Characteristics of Radioactivity Produced by Nuclear Explosives

Understanding and constructively using the effects of underground nuclear explosions

“…The amounts and kinds of radioactivities produced by a nuclear explosion are dependent on the specific design of the explosive and the chemical environment surrounding it. The two design extremes are a pure fission device which will produce about 2.9 x 10 • fission fragments per kiloton and a pure thermonuclear device which would produce no fission products but approximately 10 •s atoms of f•ritium per kiloton [Miskel, 1964]. The excess neutrons produced (about I x 10 • neutrons per kiloton for fission and about 10 fames as many per kiloton for fusion) ultimately interact with the materials of the explosive or of the immediate environment and may result in the production of other radioactive species [Miskel, 1964].…”

“…Because fission fragments decay by beta emission •o become stable, the chemistry of these species changes with time. The relative contributions of various elements (grouped as volatiles, intermediates, and refracf•ories) to the tof•al fission activities for several times after the explosion are given in Table I [Miskel, 1964]. Table 2 presents an estimate for neutron activation products formed in basalt (together with some fission products for comparison).…”

“…Table 2 presents an estimate for neutron activation products formed in basalt (together with some fission products for comparison). This esfAmate is based on a 1-Mf• explosive which derives 1% of its energy from fission and the remainder from fusion [Miskel, 1964]. It is also assumed that the explosive is surrounded by a boron blanket thaf• reduces the emergent neutron flux by a factor of 100 [Miskel, 1964].…”

“…This esfAmate is based on a 1-Mf• explosive which derives 1% of its energy from fission and the remainder from fusion [Miskel, 1964]. It is also assumed that the explosive is surrounded by a boron blanket thaf• reduces the emergent neutron flux by a factor of 100 [Miskel, 1964]. The fusion reaction would produce about 10 • curies of tritium, which would have f•o be considered along with the acfAvation and fission products shown in Table 2 [Miskel, 1964].…”

“…It is also assumed that the explosive is surrounded by a boron blanket thaf• reduces the emergent neutron flux by a factor of 100 [Miskel, 1964]. The fusion reaction would produce about 10 • curies of tritium, which would have f•o be considered along with the acfAvation and fission products shown in Table 2 [Miskel, 1964]. Exploration of f•he Rainier chimney revealed that from 60 f•o 85% of the gross fission products were trapped in the glass formed by the explosion and that those materials with gaseous precursors were depleted relative to the nonvolatile species [Johnson et al, 1959].…”