This will give you enough information to make your head explode... from an accomplished engineer (and top-notch writer):
http://denbeste.nu/cd_log_entries/2004/06/AnewManhattanProject.shtml
Wow, you are right it will make one's head explode. so I am going to bump this for later reading also
Thanks for the link, it will take quite a while to get thru everything on this guy's blog. His links to other blogs are interesting also.