GLOSSARY

Like all technological "priesthoods," the nuclear weapons

labs have over the years developed their own terminology of
unique terms, as well as those borrowed from biology,
automotive engineering, and rocketry. Many of the words below
have never appeared in the open literature, due to the closed
nature of the labs and their work.

Since the PROGRESSIVE case in 1979, the labs have loosened up

a little, and some of these "buzzwords" have turned up in
congressional hearing transcripts and in other public
documents. Most of these terms will be used throughout the
remainder of this series of volumes; many of them relate to
weapon systems in general, and not just to their warheads.5

Many of the following terms were originally coined during

World War II to preserve secrecy and to speak of complex
topics in a shorthand terminology. There was also a fraternal
reason for the language:

This special jargon arises as a means of

abbreviated and efficient communications,
specially tailored to the unique
requirements of the profession. But it
also serves as a form of member
identification, similar in nature to the
secret handshakes once practiced by
fraternities: if one speaks and
understands the special cant of the
organization, one is an accepted member.6

Ablative The special protective coating on the nose cone

material of a missile re-entry vehicle (RV) which
prevents the RV from burning up during re-entry
into the earth's atmosphere.

ABM Acronym for Anti-Ballistic Missile, a weapon

designed to destroy intercontinental ballistic
missile warheads.

5 Somedefinitions are from GLOSSARY OF TERMS, Joint Training

Division, Nuclear Training Directorate, Field Command,
Defense Atomic Support Agency, Sandia Base, Albuquerque, New
Mexico, 15 May 1967.
6 Reviewby Lt. Cdr. Thomas J. Cutler, USN (Ret.) of IN THE
FIELD: THE LANGUAGE OF THE VIETNAM WAR (Dr. Linda Reinberg,
Facts on File, New York, 1991) and WORDS OF THE VIETNAM WAR
(Gregory C. Clark, McFarland, Jefferson, North Carolina,
1990) in Naval Institute Proceedings, Vol. 118/7/1073, July
1992, p. 102.

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Active Fissionable material, such as uranium-235,
material plutonium-239, or the thorium-derived isotope
uranium-233, which is capable of supporting a
chain reaction. In military terms, active
material refers to the nuclear components of
atomic or thermonuclear weapons exclusive of the
natural uranium parts.

ADM Acronym for Atomic Demolition Munition, a

nuclear land mine designed to be detonated on or
below the surface of the earth, or under water,
to block, deny and/or channel enemy forces.

AFAP Acronym for Artillery-Fired Atomic Projectile,

or nuclear artillery shell.

AIFI Automatic In-flight Insertion. See IFI.

Airburst A nuclear explosion in the atmosphere.

Specifically, a nuclear explosion in the air, at
a height greater than the maximum radius of the
resultant fireball.

Airdrop To release or let fall from an aircraft in

flight.

Air Zero The exact center or location of an airburst.

Alarm Autocatalytic, or self-sustaining. A nuclear

Clock assembly configured with thin layers of
thermonuclear fuels, alternating with thin
oralloy or tuballoy sheets or foils.

Alpha A measure of the efficiency of a fission

explosion. A count (in generations per
microsecond) of fission reactions, used to
indicate the rate of fission build-up before
core disassembly. Alpha is a measurement of the
logarithmic rate of rise of a fission reaction;
it is essentially a measure of the rate at which
neutrons are compounded in a chain reaction. The
rate of increase in nuclear reactions before
mechanical explosive and fuel depletion effects
become significant is an excellent indicator of
the early stages of the efficiency of the
explosion, and alpha is a an important
measurement of the reaction rate increase. It is
one of three "classical" diagnostic measurements
for fission devices, transit time and yield
being the other two. Alpha can also indicate
whether a nuclear reaction begins prematurely or
is started at the desired time by an initiator.
During nuclear tests, alpha was measured by the
I-35 August 29, 1995
 time of conversion of gamma rays by an organic
fluor to light whose strength and duration could
be detected by a photocell and recorded by fast
oscilloscopes.

Alpha Radioactive decay (transmutation from one

Decay element to an element lower on the periodic
table) caused by emission of alpha particles.
Plutonium decays to neptunium via alpha decay.

Alpha A radionuclide that undergoes transformation by

emitter emission of alpha particles.

Alpha A helium nucleus, composed of two protons and

Particle two neutrons. It has a positive electrostatic
charge (due to the protons). Alpha particles may
be ejected spontaneously from the nuclei of some
radioactive elements, such as plutonium.

Arming As applied to a nuclear weapon, the changing

from a safe (unarmed) condition to a state of
readiness for detonation. The preparation of a
nuclear weapon so that a fuzing signal will
operate the firing system.

ASW Acronym for Anti-Submarine Warfare or Anti-

Submarine Weapon (depending on context).

Atom The smallest part of an element which can enter

into a chemical or nuclear combination. An atom
is composed of electrons orbiting a nucleus of
neutrons and protons.

Atomic The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom

Number of a given element. Often indicated by symbol Z.
The atomic number determines the chemical
properties of an element.

Atomic The sum of the number of neutrons and protons in

Weight the nucleus of an atom of a given element. Each
of these nucleus particles (nucleons) has an
approximate atomic mass unit of 1. The atomic
weight is also the relative weight of an atom of
an element compared to the weight of an oxygen
atom with an atomic weight of 16; hence an
atom with an atomic weight of 1 has 1/16th the
weight of an atom of oxygen.

Attenuation The process by which radiation is reduced in

intensity while passing through some materials,
due to absorption or scattering or both.

Ballistic A measure of the efficiency of a projectile in

co- overcoming air resistance. The higher the
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efficient coefficient, the lower the air resistance and
the more accurate the projectile is at long
ranges. The ballistic coefficient is the
property of a projectile best described as its
"carrying power" and is closely related to its
ratio of weight to diameter. Too little weight
for a given diameter and the "carrying power"
falls off, leading to low velocity, and for
bombs, wide dispersion around the intended
target. The ballistic coefficient is calculated
from projectile mass, diameter, and "form
factor;" the latter is derived empirically by
testing. The ballistic coefficient represents a
weight-to-drag ratio, and like air pressure, it
is measured in lbs. per square foot.

Ballistic Any missile, guided or unguided, which does not

missile rely upon aerodynamic surfaces to provide lift
and consequently follows a ballistic trajectory
when thrust is terminated. Ballistic missiles
may be of either intermediate or
intercontinental range.

Ballistic An inert dummy weapon with an external

shape configuration and ballistic characteristics
identical to the weapon with which it is
associated. The aerodynamic contour of a
weapon.

Bare A nuclear test device outside an aerodynamic

device casing, or a nuclear core without a reflector.

Barge A floating platform used as the support for the

cab, or shelter, in which nuclear devices were
both prepared for testing and later detonated.

Barge A detonation of a nuclear device aboard a

shot barge.

Barn A measure of area, equal to 10-24 centimeters2

per nucleus. It is used to measure the
probability of a specific nuclear reaction
occurring, such as neutron capture. See also
Cross-section.

Baro A pressure-sensitive device (essentially a

pressure altimeter) used in some nuclear
warheads to actuate arming and firing circuits.
The term is a contraction of "barometric
switch," also referred to as a "baroswitch."

Beryllium Element number 4, with an atomic number of 4,

and atomic weights between 6 and 11. Used in

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 nuclear weapons as a neutron reflector and
neutron source.

Beta Radioactive decay via emission of a beta particle

Decay (a high velocity electron) from the nucleus of an
atom.

Betatron A device which accelerates electrons by means of

magnetic induction.

Bird cage A container attached to a cagelike structure

which maintains a safe separation distance
between fissile weapon cores to prevent
inadvertent criticality.

Blackbody An idealized physical body that absorbs all

electromagnetic energy falling upon it. At
constant temperature, it emits electromagnetic
radiation with a distribution or spectrum
characterized by its temperature.

Boosted A nuclear weapon to which a gas (such as tritium

Weapon and/or deuterium) or a solid (such as lithium
deuteride) has been added to produce significant
increase in fissioning and consequent increases
in both yield and efficiency.

Boosting Enhancement of a fission reaction by

thermonuclear neutrons. A term coined by Dr.
Edward Teller in 1947 to describe a technique of
improving the efficiency and explosive yield of
fission devices by the injection of small
amounts of tritium and deuterium gases into the
hollow center of the fissile weapon core before
the core is compressed and begins to fission.
When the gases are compressed inside the
collapsing hollow shell of an implosion system
and subsequently heated by fission in the shell
of active materials, a fusion reaction occurs in
the gas, releasing large quantities of high-
energy neutrons. If a large supply of neutrons
is suddenly introduced into a fissioning system,
while neutron multiplication is still occurring
and before appreciable core expansion has taken
place, the total number of nuclei fissions, and
the resultant efficiency and energy yield, is
greatly increased. Also called "gas boosting."

Boron Element number 5, used as a source of lithium

and as a neutron absorber. During the Manhattan
Project, crystalline boron of normal composition
was known as "Product 89" and boron enriched in
the neutron-absorbent boron-10 isotope was known
as "Vitamin B."
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Burn In a thermonuclear device, the percentage of
Efficiency nuclei that fuse. It is proportional to the
product of fuel density and fuel confinement
time.

