Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Little Ray

"Tritium. It decays into deturium relatively quickly."

Worse, it decays into helium--and helium captures neutrons very efficiently, so that only a little helium can cause the weapon to not generate a significant yield.


114 posted on 07/14/2005 1:11:56 PM PDT by BeHoldAPaleHorse
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 106 | View Replies ]


To: BeHoldAPaleHorse
"--and helium captures neutrons very efficiently"

Sorry, but no. Helium neutron capture cross-section is very low. That's one of the reasons they use it as primary coolant in carbon-moderated HTGR's (High-Temperature-Gas-Reactors).

173 posted on 07/14/2005 1:34:01 PM PDT by Wonder Warthog (The Hog of Steel)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 114 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson