WMD.NUCLEAR, THERMONUCLEAR, NEUTRON AND COBALT BOMBS

Author: Mikheil Jorbenadze PhD WMD CBRN

ABSTRACT

This paper presents a comparative analysis of four categories of nuclear weapons: pure fission (atomic), thermonuclear (hydrogen) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermonuclear_weapon, enhanced radiation (neutron), and salted (cobalt) bombshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobalt_bomb. The classification is based on weapon design, yield, energy distribution (blast vs. thermal vs. radiation), delivery systems, and residual contamination. While thermonuclear weapons remain the primary strategic deterrent, neutron bombs were developed as tactical anti armor weapons, and cobalt bombs remain a theoretical “doomsday” concept.

Keywords: nuclear weapon, atomic bomb, fission, thermonuclear, hydrogen bomb, neutron bomb, ERW, cobalt bomb, salted weapon, WMDhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weapon_of_mass_destruction, CBRN, radiological warfare

1. ATOMIC BOMB (PURE FISSION)

1.1 Application

Strategic/tactical weapon for destruction of cities, military bases, or fortified targets. First used in warfare at Hiroshima and Nagasaki (1945). Remains the core of all other nuclear weapons. (1,2)

1.2 Characteristics

Parameter Value

Design Implosion (Pu 239)

or gun type (U 235)

Typical yield 0.01–500 kt (most common: 15–20 kt)

Energy distribution Blast: ~50%, Thermal: ~35%, Radiation: ~5%, Residual: ~10%

Fallout Significant — fission products (Cs 137, Sr 90, I 131)

( 1,2)

1.3 Delivery Systems

• Gravity bombs (free fall)

• Short range ballistic missiles

• Artillery shells (very low yield) (1)

1.4 Sources

• Glasstone, S., Dolan, P.J. The Effects of Nuclear Weapons. 3rd ed. U.S. DoD/DOE, 1977. (1)

• Rhodes, R. The Making of the Atomic Bomb. Simon & Schuster, 1986. (2)

2. THERMONUCLEAR BOMB (H BOMB)

2.1 Application

Strategic weapon for maximum destruction. Deterrence, counter value targeting (cities, industrial centers, missile silos). (1)

2.2 Characteristics

Parameter Value

Design Fission fusion fission (two stage or three stage)

Typical yield 1 kt — 50 Mt

Energy distribution Blast: ~50%, Thermal: ~35%, Radiation: ~5–10%

Fallout Significant (fission products + activated casing)

( 1)

2.3 Delivery Systems

• Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs)

• Submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs)

• Strategic bombers (gravity bombs, cruise missiles) (1)

2.4 Sources

• Glasstone, S., Dolan, P.J. The Effects of Nuclear Weapons. 3rd ed., 1977. (1)

3. NEUTRON BOMB (ENHANCED RADIATION WEAPON — ERW)

3.1 Application

Tactical weapon designed to kill personnel with prompt radiation while preserving infrastructure. Anti armor and anti personnel warfare. Neutrons penetrate armor, killing crew inside vehicles and tanks. (1,3)

Key inventor: Samuel Cohen, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. (3)

3.2 Characteristics

Parameter Fission Bomb (1 kt) Neutron Bomb (ERW, 1 kt)

Blast ~50% ~30–40% (reduced)

Thermal ~35% ~20–25% (reduced)

Prompt radiation ~5% ~30–45% (enhanced)

Residual radiation ~10% ~5% (minimal)

• Neutron output: ~10× higher than fission weapon of same yield. (1,3)

• Neutron energy: 14.1 MeV (D T fusion) — greater penetration through armor. (1)

Lethal radii (1 kt): (1)

Effect Fission Bomb Neutron Bomb

Radiation lethal radius ~600 m ~1,200 m (2× larger)

Blast lethal radius ~500 m ~300 m (smaller)

3.3 Delivery Systems

• Artillery shells (155 mm, 203 mm)

