I have a question about nuclear weapons. Anyone here know much about them?

[happyslug]

81. You cite some interesting articles

From the first article:

The report discusses the need over the next two decades for several weapon systems to undergo “overhauls” called life-extension programs (LEPs). These programs significantly extend a weapon’s useful lifetime by refurbishing or replacing critical parts; they also result in weapon systems that are safer to transport and store and more resistant to attack by terrorists..

Overhauls is what I was talking about, thus even the first article assumes such overhauls will take place.

The Second Article you cite has some interesting information, first that Plutonium has a half like of 14.4 years. Thus after 14.4 years, if you started with 10 pounds of Plutonium you will only have 5 pounds. (page 10 of the report). Now Plutonium does NOT break down directly into non-usable material, but it does break down into Am-241.

This also means the report is on PU-241, not PU-239, both can be and used in bombs, but PU-239 is preferred (again from non-Classified sources).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutonium#Nuclear_fission

The report also does NOT state at what point the Plutonium is no longer sufficient to cause a nuclear chain reaction (And I suspect it is mentioned in the Classified parts of the report, which I do NOT want to read for I do NOT want access to Classified information). Wikipedia report that "Weapons Grade" Plutonium contains less then 7% PU-240, but does not state what other elements are needed (i.e. what percentage of PU-239 is needed to make an Plutonium bomb to work).

Lets remember PU-239 is the isotope of Plutonium used in bombs. and it has a half life of 24,100 years, yet it is NOT mentioned in the report. Thus goes to what was the report about, and what parts were classified (I assume for some good reason).

The third report points out other problems in Nuclear devices, Hydrogen and other contamination and deterioration of the explosives needed in a Plutonium bomb. Both are mention as forcing the repair of the weapon well before the Plutonium needs to be replaced, but the more I read it, while true, does not exclude the possibility that an upgrade of the plutonium is needed at the same time (i.e. The Plutonium in the bomb will last over a century, for each time the weapon is upgrades for other reasons, it will be upgraded, thus it will last a century before it has to be totally replaced as opposed to merely "upgraded". "Upgrading" is a broad term, which can be anything from a new coat of paint to a whole new plutonium core).

Sorry your article, if carefully read, do NOT exclude my point. They dance around the point I was making for the very reason what I was discussing is more likely highly classified, so that even knowing the classification level is classified. Just the Nature of the beast. both good and bad.