I think 100MT is a theoretical limit?
I saw the mention of cobalt. Could that up the yield? Then there is the possibility of using two or more simultaneously, though 100MT warheads in multiple subs spaced an equal distance apart may have even greater effect than a single, larger explosion.
Originally Posted by LordDartz:
I saw a documentary on the Tsar Bomba, which mentioned someone thought of a 1,000 megaton bombs during the development process.
Poster asnys:
At any point between then and now could the Soviets or Americans have created and tested nukes in the gigaton range? How far could we go? What about teraton-range? The ability to deliver it by air is irrelevant. In a memoir by a weapons physicist, I read that several hundred megatons is actually the largest possible size, because if you try to chain too many fusion stages together the light from the first stage blows the later stages apart before they can actually ignite. However, I know that Teller, among others, did investigate multi-gigaton-range weapons, so I'm not sure what to make of that. If there really is an upper limit on yield, it's probably classified.
Bombs larger than 100MT seem doable now, even if not practical, unless new technology permitting such has been discovered. Found info on the use of Cobalt too.
I now believe we really could destroy the planet, if one of these bombs were placed at just the right geographical location.
Scary stuff.