Cab The shelter which covers a nuclear device being

readied for test. A cab may be located on a
tower, the earth's surface, or a barge.

Capsule The fissile core of a fission weapon, or a

fusion fuel stage in a thermonuclear weapon. In
early atomic weapons, the capsule consisted of
the fissionable material and its associated
components, which, when inserted into the
weapon, warhead, or primary, completed the
nuclear arming of the device.

CEP Acronym for Circular Error Probable, a

statistical measure of a hypothetical circle
within which at least half of the projectiles
targeted on its center will fall. Also called
aiming error, this factor is used to determine
the probability of damaging a target. In terms
of ballistic missile accuracy, CEP is defined as
an ellipse whose major and minor axes describe
the maximum miss distances along and across a
missile's trajectory, respectively, at the
target. A CEP can be measured in any distance
unit from feet to miles.

Chain A self-sustaining nuclear reaction, where the

Reaction energy and neutrons produced by the fission of
the nucleus of an atom cause the fission(s) of
other nuclei, which in turn cause other nuclei
to fission. This process multiplies at an
exponential rate until all the fissile material
is expended (converted by fission to energy,
subatomic particles, and other elements), or
until the explosive assembly physically
disintegrates or expands to a point where
fission can no longer occur.

Class A, B, Terms commonly applied to one of six general

C, D, E, F classes of thermonuclear weapons (by weight and
weapon yield), specified by the Joint Chiefs of Staff
for development and deployment. Class "A"
weapons are the heaviest and Class "F" weapons
are the lightest. These categories encompass
warhead weights from 42,000 lb. down to 700
lbs. Class "A" weapons weighed 50,000 lbs. or
less, with a minimum yield of 15 to 20 megatons
(MT) of TNT-equivalent energy; Class "B" weapons
weighed between 23,000 and 15,000 lbs. and
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 yielded a minimum of 5 to 10 MT; Class "C"
weapons weighed 8,500 lbs. or less, with a
minimum yield of two to 10 MT; Class "D" weapons
weighed 3,000 to 4,000 lbs., with a minimum
yield of a quarter megaton to three megatons;
Class "E" weapons weighed from 1,000 to 1,500
lbs.; and Class "F" weapons weighed less than
1,000 lbs.

Clean A nuclear weapon so designed that upon

Nuclear detonation, the amount of contaminating material,
Weapon in the form of either fission fragments or
irradiating material (or both), is relatively
low by comparison with other possible design
variations of the same Mark-numbered weapon. A
weapon may also be "clean" by comparison with
different mark-numbered weapons of the same
general yield.

CNWDI Acronym (pronounced "sin-widdy") for Critical

Nuclear Weapons Design Information, i.e., that
Top Secret Restricted Data or Secret Restricted
Data which reveals the theory of operation or
design of the components of a thermonuclear or
implosion-type fission bomb, warhead, demolition
munition, or test device. Specifically excluded
from CNWDI is information concerning arming,
fuzing, and firing systems; limited-life
components; total quantities of high explosive,
fissionable, and fusionable materials contained
within the weapon or device; and weapon
components which are set, maintained, operated,
tested, or replaced by military personnel.

Collimate To align radiant outputs, via the use of

baffles, from a nuclear explosion within a
specified angle to enhance diagnostic
measurements.

Collimator A device or structure of special materials which

confines a beam of particles or radiation within
a specified narrow angle.

Confinement The period during which a fusion explosion can

time be contained to burn an appreciable fraction of
its fuel. Confinement time can be increased by
surrounding the explosion with a heavy material,
such as lead or steel.

Contamina- The deposition of radioactive material onto the

tion surfaces of structures, areas, objects, and
personnel following a nuclear detonation. This
material generally consists of fallout in which

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 fission products and other device debris have
been physically bound up with dust particles,
vaporized device platform components, etc.
Contamination can also arise from radioactivity
induced in certain substances by the bombardment
of the substance by neutrons emanating from a
nuclear explosion.

Convention- A nuclear weapon which is designed without

al Nuclear special effort to enhance or minimize the
Weapon fission products or other radioactivity
resulting from its detonation.

Core The fissile center of a fission weapon or

thermonuclear primary. May refer to plutonium
and/or oralloy components only, or those
materials and the initiator. Occasionally called
the "globe." The core could usually be divided
into two "hemispheres."

Crater The depression formed in the earth's surface by

a nuclear explosion detonated underground or on
the surface. Craters may result from subsidence,
vaporization of surface material, by throwout of
surface and subsurface material, or by the
scoring effect of a low-altitude airburst.

Critical The minimum mass of a fissionable material that

Mass will just maintain a fission chain reaction
under precisely specified conditions; these
conditions include the particular material and
its purity, the amount and type of tamper or
neutron reflector used, the density or degree
of compression of the fissionable material, and
its physical shape and geometry. The critical
mass of a bare, untamped and unreflected sphere
of oralloy (uranium enriched to contain 93.5% or
more of the uranium-235 isotope) is 112 lbs. (51
kg). A critical mass is the quantity of
fissionable material within which the average
number of neutrons remains constant over time.
A neutron inserted into it will always exist,
either as the original neutron or as a
replacement neutron spawned by a fission
reaction. At Los Alamos, an early measurement
of criticality was the "Christy Crit," which was
the amount of fissionable material required to
sustain a critical mass when it was immediately
surrounded by an effectively infinite tuballoy
tamper. A critical mass is also sometimes called
a "crit."

Cross A measure of the statistical likelihood

Section (probability) of a given event or reaction, such
I-41 August 29, 1995
 as neutron capture, nuclear disintegration,
particle repulsion, or element conversion
within the nucleus of an atom of a given
element when struck by a particle or photon. A
measure of the probability of an encounter
between particles that will result in a
specified effect. Scattering cross section,
either elastic or inelastic, depending upon
preservation of energy or energy exchange, is
the probability of a particle collision
resulting in a rebound (repulsion). Capture
cross section is the probability of a particle
collision resulting in the capture (absorption)
of the particle. Fission cross section is
the probability of a particle collision
resulting in the splitting of a nucleus into two
or more fragments. Cross section is measured in
barns and is dependent upon the kinetic energy
of the impacting particle, such as a neutron.

Cruise A guided missile, the major portion of whose

missile flight path to its target is conducted at
approximately constant velocity, and which
depends upon the air for lift and upon
propulsion forces to overcome drag.

Cryogenics The study of the behavior and properties of

materials at low temperatures, usually below
-189o F. (-123o C. or 150o Kelvin). Cryogenic
equipment is the equipment used to generate
extremely low temperatures, usually in liquefied
gases.

Cryogenic Liquefied deuterium and tritium maintained at

bomb fuels extremely low temperatures.

Delivery An aerospace vehicle considered as a whole,

System with all associated components required to
transport, launch, guide, and deliver nuclear
weapon(s) to their assigned targets.

Depletalloy Uranium enriched from 99.85% to 99.97% in the

uranium-238 isotope. Natural uranium consists of
about 99.3% U-238 and about 0.7% U-235.
Depletalloy is natural U-238 after the U-235
isotope has been almost completely extracted
via gaseous diffusion, or centrifugal, laser,
or electromagnetic separation. Also known as
depleted uranium. Depletalloy is often
designated by the symbol D-38, which arose from
the fact that at one time it contained 0.38%
U-235; greater depletion has since been
achieved. Depletalloy was once called Q-metal,

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 but this name is no longer in common use.

Detonator As used in atomic weapons, an electro-explosive

device designed to start a detonation in
response to an applied electric current.

Deuteride A combining form for compounds containing

deuterium, such as lithium deuteride.

Deuterium A heavy isotope of hydrogen, with an atomic

weight of 2, an atomic number of 1, and a
nucleus composed of a proton and a neutron.
Deuterium is often used as a thermonuclear fuel
constituent. In the complete transformation of
deuterium to helium, the energy release is about
150 tons per gram, or about 68 kilotons per
pound. One cubic meter of gaseous deuterium,
when completely fused to itself, yields about 10
megatons of TNT-equivalent energy. One liter of
liquid deuterium has the explosive potential of
39 kilotons of TNT. Deuterium is often
represented by the symbols D or 1H2.

Deuteron The nucleus of a deuterium atom, composed of a

proton and a neutron.

Device Nuclear fission and fusion materials, together

(nuclear) with their arming, fuzing, firing, chemical high
explosive, and effects-measuring components,
that have not yet reached the development status
of an operational weapon. A system designed to
produce a nuclear explosion for purposes of
testing the design, verifying nuclear theory, or
gathering information on system performance.
Many U.S. nuclear devices were (and are)
designed for diagnostic purposes and not as
bombs or weapons.

Dirty A nuclear weapon so designed that, upon

Weapon detonation, the amount of contaminating material
in the form of either fission fragments or
irradiating material (or both), is relatively
high by comparison with other possible design
variations of the same Mark-numbered weapon. A
weapon may also be "dirty" by comparison with
different Mark-numbered weapons of the same
general yield.

