Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
1
Nuclear Arsenals Dennis Silverman, U C Irvine Source: Energy and Problems of a Technical Society, by Jack J. Kraushaar and Robert A. Ristinen
2
Nuclear Forces, 1991 United States Deployed Strategic Warheads (ICBMs, SLBMs, Bombers): 8,772; Total Megatons ~2,500; Tactical Weapons, ~10,000 (Today 1600) Former USSR Deployed Strategic Warheads: 9,537; Total Megatons ~4,500; Tactical Weapons, ~10,000.
3
Other Countries’ Nuclear Weapons, 1991 France, ~550 China, ~450 U. K., ~300
4
Newer Countries, Today Israel: 200+ nuclear weapons India: 60+ Pakistan: 24-48 India and Pakistan are in dispute over Kashmir Source: Center for Defense Information (www.cdi.org)
5
Nuclear war is unthinkable Immediate destruction of ½ of population Due to the complexity and interdependence of systems, all fuel, power, industrial, transportation, water, food, communication, and medical systems would not function In a major power war, nuclear winter would destroy crops worldwide The ozone layer shielding us from UV radiation would be destroyed There would be long term radiation exposure Because of international trade, companies and investment, making war is essentially making war on yourself.
6
Problems with Nuclear Arsenals Must maintain their functionality despite Tritium in fusion part decays in decades Radiation damage to structures Computer simulations, physical tests, and maintenance required Possibility of theft (but code protected, and in the US, by delivery method)
7
New US nuclear initiatives Develop smaller weapons to hide the difference between conventional and nuclear weapon usage Testing to be resumed to test these – scientists claim not needed Bunker busters – scientists claim will not be any more effective and large extended damage These have been funded only for research, but not development
8
Total Cost of US Nuclear Arsenal Source: Atomic Audit, … Stephen I. Schwartz, ed., of the Brookings Institute. The total cost since 1940 is estimated at $5 trillion, to produce 70,000 weapons.
9
Fission Weapons Developments Enriching 235 U for Fission Weapons Done in diffusion Plants, or by Electromagnetic Separation, or by Centrifuge Separation Getting Critical Mass from gun type bombs Uniting halves, or Inserting the missing core 239 Pu Fission Create 239 Pu in short nuclear reactor runs Implode sphere or shell to get critical mass together
10
Hydrogen Bomb Development Fission bomb core produces neutrons T (Tritium) production from n + 6 Li → 4 He + T + 4.8 MeV Fusion energy from D + T → 4 He + n + 17.6 MeV Surround by 238 U for further fission from high energy n
11
The Trouble with N. Korea Surreptitiously worked on weapons despite previous agreement May have reprocessed Pu giving it the capacity for several bombs Also have U enrichment program May have one or two weapons Developing long range missiles US and Russia have shut down building two nuclear plants Fuel and food embargo continues US position is complete dismantling of weapons programs with full inspections
12
The Trouble with Iran Finishing a nuclear plant Has centrifuge U enrichment technology Developing long range missiles Agreed to new inspections, but some doubt their completeness
Similar presentations
© 2025 SlidePlayer.com. Inc.
All rights reserved.