Russian Scientist Surrenders Arms-Grade Plutonium

maddezmom

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Tue Nov-02-04 10:41 AM
Original message

Russian Scientist Surrenders Arms-Grade Plutonium

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian atomic scientist surrendered eight containers filled with arms-grade nuclear material to police Tuesday after keeping it in his garage for eight years, Russian media reported.

Leonid Grigorov found the 14 ounces of plutonium-238 in a heap of rubbish at his laboratory near Russia's border with Kazakhstan, Itar-Tass news agency said.

Interfax news agency said the lab, looted after the Soviet collapse in 1991, was eventually closed and deserted.

Grigorov decided to hide the material, which could theoretically be used to make a "dirty bomb," in a box and only handed it in to local police after a newspaper offered a reward to anyone who surrendered weapons

more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&ncid=721&e=4&u=/nm/20041102/wl_nm/russia_plutonium_dc

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benburch

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Tue Nov-02-04 10:51 AM
Response to Original message

1. 14 oz is enough for a real bomb.

The smallest known bomb uses 2 oz of Pu.

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oneighty

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Tue Nov-02-04 10:59 AM
Response to Reply #1

2. Two ounces of Plutonium?

Where did you get that information?

Curious 180

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benburch

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Tue Nov-02-04 11:09 AM
Response to Reply #2

3. A book called "The Curve Of Binding Energy"

By John McPhee

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0374133735/qid=1099411410/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/103-5862731-9127063?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

In a bomb such as that, the design of the implosion charges is very difficult. The smallest total weight for a bomb was the "Davy Crockett" that was 50 lbs, including all the hardware and implosion equipment. It had a yield of a quarter kiloton, and was mounted on a rocket with a range of five miles. It was designed for use by a two man crew from a jeepbed mounting.

In the book he talks of one failed "shot" called the "bb shot" that was designed to establish a low-end for the amount of Pu required in a bomb. It failed.

Mind you, I read this book the month it came out, many, many years ago, and my recollection may be faulty.

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oneighty

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Tue Nov-02-04 11:24 AM
Response to Reply #3

4. I was EOD/SWD

Edited on Tue Nov-02-04 11:29 AM by oneighty

involved in test firings (non nuclear) of the Davy Crockett at Aberdeen Proving Grounds many years ago. An interesting experience.

But unless other fission/fusion materials are involved and a few other minor details I doubt if two onces of Plutonium (Alone) is going to do it.

The book sounds interesting. I will see if our library can order it. I am going there to vote shortly! Thanks.

180

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benburch

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Tue Nov-02-04 12:11 PM
Response to Reply #4

5. Fascinating...

I had a friend (now deceased) who was involved in the Pacific H-bomb tests. He had lots of color pictures he took of bombs going off.

Yes, I'm sure a 2 oz bomb would need a gram or two of a short half-life neutron emitter as a "seed". Probably also a beryllium neutron mirror that would implode with the rest of the mass.

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oneighty

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Tue Nov-02-04 03:38 PM
Response to Reply #5

7. Neutron emitter?

Library is searching the area for the book. I expect they will find it-they are good!

180

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AngryWhiteLiberal

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Tue Nov-02-04 04:05 PM
Response to Reply #7

8. I'm sure that John Ashcroft will be alerted to your library search...

Sadly, this discussion thread will also be of interest to the fascists at the Justice Dept. Careful. We haven't won this election yet...

JB

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mulethree

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Tue Nov-02-04 08:14 PM
Response to Reply #3

9. Crockett was suicide missile?

I thought Davey Crockett had a warhead with larger lethal range than the missile's range such that the crew who fired one was sure to die from it? Maybe not since 1/4 kiloton doesn't sound like a 5 mile lethal radius.

Last resort weapon to stop hordes of russian tanks from invasing europe?

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cosmicaug

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Tue Nov-02-04 02:17 PM
Response to Original message

6. Bad headline!

That's a bad headline. I know you're just re-posting the original headline as per the posting rules, but that Yahoo News headline is higly misleading.

When I read "Arms-Grade Plutonium", it makes me think that they're talking about material suitable for being the principal fission source in a nuclear bomb. This article is regarding plutonium-238 which is not suitable for making a nuclear bomb.

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