Drop The prescribed order of events which take place

Sequence in the arming, fuzing, and firing systems of a
nuclear weapon from the time of release to
detonation.

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Efficiency The ratio of the energy actually developed when
a nuclear weapon or device explodes (the energy
yield) to the total energy available in the
fissile and/or fusion fuels in the weapon or
device. Efficiency is the fraction of energy
available which is released in an explosion. In
the case of a fission weapon, this is equal to
the number of nuclei which fission, compared to
the total number of fissionable nuclei in the
weapon or device core. Efficiency is calculated
by dividing actual yield, determined mainly by
radiochemical or photographic means, by the
predicted yield, which is based on the amount of
fissile material in the device, degree of core
compression, and behavior of similar designs.
Also called nuclear efficiency. See also Burn
Efficiency and Implosion Efficiency.

Electron The amount of energy gained by a neutron in

Volt passing from a point of low electrical potential
to a point one volt higher in potential.
Abbreviated eV. Neutrons involved in nuclear
reactions typically have kinetic energies on
the order of several million electron volts
(MeV).

Element A fundamental substance consisting of atoms of

only one specific atomic number, with consistent
chemical properties, and which cannot be further
decomposed chemically. A part of the universal
matter of the universe. An entry in the periodic
table.

EMP Acronym for Electro-Magnetic Pulse, a strong

surge of electromagnetic energy induced by
nuclear explosions, typically occurring within a
hundredth of a microsecond (a shake). EMP can
cause great damage to electronic equipment and
can have effect at long distances when it is
initiated by a high-altitude nuclear explosion.

Enriched Material in which the relative amount of one or

material more isotopes has been increased.

Enriched Natural uranium from which the uranium-238

uranium isotope has been extracted via gaseous
diffusion, or centrifugal, laser excitation, or
electromagnetic separation. Also called oralloy
or uranium-235. Weapons-grade oralloy is usually
enriched to a content of 93.5+1% uranium-235.

ENS Acronym for External Neutron Source. See Neutron

Generator.

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Equilibrium A thermonuclear reaction in which materials and
Thermo- temperatures are in thermodynamic equilibrium,
nuclear i.e., there is not a wide spectrum of
reaction temperatures (particle kinetic energy levels)
throughout the reacting system, and the
thermonuclear reaction has reached a semblance
of a steady state. See non-equilibrium
thermonuclear reaction.

ESD Acronym for Environmental Sensing Device, a

component of a nuclear weapon arming system that
is activated by an environmental condition
unique to a warhead's flight or trajectory. ESDs
are programmed to respond to accelerations,
decelerations, thermal energy variations,
barometric pressures, or spin-induced
centrifugal forces encountered during the latter
stages of weapon's stockpile-to-target sequence.

Fallout Precipitation of radioactive particles from

smoke and vapor produced by the explosion of a
nuclear weapon. After detonation of the weapon,
bomb debris and particles of dirt and/or
droplets of water become contaminated with
radioactivity and then gradually fall to earth,
sometimes after being carried considerable
distances downwind. Particles in fallout radiate
alpha particles, gamma rays, beta rays, and
neutrons. Fallout reaches the stratosphere and
is deposited world-wide throughout the earth's
atmosphere.

Fireball The luminous sphere of hot gases that forms a

few millionths of a second after a nuclear
explosion as a result of the absorption by the
surrounding medium (air, water, earth) of the
thermal x-rays emitted by the extremely hot
(in the range of several tens of millions of
degrees) nuclear device residues.

Fissile Nuclear material that can be made to fission by

Material neutrons of any energy. Used interchangeably
in this text with the term "fissionable
material." Common fissile materials include
uranium-233, uranium-235, and plutonium-239.

Fission The splitting of an atomic nucleus into two

more-or-less equal-weight fragments, accompanied
by release of neutrons, x- and gamma rays, and
energy (expressed as the kinetic energy of the
fission products). This energy derives from the
fact that total weight of the nuclei of the
fission products is less than the total weight
I-45 August 29, 1995
 of the original unfissioned nucleus. The "lost"
weight is converted into kinetic energy of the
fission products in accordance with Einstein's
law of the conservation of mass and energy,
i.e., total kinetic energy = change in mass
multiplied by the speed of light squared.
Approximately 80 different fission fragments
result from roughly 40 different modes of
fission of uranium-235 and plutonium-239.

Fissionable Nuclear material that can be made to fission by

Material neutrons of a specific energy. Used
interchangeably in this text with the term
"fissile material."

Fission Radioactive and non-radioactive elements or

products compounds resulting from nuclear fission.

Fizzle A failed or incomplete nuclear detonation, which

yields little or no nuclear explosive force
(although the high explosives detonate). A
"fizzle" is frequently caused by the initiation
of a self-sustaining chain reaction as soon as
the fissile assembly becomes just critical. If
this occurs, there will be little or no
explosion, since the neutron density will not
increase rapidly, and energy resulting from
fission will not be produced rapidly enough to
cause a significant detonation.

Flyaround A flight of an aircraft mated with a bomb or

missile casing containing instrumentation
instead of a warhead. The instruments measure
accelerations, temperatures, air pressures, and
"g" loads imposed on a nuclear warhead while it
is aboard a maneuvering delivery aircraft during
a typical simulated strike mission.

FUFO Acronym for Full-Fuzing Option. When applied to a

nuclear bomb, it provide capabilities for
airburst, contact (surface) burst, and delayed
detonation following a low-impact laydown.

Fusion The combination of smaller atomic nuclei into

larger nuclei, with a release of energy from
mass transformation. The weight of the final
larger nucleus is slightly less than the
combined weights of the original smaller nuclei,
and the "missing" mass is converted into
kinetic energies of particles. Extremely high
temperatures and pressures, resulting in
highly-energetic, fast-moving nuclei packed
closely together, are required to initiate
fusion reactions.
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Fusionable Nuclear material that can be made to fuse at
material high temperatures, such as lithium, deuterium,
and tritium.

Fuzing Those components of a nuclear weapon system

system which signal the warhead to detonate at a
particular point in its trajectory, e.g., such
as above, on, or below its target.

Ganex Abbreviation for gamma-neutron experiment, a

diagnostic means of determining the rate of
production of neutrons as a function of time by
measuring the gamma radiation flux produced by
the neutrons in a "converter" close to the
neutron source. These gamma rays arrive at a
scintillator-detector system where an electrical
current is produced. This current is
proportional to radiation flux and is displayed
as a signal on an oscilloscope which can then be
photographed for a permanent record.

Gun-type A nuclear weapon consisting of a propellant

Weapon charge which drives a projectile of fissionable
material into a tamped fissionable target to
form an uncompressed supercritical mass. Also
called gun assembly weapon.

Half-life The time required for a given radioactive

isotope to decay (transmute to another element)
so that only half as much original radioactive
material remains. The time required for a
radioactive mass to lose 50% of its
radioactivity. Every radioactive isotope (radio-
isotope) has a unique half life. For example,
the half-life for the conversion of plutonium to
uranium-235 is 20,000 years.

Harden To design and fabricate a nuclear weapon or its

delivery vehicle so as to be resistant to one or
more types of nuclear detonation effects, e.g.,
blast, heat, radiation, EMP, etc.

Hard target A military target that is difficult to damage

(compared to other targets). Targets may be
hardened in a number of ways against a variety
of weapon detonation effects.

HE Abbreviation for high explosives, especially the

conventional high explosives used in nuclear
weapons.

Heavy Water Deuterium oxide (D2O), i.e., water containing

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 deuterium in place of natural hydrogen.
Electrolysis of heavy water results in the
release of oxygen and deuterium gas, which can
be used to "boost" a fission device, or combined
with metallic lithium to form lithium deuteride,
a thermonuclear explosive.

Height of The vertical distance in feet above a target at

burst which a nuclear detonation occurs or is to occur.

Helium Element number 2, with an atomic number of 2 and

atomic weights between 3 and 8. A by-product of
nuclear fusion reactions.

HEU Highly enriched uranium. See oralloy.

High-alti- An arbitrary term for a nuclear detonation

tude burst at an altitude in excess of 100,000 feet above
the surface of the earth. Above this altitude,
the partition of energy between blast, thermal,
and nuclear radiation changes appreciably.

Hydride A combining form for a compound containing

hydrogen, for example, lithium hydride.

Hydro- The behavior of continuously deformable media,

dynamics including the compressibility of materials by
shock waves. The cores of nuclear weapons behave
like fluids under compression resulting from
explosion of their chemical high explosives.

Hydro- A full-scale test of the implosion system in a

dynamic nuclear weapon primary containing no fissile
test isotopes; there is no nuclear yield generated by
a hydrodynamic test. Also called hydrotest.
Hydrodynamic tests are used to develop the
required levels of implosion symmetry, peak
compression, and fission reaction initiation
timing.

Hydrogen Element number 1, with an atomic number of 1 and

atomic weights between 1 and 3. The three
isotopes of hydrogen are protium, deuterium, and
tritium, with atomic weights of 1,2, and 3,
respectively.

