To: grey_whiskers
"1) Would the presence of oxygen change the energy dependence of the neutron capture cross section, affecting the yield? 1a) Or the difference from that is too small? 2) Would the plutonium "rust" change important factors like density, shape, etc. so that the "implosion" of a "Fat man" would not achieve the desired density, or not achieve it quickly enough, resulting in a lowered yield?" Uranium Oxide (i.e. rust, commonly seen in nature or after rudimentary refining as yellowcake) is typically a neutron absorber...certainly the critical chain reaction speed is changed going from Uranium to Uranium Oxide...not a good thing for a precisely calculated boom.
530 posted on
04/28/2006 11:16:35 PM PDT by
Southack
(Media Bias means that Castro won't be punished for Cuban war crimes against Black Angolans in Africa)
To: Southack
Thank you for the courteous reply.
Cheers!
533 posted on
04/28/2006 11:40:56 PM PDT by
grey_whiskers
(The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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