Introduction to Pits and Weapons Systems (U) [Slides]

Technical Report · Fri Jul 20 00:00:00 EDT 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1045390· OSTI ID:1045390

Kautz, Doug ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

A Nuclear Explosive Package includes the Primary, Secondary, Radiation Case and related components. This is the part of the weapon that produces nuclear yield and it converts mechanical energy into nuclear energy. The pit is composed of materials that allow mechanical energy to be converted to electromagnetic energy. Fabrication processes used are typical of any metal fabrication facility: casting, forming, machining and welding. Some of the materials used in pits include: Plutonium, Uranium, Stainless Steel, Beryllium, Titanium, and Aluminum. Gloveboxes are used for three reasons: (1) Protect workers and public from easily transported, finely divided plutonium oxides - (a) Plutonium is very reactive and produces very fine particulate oxides, (b) While not the 'Most dangerous material in the world' of Manhattan Project lore, plutonium is hazardous to health of workers if not properly controlled; (2) Protect plutonium from reactive materials - (a) Plutonium is extremely reactive at ambient conditions with several components found in air: oxygen, water, hydrogen, (b) As with most reactive metals, reactions with these materials may be violent and difficult to control, (c) As with most fabricated metal products, corrosion may significantly affect the mechanical, chemical, and physical properties of the product; and (3) Provide shielding from radioactive decay products: α, γ, and η are commonly associated with plutonium decay, as well as highly radioactive materials such as ²⁴¹Am and ²³⁸Pu.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC52-06NA25396
• OSTI ID: 1045390
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--12-22626
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
ALUMINIUM
BERYLLIUM
CASTING
DAUGHTER PRODUCTS
DECAY
FABRICATION
GLOVEBOXES
MACHINING
Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense(45)
NUCLEAR ENERGY
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVES
OXIDES
PARTICULATES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLUTONIUM
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
RADIATIONS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
SHIELDING
STAINLESS STEELS
TITANIUM
URANIUM