Hydro- A full-scale test of the high explosive

nuclear implosion system in a nuclear weapon primary
test containing small amounts of fissile uranium
and/or plutonium isotopes and which typically
yields no more than a few pounds TNT equivalent
of explosive force and which is limited to
subcritical, or slightly supercritical, neutron
multiplication.
I-48 August 29, 1995
ICBM Acronym for Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, a
ballistic missile with a range between 3,000 and
8,000 nautical miles.

IFE Abbreviation for In-flight Extraction, an early

manual or automatic nuclear weapon safing
technique, usually performed after a mission had
been aborted and weapons were to be disarmed.

IFI Abbreviation for In-flight Insertion, an early

manual or automatic nuclear weapon arming
technique, usually performed after launch or
takeoff.

Ignition The temperature at which energy lost from a

temperature surrounding plasma cloud is exactly replaced by
(fusion) energy put into it by fusion reactions taking
place within it, thereby maintaining a self-
sustaining thermonuclear reaction.

Implosion A violent collapsing inward or compression of a

substance. Fissile and fusionable fuels in
nuclear weapons are imploded by shock waves
generated by either high explosives or
radiation. An implosion is the opposite of an
explosion.

Implosion In a thermonuclear weapon, the overall energy

efficiency efficiency with which x-rays from the primary
stage couple to the secondary stage and compress
the fusion fuel.

Implosion That part of a missile warhead installation

warhead which includes the nuclear components, sphere
case, high explosive system, detonators,
detonator cables, firing element, firing switch,
internal electrical circuits, in-flight
insertion mechanism (if any), deuterium-tritium
gas-boosting system (if any), and hardware
required to join these parts.

Implosion A type of atomic weapon in which a subcritical

weapon configuration, either spherical or linear, of
fissionable material is compressed radially into
a supercritical state by a centrally-directed
radial shock wave, either spherical or
cylindrical, to produce an atomic explosion. The
implosive shock wave may be generated by an HE
explosion, or by other means, such as radiation.

Induced Radioactivity produced in a substance as a

radio- result of bombardment of the substance by
activity neutrons or other subatomic particles.
I-49 August 29, 1995
Inertial A technique for maintaining the physical
Confinement integrity of a mass of thermonuclear fuel by
compression, which also increases the likelihood
and rate of fusion. A thermonuclear weapon is a
large, inertially-confined explosive device.

Inertial Retention of thermonuclear fuel by inertial

Confinement forces within a reaction volume long enough for
Fusion fusion reactions to occur. Abbreviated ICF.

Initiator The bimetallic or high-voltage hydrogen isotope

neutron generator used to initiate fission in a
compressed critical mass of fissile fuel. Also
called urchin (in early weapons) or nuclear
capsule. See Neutron Generator.

Inverse A physical effect that causes photons, gamma,

Compton and x-rays to lose energy to longer-wavelength
effect radiation. This was a major problem in early
thermonuclear weapon designs.

Ion An electrically charged atom or group of atoms.

Atoms become ionized when stripped of their
electrons.

IRBM Acronym for Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile,

a ballistic missile with a range between 1,500
and 3,000 nautical miles.

Isentropic A physical or chemical process which occurs with

no change in energy of the reactants. Isentropic
compression is the compression of a substance
without an increase in its temperature.

Isotope An atom with a unique atomic weight. Each

element can have more than one isotope, all with
the same atomic number, but with different
atomic weights. The difference in atomic weights
between isotopes of a given element is caused by
the presence of different numbers of neutrons in
their nuclei. Isotopes have nearly identical
chemical properties; however, differences in
atomic weights can sometimes be exploited to
separate different isotopes of an element.

Kiloton A measure of explosive force equivalent to that

of 1,000 tons (two million pounds) of TNT, e.g.,
1012 calories or 4.18 x 1012 joules. Abbreviated
KT or kt.

Kinetic Energy associated with the motion of matter and

energy its atoms.

I-50 August 29, 1995

LABS Acronym for Low Altitude Bombing System, an early
automatic nuclear bomb release control system
(with associated delivery aircraft maneuvers)
for low-altitude bombing. Also called "toss
bombing." Weapons delivered by LABS were usually
not parachute-retarded.

LADD Acronym for Low Altitude Drogued Delivery, a

technique to deliver parachute-retarded bombs at
low altitudes and high speeds. LADD weapons are
usually laydown (delayed detonation) bombs, to
allow the delivery aircraft time to escape the
resultant blast.

Laydown A delayed surface burst. The surface-level

explosion of a nuclear weapon after the delivery
aircraft has escaped. A laydown weapon is
usually parachute-retarded, with some type of
impact-absorption mechanism in its nose, such as
a spike or frangible nose cone.

Levitation A technique of suspending the heavy fissile

nuclear core of an atomic weapon or
thermonuclear weapon trigger within the tamper-
high explosives assembly surrounding the core.
This arrangement results in better core
compression and more complete fissioning of the
nuclear fuel.

Lithium Element number 6, with an atomic number of 6 and

atomic weights between 5 and 9. Lithium is
usually compounded with deuterium when used as a
thermonuclear fuel constituent. When bombarded
by neutrons, lithium is transformed to tritium,
which fuses with the deuterium to release
energy, helium, and neutrons. When used as a
thermonuclear fuel, lithium is usually enriched
to 95% in the lithium-6 isotope, which comprises
about 7.5% of naturally-occurring lithium.

MADM Acronym for Medium Atomic Demolition Munition, an

atomic land mine emplaced by engineer teams and
carried by jeeps and helicopters.

Mark-Mod- An abbreviation for Mark - Modification -

Alt Alteration, the basic system of the U.S. Atomic
Energy Commission for nomenclature of major
assemblies of nuclear weapons. This naming
convention indicates the overall design of a
major assembly and changes to it. This system
was adopted in July 1950 when each weapon was
separated into three major assemblies -- bomb,
fuse, and nuclear core -- each with its own
I-51 August 29, 1995
 Mark-Mod-Alt designation.

Marriage The development effort conducted to fit atomic

program warheads to guided missiles, or nuclear weapons
to aircraft.

Mass dis- A change in the density of adjacent or

continuity adjoining materials. As applied to nuclear
weaponry, this term often refers to the density
variations in materials surrounding a nuclear
warhead, such as an artillery shell case,
missile re-entry vehicle, or bomb casing. The
nature and geometry of material surrounding a
nuclear warhead can, by reflecting neutrons back
into the expanding fissioning weapon pit, affect
the weapon's behavior and explosive yield,
compared to its behavior and yield in an
unreflected or "bare" geometry without
surrounding materials.

Megaton A measure of explosive force equivalent to that

of 1,000,000 tons (two billion pounds) of TNT.
Abbreviated MT or Mt.

Microsecond A measure of time equivalent to one millionth

(1/1,000,000th) of a second. 100 shakes or 1,000
nanoseconds.

Mixing The intermingling of non-reactive materials with

nuclear fuels. The foreign matter reduces or
ends nuclear reactions. The interaction of an
exploding fission weapon core with its non-
fissionable tamper is an example of mixing.
Another example is the unwanted mingling of
fission reaction products with "unburned" fusion
fuels in the core of a boosted fission device,
or in the fuel capsule(s) of a thermonuclear
device. The presence of impurities or foreign
substances in the fusion fuel interferes with,
and dampens, thermonuclear reactions.

Mod Desig- Modifications made to the major assembly design

nator of a nuclear weapon. Mod "0" is the first version
Number of a weapon design, with subsequent
modifications numbered consecutively.

Mushroom The top of the cloud formed by the fireball

cap of a nuclear explosion.

Nanosecond A measure of time equivalent to one billionth

(1/1,000,000,000th) of a second. 1/1,000th of a
microsecond, 1/10th of a shake, or 1,000
picoseconds.

I-52 August 29, 1995

Nautical A nautical mile is equivalent to 1.1508 statute
mile miles, or 6,076 feet. At the equator, a nautical
mile is equivalent to one minute (1/60th of a
degree of latitude
.
Neutron An atomic particle with no electrostatic charge,
and an approximate atomic mass of 1. A neutron
adds mass to an atom's nucleus with negligible
effect on chemical properties, but with a
significant effect on its nuclear properties.
Neutrons interact with matter predominantly
by means of collisions; these collisions may
result in the neutron either rebounding or being
absorbed. "Fast" neutrons possess kinetic
energies in the million electron volt (MeV)
range, while thermal ("slow") neutrons have
kinetic energies of one electron volt (1 eV) or
less. Neutrons are required to initiate fission,
and large numbers of neutrons are produced by
both fission and fusion reactions in nuclear
explosions.

Neutron The intensity of neutron radiation. The product

Flux of neutron density (number per cubic centimeter)
and velocity, equal to the total distance
traveled in one second by all the neutrons in a
unit volume. Neutron flux is a measure of
neutron concentration in a given volume and is
quantified in terms of neutrons per square
centimeter per second. Neutron fluence is the
time integral of neutron flux, expressed as
neutrons per square centimeter of a material
subjected to neutron irradiation.

