17 Dec
2003
17 Dec
'03
11:17 p.m.
Even a fizzle with a yield in the hundreds of tons equivalent is respectable. Plutonium decay products have a high neutron cross-section and steal the fast neutrons necessary for the chain reaction to build. Sufficient amounts can kill off the last three or more re-doublings which is where most of the explosive power comes from. On the other hand finely dispersed Pu and other fission products plus the irradiated material that becomes radioactive will make a few square miles dangerous to inhabit for several years. /pbp