Clever retrofit or headway towards fourth-generation nuclear weapons?

The B61-based " Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator: " Clever Retrofit or Headway towards Fourth-generation Nuclear Weapons? *

It is scientifically and technically possible to build an earth penetrating device that could bury a B61-7 warhead 30 meters into concrete, or 150 meters into earth, before detonating it. The device (based on knowledge and technology that are available since 50 years) would however be large and cumbersome. Better penetrator materials, components able to withstand larger stresses, higher impact ...

Fourth Generation Nuclear Weapons: Military effectiveness and collateral effects

The paper begins with a general introduction and update to Fourth Generation Nuclear Weapons (FGNW), and then addresses some particularly important military aspects on which there has been only limited public discussion so far. These aspects concern the unique military characteristics of FGNWs which make them radically different from both nuclear weapons based on previous-generation nuclear-exp...

Nanotechnology and Fourth Generation Nuclear Weapons

The paper addresses some major implications of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) engineering and nanotechnology for the improvement of existing types of nuclear weapons, and the development of more robust versions of these weapons, as well as for the development of fourth generations nuclear weapons in which nanotechnology will play an essential role.

The physical principles of thermonuclear explosives, inertial confinement fusion, and the quest for fourth generation nuclear weapons

A comparison of delayed radiobiological effects of depleted–uranium munitions versus fourth–generation nuclear weapons

It is shown that the radiological burden due to the battle-field use of circa 400 tons of depleted-uranium munitions in Iraq (and of about 40 tons in Yugoslavia) is comparable to that arising from the hypothetical battle-field use of more than 600 kt (respectively 60 kt) of high-explosive equivalent pure-fusion fourth-generation nuclear weapons. Despite the limited knowledge openly available on...