Inertial Confinement Fusion - Inertially Confined Fusion and The Nuclear Weapons Program

Inertially Confined Fusion and The Nuclear Weapons Program

The very hot and dense conditions encountered during an Inertial Confinement Fusion experiment are similar to those created in a thermonuclear weapon, and have applications to the nuclear weapons program. ICF experiments might be used, for example, to help determine how warhead performance will degrade as it ages, or as part of a program of designing new weapons. Retaining knowledge and corporate expertise in the nuclear weapons program is another motivation for pursuing ICF. Funding for the NIF in the United States is sourced from the 'Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Stewardship' program, and the goals of the program are oriented accordingly. It has been argued that some aspects of ICF research may violate the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty or the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. In the long term, despite the formidable technical hurdles, ICF research might potentially lead to the creation of a "pure fusion weapon".

Read more about this topic:  Inertial Confinement Fusion

Famous quotes containing the words confined, fusion, nuclear and/or program:

    A well-proportioned mind is one which shows no particular bias; one of which we may safely say that it will never cause its owner to be confined as a madman, tortured as a heretic, or crucified as a blasphemer. Also, on the other hand, that it will never cause him to be applauded as a prophet, revered as a priest, or exalted as a king. Its usual blessings are happiness and mediocrity.
    Thomas Hardy (1840–1928)

    No ... the real American has not yet arrived. He is only in the Crucible, I tell you—he will be the fusion of all races, perhaps the coming superman.
    Israel Zangwill (1864–1926)

    American universities are organized on the principle of the nuclear rather than the extended family. Graduate students are grimly trained to be technicians rather than connoisseurs. The old German style of universal scholarship has gone.
    Camille Paglia (b. 1947)

    The Kid had a lurking devil in him ... It was a good-humored, jovial imp, or a cruel and blood-thirsty fiend, as circumstances prompted. He always laughed when killing, but fire seemed to dart from his eyes.
    State of New Mexico, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)