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Student-level numerical simulation of conditions inside an exploding fission-bomb core
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Abstract
This paper describes a freely-available spread-sheet that has been developed to simulate the conditions of reaction rate, core acceleration and velocity, energy generation, and pressure within a detonating fission-bomb core. When applied to a model of the Hiroshima Little Boy bomb, the spreadsheet predicts a yield of 12.7 kilotons, a figure in reasonable agreement with published values.
KeywordsNuclear WeaponsNumerical SimulationFissionLittle Boy
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