Neutron A high-voltage vacuum tube used in contemporary

Generator nuclear weapons to furnish neutrons of a specific
energy level at a precise moment, to begin
fission reactions in composite plutonium/oralloy
fissile cores. Also called ENS (External Neutron
Source). Neutron generators replaced bimetallic
"golf ball" internal neutron sources (see
Urchin).

Nominal An obsolete term formerly used to describe an

Atomic atomic weapon with an energy release of 20
Bomb kilotons of TNT-equivalent explosive power.

Non-equili- A thermonuclear reaction in which materials and

brium temperatures are not in thermodynamic
thermo- equilibrium, i.e., there is a wide spectrum of
nuclear temperatures (energy levels) throughout the
reaction reacting system, and the thermonuclear reaction
is not in a steady state. See equilibrium
thermonuclear reaction.
I-53 August 29, 1995
Nuclear See Efficiency.
Efficiency

Nuclear A measure of the ability of a nuclear warhead to

Hardness withstand exposure to one or more of the
environments and associated effects produced by
an external near or distant nuclear detonation
without suffering an unacceptable change in the
warhead's performance. Weapons may be hardened
against effects of electromagnetic pulse (EMP),
blast, thermal radiation, shock, nuclear
radiation, and/or debris produced by a nuclear
explosion external to the attacking warhead.

Nuclear A physical reaction involving the particles in

Reaction the nuclei of atoms. Nuclear reactions usually
release or absorb large amounts of energy, and
result in the transformation of elements either
up or down the periodic table.

Nuclear For multistage thermonuclear weapons, the time

Transit interval between high-order detonation of the
Time primary and the high-order detonation of the
secondary, or the time between high-order
detonation of the secondary and high-order
detonation of the tertiary. See also transit
time.

Nuclear A thermonuclear (fusion) or atomic (fission)

Weapon weapon, or a weapon which derives its explosive
force from nuclear fission or nuclear fusion
reactions.

Nucleon A particle in an atomic nucleus. For the

purposes of this series of volumes, these are
limited to protons and neutrons.

Nucleus The dense central core of an atom, composed of

protons and neutrons (nucleons). The nucleus
comprises almost all the weight of an atom of an
element.

One-Point A description for a nuclear weapon that will

Safe not produce a measurable nuclear yield if just
one of its explosive charges is detonated.
Gun-type weapons are inherently one-point unsafe
because of their design: they have only one
ignition point. Technically, a nuclear weapon is
one-point safe if in the event of a detonation
started at any one point in the HE system, there
is not more than a one-in-a-million chance that
it will result in a nuclear yield equivalent to
more than four pounds of TNT explosive force.
I-54 August 29, 1995
Opacity A measure of the resistance of a substance to
light, x-rays, and neutrons or other atomic and
subatomic particles. The more opaque a
substance, the more impermeable it is to nuclear
radiation. Opacity is a very important property
of materials used in nuclear weapons; it is of
basic importance in calculating the transport
(movement) of radiation within a nuclear weapon.
The opacity of a material is dependent upon its
temperature and density.

Oralloy Oak Ridge Alloy, or enriched weapons-grade

uranium metal, containing 93.5+1% uranium-235
isotope, and 5.5% uranium-238 and 1% uranium-
234. Commonly represented by letters Oy or by
symbols U-235, U235, or 92U235. One kilogram
(2.2 lbs.) of oralloy, if completely fissioned,
yields the equivalent of 17 kilotons (17 KT) of
TNT-equivalent explosive force. Oralloy can be
fissioned by neutrons with a wider range of
kinetic energy levels than those which are
required to fission tuballoy. Also called HEU,
or highly enriched uranium. Oralloy is a
moderately stable uranium isotope with a half-
life of about 710 million years.

Over- A condition resulting from an over-exposure of

initiation a fissioning nuclear core to neutrons, usually
resulting in a reduced yield caused by fission
occurring in too many places at once in the
core, creating an asymmetrical explosion.

PAL Acronym for Permissive Action Link, a coded

switch that serves as a mechanical supplement to
the arming control of a nuclear weapon. When
installed, it prevents the weapon from being
armed without a specific code. Modern PALs are
microcomputer chips. There are six separate
types of PALs, Categories A through F.

Penetration A nuclear weapon designed to penetrate the

Weapon earth or an armored surface before exploding.

Periodic A table of elements arranged by their atomic

Table numbers and chemical combining powers
(valences).

Phase A stage in the life of a nuclear weapon. There

are no time limitations for each phase. Phase 1
- weapon concept definition; Phase 2 - program
feasibility study; Phase 2A - cost and design
data definition; Phase 3 - development

I-55 August 29, 1995

 engineering; Phase 4 - production engineering;
Phase 5 - first production; Phase 6 - quantity
production; Phase 7 - retirement and salvage of
reusable materials and components.

Physics The nuclear components of an atomic or

package thermonuclear weapon. The physics package is
limited to only those components which
participate in nuclear reactions to produce
nuclear energy yield.

Picosecond A measure of time equivalent to

1/1,000,000,000,000th of a second. 1/10,000th of
a shake.

Pit The portion of either an atomic weapon, or the

primary stage of a multistage thermonuclear
weapon, enclosed by high explosives, exclusive
of the fissionable material and those portions
of the pit which are attached to the fissionable
material. In an implosion weapon, the pit
together with the surrounding high explosives
comprise the implosion system.

Pit Liner A light metal (copper) liner installed inside

hollow weapon cores (pits) to retain boost gases
such as deuterium and tritium. This liner
prevents gas loss via diffusion through the core
metal.

Plasma The fourth state of matter (solid, liquid, gas,

plasma). A very hot, very dense, very energetic
ionized "gas," composed primarily of atomic
nuclei stripped of their electrons. A plasma has
a positive electrostatic charge due to the
protons in it.

Plutonium Element number 94, with an atomic number of 94

and atomic weights between 232 and 246.
Plutonium is a radioactive, artificial man-made
element with a half-life of 24,360 years (it
decays via alpha particle radiation). An atomic
weapon fuel (in metallic form). One kilogram
(2.2 lbs.) of plutonium, if completely
fissioned, releases the explosive equivalent of
18 to 20 kilotons (20 KT) of explosive force.
Plutonium is sometimes also called "ploot" and
is commonly represented by letters Pu, or as
plutonium-239, Pu-239, Pu239, or 94Pu239.

Polonium Element number 84, with atomic weight 210.

Polonium is radioactive with a half-life of only
138 days. When mixed mechanically with

I-56 August 29, 1995

 beryllium, polonium reacts and releases
neutrons. During Manhattan Project days, the
code name for polonium was "Postum."

Postdetona- The undesirable delayed initiation of a

tion fission or fusion explosion or reaction after
optimum conditions have been achieved.
Postdetonation usually results in a partial or
fizzle yield. Also called postinitiation.

Predetona- The undesirable premature initiation of a

tion fission or fusion explosion or reaction before
optimum conditions are achieved. Predetonation
usually results in a partial or fizzle yield.
Also called preinitiation. Predetonation is also
defined as the premature explosion of the high
explosive charge or propellant in a nuclear
weapon before the weapon has reached the
predesignated point of burst in its trajectory.

Preheating The undesired nuclear bombardment of a fusion

fuel capsule, including fuel, pusher, and
sparkplug, by radiation or particles from the
primary or another exploding fusion stage,
before compression and ignition of the fusion
fuel within the capsule. This bombardment
results in nuclear transmutation, physical
expansion, and chemical degradation of the
thermonuclear fuel constituents, usually
resulting in lower-than-predicted energy
yield(s) from the thermonuclear fuel charge(s).

Primary The fission trigger or first stage of a

multistage thermonuclear weapon or device. The
term is derived from "primary bomb," originally
called an "auxiliary bomb" in multistage
thermonuclear weapons.

Protium A hydrogen isotope with atomic number and atomic

weight of 1, and a nucleus composed of a single
proton. The most common form of hydrogen.

Proton A electrostatically-positive charged atomic

particle with an approximate atomic weight of 1.
The nucleus of an atom of common hydrogen.

Pusher A tuballoy or orally tube or hollow foil

cylinder encasing the fusion fuel in secondary
and tertiary stages of multistage thermonuclear
weapons or devices. This material initially
protects the sparkplug and fusion fuel from
disintegration or predetonation caused by the
blast and radiation from preceding stages (the
primary or secondary). It next becomes a
I-57 August 29, 1995
 circumferential piston, driven by plasma to
axisymetrically compress the fusion fuel and
sparkplug within the capsule to a volume between
5% and 7% of their original volume. It then
tamps the thermonuclear explosion, and fissions
when bombarded by high-energy neutrons radiating
outward from the fusion reactions within the
fusion fuel capsule. The fission of this jacket,
when used, contributes significantly to the
total explosive yield, its own yield
proportionate to its oralloy content, its
uncompressed thickness, and extent of its
compression by radiation from the explosion(s)
of preceding weapon stages.

The term pusher was originally used to describe

the aluminum hydrodynamic stabilizer around
early implosion fission bomb pits. This
stabilizer prevented the formation of Taylor
instabilities in the implosive spherical shock
wave.