• Short range ballistic missiles (MGM 52 Lance)

• Anti ballistic missiles (Sprint) (1,3)

3.4 Sources

• Surhone, L.M., et al. (eds.) Neutron Bomb: Nuclear Weapon, Energy, Neutron Radiation. Betascript Publishing, 2010. ISBN 978–6130332044. (3)

4. COBALT BOMB (SALTED WEAPON)

4.1 Application

Theoretical radiological warfare weapon for maximum long term contamination. Designed to deny territory for years or decades. Never built or deployed. (1,4,5)

Key inventor: Leó Szilárd (conceptual, 1950) — proposed as a thought experiment to demonstrate the potential for nuclear weapons to end human life on Earth. (6)

4.2 Mechanism

A cobalt bomb is a salted nuclear weapon: a thermonuclear device surrounded by a shell of natural cobalt 59. During the fusion reaction, high energy neutrons (14.1 MeV) transmute Co 59 into cobalt 60 (⁶⁰Co): (1,4)

⁵⁹Co + n → ⁶⁰Co → ⁶⁰Ni + e⁻ + γ (1.17, 1.33 MeV) (1)

4.3 Characteristics

Parameter Value

Isotope produced Cobalt 60 (⁶⁰Co)

Half life 5.27 years (1)

Gamma energy 1.17 and 1.33 MeV (highly penetrating) (1)

Contamination duration Decades (significant for 50–100 years) (4,5)

Fallout comparison (1 Mt equivalent): (1,4)

Time after burst Fission products Cobalt 60

1 hour 15,000× more intense Baseline

1 week 35× more intense Baseline

1 month 5× more intense Baseline

6 months ~equal ~equal

1 year 8× less intense 8× more intense

5 years 150× less intense 150× more intense

4.4 Delivery Systems

Theoretically, any thermonuclear weapon could be salted with cobalt. No known deployment. (1,4)

4.5 Sources

• Glasstone, S., Dolan, P.J. The Effects of Nuclear Weapons (1962, 1964 eds.) — Section on radiological warfare / “Doomsday Device”. (4)

• Sabry, F. Radiological Warfare: Unseen Threats and Strategic Impacts of Nuclear Contamination. 2024, Chapter 8. (5)

• Szilárd, L. Radio broadcast, February 26, 1950. (6)

5. COMPARISON TABLE (FOUR BOMBS)

( 1,2,3,4,5,6)

CONCLUSION

1. Atomic bombs — the foundation of all nuclear weapons. Used in war twice. Still part of modern arsenals. (1,2)

2. Thermonuclear weapons — the most powerful strategic weapons, with yields up to 50 Mt. Every nuclear state possesses them. (1)

3. Neutron bombs (ERW) — developed to kill personnel with radiation while sparing infrastructure. The US deployed them briefly (W66, W70, W79) but retired all by 2003. Russia maintains neutron warheads on its ABM system. (1,3)

4. Cobalt bombs — theoretical “doomsday” devices designed to make areas uninhabitable for decades. The concept originated as a thought experiment and has never been realized. (1,4,5,6)

REFERENCES

1. Glasstone, S., Dolan, P.J. The Effects of Nuclear Weapons. 3rd ed. U.S. Department of Defense / U.S. Department of Energy, 1977.

2. Rhodes, R. The Making of the Atomic Bomb. Simon & Schuster, 1986.

3. Surhone, L.M., Timpledon, M.T., Marseken, S.F. (eds.) Neutron Bomb: Nuclear Weapon, Energy, Neutron Radiation. Betascript Publishing, 2010. ISBN 978–6130332044.

4. Glasstone, S., Dolan, P.J. The Effects of Nuclear Weapons (1962, 1964 eds.) — Section on radiological warfare / “Doomsday Device”.

5. Sabry, F. Radiological Warfare: Unseen Threats and Strategic Impacts of Nuclear Contamination. 2024, Chapter 8.

6. Szilárd, L. Radio broadcast, February 26, 1950.

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