primary fission trigger

References

Images

Diagram of a thermonuclear warhead cut open to reveal internal components, including a primary fission trigger with deuterium-tritium gas, plutonium-239, beryllium, and chemical explosives, and a secondary fusion device with uranium-235, lithium deuteride fusion fuel, and a uranium case, all labeled for educational reference.

Diagram showing the Teller-Ulam two-stage thermonuclear bomb design, with four labeled stages: a chemical explosion in the primary fission core, X-ray transfer and compression, ignition of a secondary fusion stage, and fusion fuel detonation. Key components such as the fission fuel, uranium tamper, and polystyrene foam are illustrated and labeled.

primary fission trigger

weapon technology

Also known as: boosted-fission primary

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Learn about this topic in these articles:

thermonuclear warhead
Basic two-stage design
featuring a fission or boosted-fission primary (also called the trigger) and a physically separate component called the secondary. Both primary and secondary are contained within an outer metal case. Radiation from the fission explosion of the primary is contained and used to transfer energy to compress and ignite the secondary.…
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featuring a fission or boosted-fission primary (also called the trigger) and a physically separate component called the secondary. Both primary and secondary are contained within an outer metal case. Radiation from the fission explosion of the primary is contained and used to transfer energy to compress and ignite the secondary.…
Read More