Atomic Bomb Design
By 1939 nuclear scientists had begun to delve seriously into the fission of uranium atoms causing a chain reaction, particularly in the U235 isotope. As a result, vast progress was made in the fields of neutron bombardment, the comparative efforts of slow neutrons versus fast neutrons in sustaining chain reactions, and the possible methods of separating U235 from U238 in natural uranium. Moreover, the possibility of an immense atomic explosion was becoming common knowledge, and calculations for a "critical mass" were just around the corner. As early as the spring of 1942, scientists and leaders across the United States were being exposed to plutonium, courtesy of Glen Seaborg's neutron bombardment of U238. With two unique isotopes of fissionable material at the disposal of the country's greatest minds, it was fitting that two unique atomic weapon designs emerged. The "gun bomb" focused around driving together two sub-critical masses, and the "implosion bomb" relied on a uniform shockwave to compress a plutonium center. Although both designs created the desired bang, they contained very unique features and lent themselves to plutonium and uranium in different ways. The primary research and design center for the bombs w
The basic implosion scheme is shown below (Brock/Chambers). ) if the plutonium was surrounded by the U-238 isotope (Allen, 245). The theory was that two sub-critical pieces of uranium or plutonium are driven together with great force and speed. Robert Oppenheimer said that the required supercritical mass would be about 100 kilograms or 220 lbs. This would result in a "fizzle" of dramatically reduced yield. The basic gun-bomb design is shown below (Brock/Young). In order for a chain reaction to utilize an imploding system, a radioactive source had to emit a neutron, while a plutonium mass was fused together. Richard Feyman calculated the amount of uranium needed to achieve the critical mass to be about 50 kilograms (110 lb. It worked to reduce radioactivity that would otherwise short circuit the bomb or poison people in its general vicinity. This was the mechanism for the Fat Man design. The sphere would be made up of equally spaced and shaped plutonium sections, resembling a soccer ball. After the detonation of the bombs, and the subsequent end of WWII, scientists began to examine the effectiveness and practicality of each atomic design. The product of the Uranium gun bomb design was "Little Boy. Uranium resources were still very rare so the bomb would have to be simple and guaranteed to work.
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Acceptance Essays
