H-Bomb

H-BOMB

A Time of War

The H-bomb, or hydrogen bomb, resulted from scientific research that developed from the atomic bomb, which was dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima in Japan to end World War II. The H-bomb technology follows from that required for the A-bomb, so H-bomb development did not begin in earnest until the 1950s.

Fission

The A-bomb is based on nuclear fission. The nuclei of uranium atoms are bombarded with neutrons propelled from a magnetized coil. As a result, the uranium atoms are split (fission), releasing enormous amounts of energy. In addition, during the process neutrons are released, which can interact with even more uranium nuclei. The final product is a self-sustaining nuclear reaction that releases enormous amounts of energy. When this energy release is contained in a small area, it produces a bomb.

Fusion

The H-bomb is based on nuclear fusion. Instead of splitting atoms, it combines atoms. As a result, there is a small amount of matter converted into a massive amount of energy. Atoms of deuterium were found to be good candidates for fusion. Deuterium is an atomically heavy form of hydrogen that occurs naturally in small amounts. The H-bomb can release even more energy than the A-bomb, but it requires considerable energy to detonate. The easiest way to reach the energy level necessary for the H-bomb is with an A-bomb. That is why A comes before H in the alphabet of nuclear destruction.

Responsibility of Power

Social attitudes in America caused work on the H-bomb to be temporarily interrupted. The awesome power of the A-bomb shocked the world, and there was a heated debate about the morality of its use. The thought of an even more powerful weapon was repellent to many people, suggesting the possibility that some day a bomb capable of destroying all civilization might be developed. Nuclear scientists divided into two camps. Those who opposed the development of nuclear power for destructive use were led by J. Robert Oppenheimer. Those who favored development of weapons such as the H-bomb were led by Edward Teller. The debate was fueled by fear of the Soviet enemy. In 1948 the Soviets successfully tested an A-bomb, and in 1949 reports of their substantial progress toward an H-bomb reached the United States.

Testing

The buck stopped with President Harry S Truman, who, after having suspended nuclear-weapons research temporarily after the war, sided with Teller's group and ordered the bomb makers to continue their work. In November 1952 a crude version of the H-bomb was exploded by the United States on Elugelab Island in the Pacific. The Soviets followed with a more sophisticated device in August 1953. In March 1954 the United States exploded the first H-bomb capable of being dropped from an airplane onto an enemy. The result was that both superpower enemies could credibly threaten to shower each other with awesomely destructive bombs. The scientists had done their work, leaving diplomats to argue over how the power to destroy would be used.

Sources:

Saturday Evening Post (25 October 1952): 29;

Time (November 1952);

Time (August 1953);

Time (8 November 1954): 25.