How to build a nuclear device in your home.
Construction project: Atomic Bomb
The following paper is taken from The journal of
Irreproducible Results, Volume 25/Number 4/1979. P.O. Box 234
Chicago Heights, Illinois 60411 Subscription's 1 year for $3.70
1. Introduction
Worldwide controversy has been generated recently from
several court decisions in the United States which have
restricted popular magazines from printing articles which
describe how to make an atomic bomb. The reason usually given by
the courts is that national security would be compromised if such
information were generally available. But, since it is commonly
known that all of the information is publicly available in most
major metropolitan libraries, obviously the court's officially
stated position is covering up a more important factor; namely,
that such atomic devices would prove too difficult for the
average citizen to construct. The United States courts cannot
afford to insult the vast majorities by insinuating that they do
not have the intelligence of a cabbage, and thus the "official"
press releases claim national security as a blanket restriction.
The rumors that have unfortunately occurred as a result of
widespread misinformation can (and must) be cleared up now, for
the construction project this month is the construction of a
thermonuclear device, which will hopefully clear up any
misconceptions you might have about such a project. We will see
how easy it is to make a device of your very own in ten easy
steps, to have and hold as you see fit, without annoying
interference from the government or the courts.
The project will cost between $5,000 and $30,000 dollars,
depending on how fancy you want the final product to be. Since
last week's column, "Let's Make a Time Machine", was received so
well in the new step-by-step format, this month's column will
follow the same format.
2. Construction Method
1. First, obtain about 50 pounds (110 kg) of weapons grade
Plutonium at your local supplier (see Note 1). A nuclear power
plant is not recommended, as large quantities of missing
Plutonium tends to make plant engineers unhappy. We suggest that
you contact your local terrorist organization, or perhaps the
Junior Achievement in your neighborhood.
2. Please remember that Plutonium, especially pure, refined
Plutonium, is somewhat dangerous. Wash your hands with soap and
warm water after handling the material, and don't allow your
children or pets to play in it or eat it. Any left over
Plutonium dust is excellent as an insect repellant. You may wish
to keep the substance in a lead box if you can find one in your
local junk yard, but an old coffee can will do nicely.
3. Fashion together a metal enclosure to house the device. Most
common varieties of sheet metal can be bent to disguise this
enclosure as, for example, a briefcase, a lunch pail, or a Buick.
Do not use tinfoil.
4. Arrange the Plutonium into two hemispheral shapes, separated
by about 4 cm. Use rubber cement to hold the Plutonium dust
together.
5. Now get about 100 pounds (220 kg) of trinitrotoluene (Tnt).
Gelignite is much better, but messier to work with. Your helpful
hardware man will be happy to provide you with this item.
6. Pack the Tnt around the hemisphere arrangement constructed in
step 4. If you cannot find Gelignite, feel free to use Tnt
packed in with Playdo or any modeling clay. Colored clay is
acceptable, but there is no need to get fancy at this point.
7. Enclose the structure from step 6 into the enclosure made in
step 3. Use a strong glue such as "Crazy Glue" to bind the
hemisphere arrangement against the enclosure to prevent
accidental detonation which might result from vibration or
mishandling.
8. To detonate the device, obtain a radio controlled (Rc) servo
mechanism, as found in Rc model airplanes and cars. With a
modicum of effort, a remote plunger can be made that will strike
a detonator cap to effect a small explosion. These detonatior
caps can be found in the electrical supply section of your local
supermarket. We recommend the "Blast-O-Mactic" brand because
they are no deposit-no return.
9. Now hide the completed device from the neighbors and
children. The garage is not recommended because of high humidity
and the extreme range of temperatures experienced there. Nuclear
devices have been known to spontaneously detonate in these
unstable conditions. The hall closet or under the kitchen sink
will be perfectly suitable.
10. Now you are the proud owner of a working thermonuclear
device! It is a great ice-breaker at parties, and in a pinch,
can be used for national defense.
3. Theory Of Operation
The device basically works when the detonated Tnt compresses
the Plutonium into a critical mass. The critical mass then
produces a nuclear chain recation similar to the domino chain
reaction (discussed in this column, "Dominos on the March",
March, 1968). The chain reaction then promptly produces a big
thermonuclear reaction. And there you have it, a 10 megaton
explosion!
4. Next Month's Column
In next month's column, we will learn how to clone your
neighbor's wife in six easy steps. This project promises to be
an exciting weekend full of fun and profit. Common kitchen
utensils will be all you need. See you next month!
5. Notes
1. Plutonium (Pu), atomic number 94, is a radioactive metallic
element formed by the decay of Neptunium and is similar in
chemical structure to Uranium, Saturnium, Jupiternium, and Marsipan.
6. Previous Month's Columns
1. Let's Make Test Tube Babies! May, 1979
2. Let's Make a Solar System! June, 1979
3. Let's Make a Economic Recession! July, 1979
4. Let's Make an Anti-Gravity Machine! August, 1979
5. Let's Make Contact with an Alien Race! September, 1979
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