[Southack]

All neutron initiator sources have a shelf-life, because all such radioactive sources decay.

Slower decaying substances (i.e. longer shelf-life) are available, but then they may not emit neutrons fast-enough to avoid a fizzle.

Believe it or not, TIMING is critical if you want anything more than a poisonous dirty bomb.

[philman_36]

None of that information answers what I asked.

[philman_36]

Some "trigger" info from J. R. Nyquist...consider his source.
The War on Terror Continues
According to Col. Stanislav Lunev, a military defector from the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Russian General Staff, it would be very difficult to smuggle a working nuclear weapon out of Russia. Not only are the trigger mechanisms for Russian backpack nukes stored separately from the nuclear fuel, but the triggers are heavily guarded by reliable security troops. These weapons also require sophisticated maintenance. Inputs of electrical power are required to keep sensitive micro-nuclear components in working order.