"Q" A security clearance granted by the Atomic Energy

clearance Commission (and its successor agencies, the
Energy Research and Development Administration
and the Department of Energy), following and
based upon an investigation by the Federal
Bureau of Investigation. A "Q" clearance
permits access to certain types of nuclear
a weapons design and effects information. "P"
and "L" clearances were lower-level AEC nuclear
weapons data access clearances.

Radiation A method of energy transmission, including any

electromagnetic wave and any moving electron or
nuclear particle, charged or uncharged, emitted
by a radioactive substance.

Radiation Use of the radiant energy from a fission

coupling explosive to compress and heat fusion fuel(s).
Also called radiation channeling or ducting.

Radiation A technique of using radiation from a nuclear

implosion explosion to implode subsequent nuclear weapon
stage(s) (capsules) containing thermonuclear
fuel. The basis of modern U.S. multistage
thermonuclear devices and weapons. See staging.

Radio- The physical process whereby certain elements

activity undergo spontaneous atomic disintegration in
which energy is liberated, usually resulting in
the formation of different elements which may or
may not be radioactive. The process is
accompanied by the emission of one or more types
I-58 August 29, 1995
 of radiation, such as alpha particles, beta
particles, and x- and gamma rays (high-
frequency, short-wavelength radiation).
Ultimately, as a result of one or more stages of
radioactive decay, a stable nonradioactive
element isotope is formed.

Re-entry An integral portion of a ballistic missile

Vehicle which re-enters the atmosphere and which may
include a warhead section, nose cone, flared
section (skirt), decoys, arming and fuzing
devices and other missile components. Frequently
abbreviated RV. Also known as a Re-entry Body
(RB).

Reflector A dense light or heavy metallic shield

surrounding a fissile weapon core which
reflects escaping neutrons back into the
reacting (exploding) core. In the case of a
boosted fission device, a beryllium reflector
may also act as a neutron source, following the
initiation of fusion reactions in the center of
the imploded fissile core.

Restricted All data (information) concerning (i) design,

Data manufacture, or utilization of atomic weapons;
(ii) the production of special nuclear material;
and/or (iii) the use of special nuclear material
in the production of energy. (This definition
does not discriminate between the use of special
nuclear material to produce energy for military
purposes, and its use for peaceful purposes,
e.g., the fission of uranium or plutonium in
reactors to produce electricity for commercial
use.) Restricted data is defined by the Atomic
Energy Act of 1954, as amended.

Rollup The orderly dismantling and transfer to other

areas of equipment and facilities after a
nuclear test series.

Runaway A self-sustaining, uncontrolled thermonuclear

burn fusion reaction (explosion).

SADM Acronym for Special Atomic Demolition Munition, a

small nuclear land mine, components of which are
man-portable.

Safing As applied to nuclear weapons, the changing from

an armed condition (ready to fire) to a state of
being unable to fire (unarmed or disarmed).

Salted A nuclear weapon which contains, in addition to

weapon its normal components, certain elements or
I-59 August 29, 1995
 isotopes which capture neutrons at the time of
its explosion and produce radioactive products
in amounts significantly in excess of the usual
amount of radioactive debris which would be
produced by the weapon if the certain elements
or isotopes were not present in its design.

Salvage A passive fuse actuated by an effect of a

fuse defensive nuclear explosion, or by contact with
the earth or water.

Sealed pit An assembly, located inside a nuclear weapon

implosion system, in which the nuclear
components are integrally contained and sealed.
When gas-boosting is used, the gas-boosting
components are located outside the implosion
system. No further positioning, such as in-
flight insertion, of the nuclear components is
required for operation of the implosion system.

Sealed Pit A nuclear weapon containing a sealed pit.

weapon

Secondary The thermonuclear explosives stage of a two-

stage thermonuclear weapon or device, or the
first thermonuclear explosives stage of a three-
stage weapon or device. The term is derived from
"secondary bomb," originally called a "principal
bomb" in multistage thermonuclear weapons. In a
multistage weapon, the secondary and subsequent
stages (if included) are physically separate
from the primary stage.

Shake A measure of time equivalent to 1/100,000,000th

of a second. 10 nanoseconds or 1/100th of a
microsecond. The time required for a uranium
nucleus to fission.

Shine Slang term for detectable nuclear radiation

emanating from the earth, sea, air, or an
object. A common source of airborne "shine" is
the mushroom cloud and its downwind fallout
generated by a nuclear explosion.

Sigma An AEC/ERDA/DOE system used to identify,

categorize, compartmentalize, and permit or deny
access to various levels of classified weapons
design, stockpiling, utilization, and production
information. These categories have ranged from
Sigma 1 to Sigma 15 and have been applied to
both information and the clearance levels
required for access to that information. The
following definitions of Sigma categories and
subcategories are shown for both 1957 and 1993.
I-60 August 29, 1995
Sigma 1 1957 & 1993: Classified information which
describes thermonuclear weapons internal warhead
design, hydrodynamic principles of theory, and
nuclear principles of theory.

Sigma 1.1 Sigma 1 information which is limited to a

designated weapon or weapons, and/or designated
class or classes of components. This category
had been eliminated by 1993.

Sigma 2 1957: Classified information which describes

warhead design and theory for all types of
fission weapons, including boosted fission
weapons and gun-type weapons. This category
includes the high explosive system with its
detonators and firing unit, pit system, and
nuclear installation system, as they pertain to
warhead design and theory. 1993: Theory of
operation or complete design of fission weapons
or their unique components, including the high
explosive system, and nuclear initiation system
as they pertain to weapon design and theory.

Sigma 2.1 Same as 1957 Sigma 2 category, except limited to

a designated weapon or weapons, and/or
designated class or classes of components. This
category had been eliminated by 1993.

Sigma 3 1957: Classified information which describes the

general external weapon configuration for all
thermonuclear and fission weapons, including
size, shape, weight, environmental behavior,
fuzing, ballistics, handling and storage and
operational requirements, yields, effects, and
related information. This category specifically
includes all information, internal as well as
external, required for normal stockpile and
strike operations. 1993: Manufacturing and
utilization information which does not reveal
comprehensively the theory of operation or
design of the physics package. This category
also includes complete design and operation of
non-nuclear components but only information as
prescribed below for nuclear components. Also
included is utilization information as required
to support the stockpile-to-target sequence. The
latter includes:
(a) General external weapon configuration,
including size, weight, and shape.
(b) Environmental behavior, fuzing, ballistics,
yields, and effects.
(c) Nuclear components or subassemblies which do
not reveal theory of operation or
I-61 August 29, 1995
 significant design features.
(d) Production and manufacturing techniques
relating to nuclear parts or subassemblies.
(e) Anticipated and actual strike operations.

Sigma 3.1 Same as 1957 Sigma 3 category, except limited to

a designated weapon or weapons, and/or
designated class or classes of components. This
category had been eliminated by 1993.

Sigma 4 1957: Classified information which describes

tests of nuclear weapons or devices, including
logistics, administration, other agency
participation, special test construction,
special test effects, safety, and general nature
of weapons or devices tested, including expected
or actual yield and conclusions derived from
such tests, excepting design features. 1993:
Information inherent in preshot and post-shot
activities necessary in the testing of atomic
weapons or devices. Specifically excluded from
this category are the theory of operation and
the design of such items. Sigma 4 information
includes:
(a) Logistics, administration, or other agency
participation.
(b) Special construction and equipment.
(c) Effects and safety.
(d) Purpose of tests, and general nature of
nuclear explosive tested, including expected
or actual yields and conclusions derived
from tests, except design features.

Sigma 4.1 Same as 1957 Sigma 4, except limited to a

designated test or test series, and/or
designated aspects of the test or series. This
category had been eliminated by 1993.

Sigma 5 1957: Classified information which describes

non-nuclear production rates, specifically, any
figure identified, or identifiable when
associated with unclassified information, as to
the total production for war-reserve or all
purposes combined of any type, or all types
combined, of non-nuclear weapons (complete
weapons less nuclear components) for any period.
1993: Production rate and/or stockpile
quantities of nuclear weapons and their
components.

Sigma 5.1 Same as 1957 Sigma 5, except limited to a

designated weapon or weapons, and/or
designated production source or sources. This
category had been eliminated by 1993.
I-62 August 29, 1995
Sigma 6 1957: Classified information which describes
nuclear production rates, specifically, any
figure identified, or identifiable when
associated with unclassified information, as
the total production for war-reserve or all
purposes combined of any type, or all types
combined, of nuclear component assemblies
(weapons units) for any period. This category
had been eliminated by 1993.

Sigma 6.1 Same as 1957 Sigma 6, except limited to a

designated nuclear type or types and/or
designated production source or sources. This
category had been eliminated by 1993.

Sigma 7 1957: Classified information which describes

non-nuclear stockpile quantities, specifically,
any figure identified, or identifiable when
associated with unclassified information, as to
the total stockpile for war-reserve or all
purposes combined of any type, or a subtotal
by storage site location(s) of any type or all
types combined, of non-nuclear weapons (complete
weapons less nuclear components) for any period.
This category had been eliminated by 1993.

