Fizzle (nuclear test)

Fizzle (nuclear test)

In nuclear weapons, a fizzle occurs when the testing of a nuclear bomb fails to meet its expected yield. The reason(s) for the failure can be linked to improper bomb design, poor construction, or lack of expertise.Staff Writer. " [http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htchem/articles/20070330.aspx NBC Weapons: North Korean Fizzle Bomb] ." "Strategy Page." Retrieved on 2008-05-04.] Earl Lane. " [http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2006/1219bomb.shtml Nuclear Experts Assess the Threat of a "Backyard Bomb”] ." "American Association for the Advancement of Science." Retrieved on 2008-05-04.] All countries that have had a nuclear weapons testing program have experienced fizzles.Meirion Jones." [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/6037992.stm A short history of fizzles] ." "BBC News." Retrieved on 2008-05-04.] A fizzle can spread radioactive material throughout the surrounding area, involve a partial fission reaction of the fissile material, or both.Theodore E. Liolios." [http://arxiv.org/pdf/physics/0212002.pdf The Effects of Nuclear Terrorism: Fizzles] ." (PDF) "European Program on Science and International Security." Retrieved on 2008-05-04.]

Nuclear tests considered to be fizzles

*Buster Able – Considered to be the first known failure of any nuclear device.Carey Sublette. " [http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/Busterj.html Operation Buster-Jangle 1951] ." "Nuclear Weapon Archive." Retrieved on 2008-05-04.]
*Upshot Knothole – Ruth – The test failed to declassify the site (erase evidence) as it left the bottom third of the convert|300|ft|m|sing=on shot tower still standing.Carey Sublette. " [http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/Upshotk.html Operation Upshot-Knothole 1953 - Nevada Proving Ground] ." "Nuclear Weapon Archive." Retrieved on 2008-05-04.] The Ray test conducted the following month was allegedly shot on a shorter convert|100|ft|m|sing=on tower to ensure that the tower would be completely destroyed.
*Grapple 1 – Dropped by the British over Malden Island on May 15, 1957, this bomb had an expected yield of over 1 megaton, but only exploded with a force of a quarter of the anticipated yield. The British still considered the test as successful.
*2006 North Korean nuclear test – Russia claimed to have measured 5-15 kt yield, whereas the United States, France, and South Korea measured less than 1 kt yield.Penny Spiller." [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6040494.stm N Korea test - failure or fake?] ." "BBC News." Retrieved on 2008-05-04.] This North Korean debut test was weaker than all other countries' initial tests by a factor of 20,Todd Crowell." [http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/HJ14Dg01.html A deadly kind of fizzle] ." "Asia Times Online." Retrieved on 2008-05-04.] and considered possibly the worst initial test in history.Staff Writer. " [http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v443/n7112/full/443610a.html Special report -The fizzle heard around the world] ." "Nature.com." Retrieved on 2008-05-04.]

Terrorist concerns

One month after the September 11, 2001 attacks, a CIA informant known as "Dragonfire" reported that al-Qaeda had smuggled a low-yield nuclear weapon into New York City.Nicholas D. Kristof. " [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/11/opinion/11kris.html?ex=1249963200&en=81fb0a21e469c56a&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt An American Hiroshima] ." "New York Times." Published August 11, 2004. Retrieved on 2008-05-04.] Although the report was found to be false, concerns that a "fizzle bomb" capable of yielding a fraction of the known 10 kiloton weapons could cause “horrific” consequences, and that it could kill thousands.Michael A. Levi" [http://www.cfr.org/publication/13097/how_likely_is_a_nuclear_terrorist_attack_on_the_united_states.html How Likely is a Nuclear Terrorist Attack on the United States?] ." "Council on Foreign Relations". Retrieved on 2008-05-04.]

ee also

*Uranium hydride bomb
*List of nuclear tests
*Dirty bomb

References

External links

* [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20061009/ai_n16769161 Not a bomb or a dud but a fizzle] Ian Hoffman, Oakland Tribune, October 9, 2006.
* [http://howthingswork.virginia.edu/nuclear_weapons.html Nuclear Weapons, howthingswork.virginia.edu]
* [http://www.milnet.com/nukbang.htm MILNET: Nuclear Weapon Detonation]


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