THE PHYSICS OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

Abstract

1995 saw the 50th anniversary of the first detonation of an atomic bomb. At the present time the world is in a period of nuclear proliferation, where more and more nations have the ability to develop their own atomic weapons. It is important to limit nuclear proliferation as far as is possible, because the probability of use increases as the number of nuclear powers rises. However, before you can take action to stop a proliferant nation's nuclear weapons programme, you first have to recognise the signs that one is underway. This article outlines the main technical features of nuclear weapons, which have now been published in open literature, in the belief that these facts should be known to future physicists, so they can more easily recognise cases where work they hear about or work they are being asked to perform might relate to a covert foreign nuclear weapons development programme, such as that run by Iraq.