Sigma 7.1 Same as 1957 Sigma 7, except limited to a

designated weapon or weapons and/or
designated storage site or sites. This
category had been eliminated by 1993.

Sigma 8 1957: Classified information which describes

nuclear stockpile quantities, specifically,
any figure identified, or identifiable when
associated with unclassified information, as to
the total stockpile for war-reserve or all
purposes combined of any type, or all types
combined, of nuclear component assemblies
(weapon units) for any period. This category
had been eliminated by 1993.

Sigma 8.1 Same as 1957 Sigma 8, except limited to a

designated nuclear type or types and/or
designated storage site or sites. This
category had been eliminated by 1993.

Sigma 9 1957 & 1993: Classified information which

describes general studies not directly related
to weapon design and/or performance, e.g.,
reliability studies, fuzing studies, damage
studies, aerodynamic studies, etc.

Sigma 10 1957 & 1993: Classified information which

I-63 August 29, 1995
 describes chemistry, metallurgy, and processing
or production of materials peculiar to the field
of atomic weapons or nuclear explosive devices.

Sigma 10.1 Same as Sigma 10, except limited to a designated

material, e.g., plutonium, uranium, or tritium
This category had been eliminated by 1993.

Sigma 11 1957: Classified information which describes

non-weapons data, including reactor theory,
design, development and operation; non-weapon
nuclear physics; nuclear propulsion; biology,
medical and health problems, including research
instruments, etc. except data on projects listed
under Sigma categories 15, 16, and 17. 1993:
Information concerning inertial confinement
fusion which reveals or is indicative of weapon
data.

Sigma 12 1957: Information concerning visits to AEC San

Francisco field office and any Sandia facility
in connection with administration, construction,
inspection, audit, safety, fire protection,
"cook's", "VIP," museum, and lecture tours,
etc., with purpose of visit to be clearly
defined, e.g., audit of XYZ company contract;
fire protection survey of XYZ company plant,
etc. 1993: Complete theory of operation,
complete design, or partial design information
revealing either sensitive design features or
how the energy conversion takes place for the
nuclear energy converter, energy director, or
other nuclear directed-energy weapon systems or
components outside the envelope of the nuclear
source but within the envelope of the nuclear
directed-energy weapon (such as an x-ray laser).

Sigma 13 1957: Information concerning attendance at

designated training courses, such as bomb
commander's course, weaponeer's course, staff
officer orientation course, weapons orientation
course, nuclear supervisor's training course,
etc. The course to be attended must be stated
when clearance is requested. 1993: Manufacturing
and utilization information and output
characteristics for nuclear energy converters,
directors, and other nuclear directed-energy
weapon systems or components outside the
envelope of the nuclear source, and not
comprehensively revealing the theory of
operation, sensitive design features of the
nuclear directed-energy weapon or how the
energy conversion occurs. This information
I-64 August 29, 1995
 includes:
(a) General external weapon configuration and
weapon environmental behavior
characteristics, yields, and effects.
(b) Component or subassembly design that does
not reveal theory of operation or sensitive
design features of nuclear directed-energy
weapons categorized as (1993) Sigmas 1, 2,
or 12.
(b) Production and manufacturing techniques for
components or subassemblies of nuclear
directed-energy weapons that do not reveal
information categorized as (1993) Sigmas 1,
2, or 12.

Sigma 14 1957: An AEC clearance category which allowed

access to detailed information in all 1957 Sigma
categories except Sigma 5, 6, 7, 8, 15, 16, 17,
and their subcategories. This category had been
eliminated by 1993.

Sigma 15 1957: Classified information which describes

non-weapons data similar to 1957 Sigma 11 data
for Project Sherwood, the early U.S. study of
controlled thermonuclear energy for peaceful
purposes. This category had been eliminated by
1993.

Sigma 16 1958: Non-weapon data similar to Sigma 11 for

Project Pluto and Project Rover. This category
had been eliminated by 1993.

Sigma 16.1 1958: Limited to Project Pluto. This category

had been eliminated by 1993.

Sigma 16.2 1958: Limited to Project Rover. This category

had been eliminated by 1993.

Sigma 17 1957: Reserved for future use. This category had

been eliminated by 1993.

Sigma 18 Limited to project Plowshare, the peaceful use of

nuclear explosives. This category had been
eliminated by 1993.

SLADD Acronym for Strategic Low Altitude Drogued

Delivery. Like LADD, except that high-yield
weapons are delivered.

Soft target A military target which is easily damaged

(compared to other targets).

Soft x-rays X-rays with an energy of about 1,000 electron

volts (1 KeV).
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Sparkplug An oralloy or plutonium rod used as the igniter
of a compressible fusion fuel capsule. The
sparkplug fissions when compressed and bombarded
at one end by neutrons, heating the compressed
fusion fuel, and furnishing neutrons for tritium
generation via lithium transformation in the
compressed fusion fuel mass.

Stage A fission or fusion explosive capsule in a

multistage fusion weapon. A fission stage
consists of a fissile core, reflector, tamper,
high explosives, detonators, and external
neutron generator. A fusion stage consists of a
sparkplug, fusion fuel, and pusher.

Staged A nuclear weapon in which energy from the

weapon primary initiates the explosion of a secondary
and any subsequent stages, such as a tertiary.

Staging A technique of generating large thermonuclear

explosions by means of increasingly-powerful
intermediate nuclear explosions. See Teller-Ulam
configuration. Also called heterocatalytic
explosions.

Stockpile- The order of events involved in removing a

to-Target nuclear weapon from storage, and assembling,
Sequence testing, transporting, and delivering it to its
(STS) target.

Subcritical A mass of fissile material which is

mass insufficient to maintain a chain reaction. See
Critical Mass.

Subsurface A nuclear explosion below ground or sea level.

burst

Supercri- The state of a given fission system when the

tical mass specified conditions are such that a greater than
critical mass of fissionable material is present
and the fission neutron production rate exceeds
all neutron losses, causing a rapid and
uncontrollable exponential increase in the
neutron flux or population within the mass,
usually leading to an explosion ,although low-
level detonations and thermal meltdowns are also
possible. Once started, nuclear reactions
within a supercritical mass usually continue
until the heat and radiation generated dissipate
the fissionable material to a subcritical
mass.

Surface A nuclear explosion at ground or sea level,

I-66 August 29, 1995
burst usually on land, island, or reef surface, or on a
barge on water.

Surface The point at ground or sea level directly at,

zero above, or below a nuclear explosion. The "ground
zero" of a surface burst; the point directly
above a subsurface burst; or the point directly
below an airburst.

Tamper A light or heavy, dense metal surrounding

either a fissile core and reflector assembly or
a charge of thermonuclear fuel. A tamper is used
to contain and increase the force of an
explosion by increasing the burn time and
slowing disassembly. A tamper may also serve as
a reflector, bouncing neutrons back into the
reacting mass, and, in the case of a boosted
fission or thermonuclear device, as an
additional fission fuel source. Also called
"reflector" or "pusher." Thermonuclear weapon
fusion stage tampers may be made from either
nonfissionable or fissionable material, the
latter including depletalloy, tuballoy, oralloy,
or thorium.

Taylor A physical phenomena in which strong eddy

instability currents build up at the boundaries of materials
of differing densities moving through each
other, causing loss of energy via unwanted
transfer to random motion; the instabilities are
strongest when light materials are accelerated
against heavier materials. When a dense fluid is
accelerated by a lighter one, hydrodynamic
theory states that any initial perturbation at
the interface between the fluids will grow
without limit. The resultant eddy currents cause
the boundary between the two materials to be
unstable and turbulent, leading to unpredictable
blending. Taylor instability was a significant
factor in the performance of certain types of
early U.S. thermonuclear weapons. Taylor
instability is named after a British physicist,
Dr. G. I. Taylor, who worked at LASL during
World War II.

Teller-Ulam An assembly of staged atomic and thermonuclear

configura- explosives packages, permitting theoretically-
tion unlimited explosive power. This configuration
requires the use of oralloy or plutonium
sparkplugs to ignite the thermonuclear fuel
charge(s). The Teller-Ulam configuration is
characterized by separate fission and fusion
stages, and compression (before ignition) of the
fusion stage by ducted (channeled) radiation
I-67 August 29, 1995
 emanating from the preceding fusion and/or
fission stage(s).

Tenex Abbreviation for temperature neutron experiment,

a diagnostic means of determining the
temperatures attained during a thermonuclear
reaction. This temperature is directly related to
the efficiency of a thermonuclear devices, higher
temperatures meaning that a greater amount of the
fuel will "burn," and coincidentally, a greater
number of high-energy neutrons will be produced.
An oscilloscope is used to produce a neutron
energy spectrum, which is proportional to the
velocity (kinetic energy) of the neutrons.

Terra- The description and study of the characteristics

ballistics of objects moving through soil, rock, or ice.
Also known as terradynamics, the study of earth
penetration kinetics. The terraballistics of a
given object depend in part on its nose shape,
angle-of-attack, impact angle and velocity,
length-to-diameter ratio, and inherent
stability.

