of a Backyard Bomb American Association for the Advancement of Science Retrieved on 2008 05 04 Archived May 13 2008 at the Wayback Machine a b Meirion Jones A short history of fizzles BBC News Retrieved on 2008 05 04 Theodore E Liolios The Effects of Nuclear Terrorism Fizzles PDF European Program on Science and International Security Retrieved on 2008 05 04 http nuclearweaponarchive org News DoSuitcaseNukesExist html Nuclear Weapon Archive Carey Sublette Are Suitcase Bombs Possible Carey Sublette Operation Buster Jangle 1951 Nuclear Weapon Archive Retrieved on 2008 05 04 a b Carey Sublette Operation Upshot Knothole 1953 Nevada Proving Ground Nuclear Weapon Archive Retrieved on 2008 05 04 Penny Spiller N Korea test failure or fake BBC News Retrieved on 2008 05 04 Todd Crowell A deadly kind of fizzle Asia Times Online Retrieved on 2008 05 04 Staff Writer Special report The fizzle heard around the world Nature com Retrieved on 2008 05 04 Nicholas D Kristof An American Hiroshima The New York Times Published August 11 2004 Retrieved on 2008 05 04 Michael A Levi How Likely is a Nuclear Terrorist Attack on the United States Archived 2008 05 02 at the Wayback Machine Council on Foreign Relations Retrieved on 2008 05 04 External links editNot a bomb or a dud but a fizzle Ian Hoffman Oakland Tribune October 9 2006 Nuclear Weapons howthingswork virginia edu Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fizzle nuclear explosion amp oldid 1223183278, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