Tertiary The second thermonuclear explosives stage of a

three-stage thermonuclear weapon or device.

Thermo- A nuclear reaction which occurs only under

nuclear conditions of temperature, expressed as nuclei
reaction kinetic energies, and pressure sufficient to
overcome the mutually-repulsive electrostatic
charges of nuclei of light elements. Commonly
called a TN reaction.

Thermo- A nuclear weapon which releases a significant

nuclear fraction of its yield from fusion processes.
weapon Commonly called a TN weapon.

Thorium Element number 90, with an atomic number of 90

and atomic weights between 223 and 234. Thorium
is a source of fissionable uranium-233 via
neutron bombardment in reactors.

TNT The weight of TNT explosive which would release

Equivalent the same amount of thermal energy as a specified
nuclear explosion or explosive material. One ton
of TNT releases approximately 5.1 billion
calories, or 5.1 million kilocalories, i.e., 5.1
kilojoules per gram.

Tracer A selected amount of a specific substance placed

either within a nuclear device or in the
immediate vicinity of the device to provide
diagnostic information on the functioning of the
I-68 August 29, 1995
 system or on the distance of dispersal of its
products. A tracer has little or nothing to do
with the primary nuclear process of an
explosion, and serves only as a remote
indicating substance, when analyzed. The
existence of a tracer substance in or near the
exploding device assures that the substance will
be bombarded with neutrons and gamma rays. If
the proper substance is selected and situated
close enough to the device to be thoroughly
mixed with the device debris, the radiation
bombardment results in easily-detectable
radioactivity in every fallout sample
subsequently analyzed. Careful positioning of
tracer substances can furnish information about
the detailed behavior of some particular portion
or component of the nuclear device.

Transit The time between the transmission of firing

time signals to the detonators in the chemical high
explosives in a nuclear device or weapon and the
beginning of observable nuclear reactions. The
start of nuclear reactions is usually indicated
by the emission of gamma radiation, which
travels at the speed of light, from the weapon
or device casing. Transit time, also known as
"implosion time," is the time required for the
shock wave generated by the high explosives to
propagate through ("transit") the tamper-
reflector-pit assembly and compress and "ignite"
the nuclear core. Also called HE transit time
(HETT). See also nuclear transit time.

Transuranic An element in the periodic table that has a

element higher atomic number than uranium, e.g.,
plutonium, curium, fermium, einsteinium, etc.

Trap Door A removable portion of an atomic weapon tamper -

high explosives assembly around a fissile core
to allow insertion of nuclear components. Used
in conjunction with inflight arming and
disarming of early atomic weapons.

Tritide A combining form for a compound containing

tritium, such as lithium tritide.

Tritium A heavy isotope of hydrogen, with an atomic

number of 1, an atomic weight of 3, and a
nucleus containing a proton and two neutrons.
Tritium is mildly radioactive via beta decay,
with a half-life of 12.3 years. Tritium can be
produced artificially via lithium transformation
by neutron bombardment in pressurized nuclear
reactors, or in the fusion fuel capsules of
I-69 August 29, 1995
 thermonuclear weapons. Often represented by
letter T. The thermonuclear fusion of tritium
plus deuterium yields 134 KT per kilogram of
tritium.

Triton The nucleus of a tritium atom, consisting of a

proton and two neutrons.

Tropopause The boundary between the troposphere and the

stratosphere above it. The troposphere is that
part of the atmosphere above the earth in which
weather (clouds, rain, snow, etc.) forms, there
are convective air currents, and temperature
changes rapidly with altitude. The stratosphere
is that portion of the atmosphere generally
above seven miles high, depending upon season,
latitude, and weather, in which temperature
changes little with increasing altitude and
where clouds of water never form. In tropical
latitudes, such as those in which the Pacific
Proving Ground was located, the tropopause
occurs at about 55,000 feet, although it may
vary between 48,000 and 59,000 feet.

Tuballoy Ordinary uranium metal, consisting of 99.28% of

the isotope uranium-238, 0.711% uranium-235, and
0.0052% uranium-234. Tuballoy is used mainly as
an additional fissile explosive surrounding
thermonuclear fuel capsules, where it also
serves as a tamper for the thermonuclear
explosion. Tuballoy can also be used as a tamper
in fissile bomb cores. The name derives from
"Tube Alloy," the wartime Manhattan Engineer
District code name for uranium, which in turn
was derived from the designation Tube Alloys
Limited, the cover name of the early wartime
British atomic energy research project. Tuballoy
is commonly represented by the letter pair Tu,
or as U238, U-238, or 92U238. Tuballoy can be
only be fissioned by "fast" high-energy
neutrons, with kinetic energies in excess of 1
MeV, such as those emanating from thermonuclear
fusion reactions. Fission of tuballoy by fast
neutrons can make a significant contribution to
the total energy release (yield) produced in
nuclear weapons. When fissioned, tuballoy yields
approximately 18 kilotons per kilogram.

TX Acronym for Test Experimental, a designation

assigned to a nuclear warhead as long as it is
in test status, or for the duration of tests of
a modification to the basic design. A generic
prefix to the weapon number which designates the

I-70 August 29, 1995

 specific development model of a new nuclear
weapon. When the weapon reaches the production
stage, the TX designation was changed to a Mark
or MK or W prefix (later to a B or W prefix).

Uranium Element number 92, with an atomic number of 92

and atomic weights between 227 and 240. Two
isotopes, uranium-235 and uranium-238, are used
in nuclear weapons. Uranium-238 is also used as
a source of plutonium (via neutron bombardment
in reactors).

Urchin Bimetallic (polonium and beryllium) neutron

generator used to initiate fission explosions in
early U.S. nuclear weapons.

W Abbreviation for Warhead, the basic designation

of a U.S. nuclear warhead, regardless of its
ultimate use (bomb, missile warhead, ADM, AFAP,
etc.).

War-Reserve A stockpiled nuclear weapon whose yield,

weapon reliability, and quality have been determined
and certified. War-reserve weapons are
immediately available for combat.

Weapon The radioactive debris of a nuclear device

debris after it has been detonated, consisting of
fission products, various products resulting
from neutron capture, weapon casing and other
components, and unfissioned uranium and/or
plutonium.

Weapon- Plutonium containing low, specified quantities of

grade plutonium isotopes other than Pu-239. U.S. weapon-
plutonium grade plutonium nominally contains 93.5% Pu-239,
6% Pu-240, and 0.5% other Pu isotopes. The high
neutron background from spontaneous fission of
Pu-240 makes low Pu-240 content highly desirable
in plutonium for weapons.

Weaponi- The conversion or modification of a nuclear

zation test device into a combat-ready warhead that can
withstand all the harsh environmental and
handling conditions to which it will be
subjected if stockpiled and used in combat.
Weaponization usually includes the design and
production of a ballistic casing with structural
supports and any required retardation and
impact-absorption or shock-mitigation devices,
as well as special fuses, power sources, and
arming and safing systems or equipment required
to make a complete weapon. Weaponization
occasionally perturbs the physics behavior of
I-71 August 29, 1995
 the nuclear device in the warhead.

Wooden A largely-hypothetical nuclear weapon with

bomb absolute reliability, an infinite storage life,
and which requires no special handling, storage,
or surveillance while in stockpile. The term
derives from the expression "as trouble-free as
a block of pine."

X rays Penetrating electromagnetic radiations with

wavelengths very much shorter than those of
visible light.

X-unit The firing set in a nuclear weapon, consisting

of fuses, detonators, and associated electrical
and electronic equipment.

XW Acronym for Experimental Warhead, the

designation applied to a specific experimental
model of a nuclear warhead. The designator
applied to a warhead before it goes into
development engineering, i.e., while it is in
Phases 1 or 2 of its development lifecycle.

Yield The total effective energy released in a nuclear

explosion. It is usually expressed in terms of
the equivalent tonnage of TNT required to
achieve the same energy release, primarily
blast, in a conventional explosion. The total
energy yield is manifested as nuclear radiation,
thermal radiation, and blast and shock energy,
the proportional distribution of which depends
upon the medium in which the nuclear explosion
occurs and the type of weapon or device. Also
called energy yield.

Yield-to- A measure of nuclear weapon efficiency.

weight Commonly expressed as the total yield of a given
ratio weapon divided by total weapon weight, it is
properly defined as the total yield of the
weapon divided by the total mass of its fissile
and/or thermonuclear fuel charge(s). Because the
fuel mass is usually small compared to weapon
mass, properly-computed yield-to-weight ratios
are typically much higher than those often cited
in public literature. Total yield for a given
total weapon weight is usually of interest to
the military service(s) which deliver the weapon
to its target; total yield for a given fuel mass
is usually of interest to the weapon designers.
In many cases, especially for aerial bombs,
combined weights of parachutes and arming and
firing systems often exceed the total weight of
the nuclear system.
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Zipper Generic nickname for electronic external
initiator used to provide neutrons to initiate
fission in primaries and fission warheads.

I-73 August 29, 1995