Types Edit

Purpose Edit

Separately from these designations, nuclear tests are also often categorized by the purpose of the test itself. Weapons-related tests are designed to garner information about how (and if) the weapons themselves work. Some serve to develop and validate a specific weapon type. Others test experimental concepts or are physics experiments meant to gain fundamental knowledge of the processes and materials involved in nuclear detonations.

tests are designed to garner information about how (and if) the weapons themselves work. Some serve to develop and validate a specific weapon type. Others test experimental concepts or are physics experiments meant to gain fundamental knowledge of the processes and materials involved in nuclear detonations. Weapons effects tests are designed to gain information about the effects of the weapons on structures, equipment, organisms and the environment. They are mainly used to assess and improve survivability to nuclear explosions in civilian and military contexts, tailor weapons to their targets, and develop the tactics of nuclear warfare.

tests are designed to gain information about the effects of the weapons on structures, equipment, organisms and the environment. They are mainly used to assess and improve survivability to nuclear explosions in civilian and military contexts, tailor weapons to their targets, and develop the tactics of nuclear warfare. Safety experiments are designed to study the behavior of weapons in simulated accident scenarios. In particular, they are used to verify that a (significant) nuclear detonation cannot happen by accident. They include one-point safety tests and simulations of storage and transportation accidents.

are designed to study the behavior of weapons in simulated accident scenarios. In particular, they are used to verify that a (significant) nuclear detonation cannot happen by accident. They include one-point safety tests and simulations of storage and transportation accidents. Nuclear test detection experiments are designed to improve the capabilities to detect, locate, and identify nuclear detonations, in particular to monitor compliance with test-ban treaties. In the United States these tests are associated with Operation Vela Uniform before the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty stopped all nuclear testing among signatories.

are designed to improve the capabilities to detect, locate, and identify nuclear detonations, in particular to monitor compliance with test-ban treaties. In the United States these tests are associated with Operation Vela Uniform before the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty stopped all nuclear testing among signatories. Peaceful nuclear explosions were conducted to investigate non-military applications of nuclear explosives. In the United States these were performed under the umbrella name of Operation Plowshare. Aside from these technical considerations, tests have been conducted for political and training purposes, and can often serve multiple purposes.

Alternatives to full-scale testing Edit

Sub-critical experiment at the Nevada National Security Site Hydronuclear tests study nuclear materials under the conditions of explosive shock compression. They can create sub-critical conditions, or supercritical conditions with yields ranging from negligible all the way up to a substantial fraction of full weapon yield.[4] Critical mass experiments determine the quantity of fissile material required for criticality with a variety of fissile material compositions, densities, shapes, and reflectors. They can be sub-critical or super-critical, in which case significant radiation fluxes can be produced. This type of test has resulted in several criticality accidents. Sub-critical (or cold) tests are any type of tests involving nuclear materials and possibly high-explosives (like those mentioned above) that purposely result in no yield. The name refers to the lack of creation of a critical mass of fissile material. They are the only type of tests allowed under the interpretation of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty tacitly agreed to by the major atomic powers.[5][6] Sub-critical tests continue to be performed by the United States, Russia, and the People's Republic of China, at least.[7][8] Subcritical test executed by the United States include:[9][10][11] Subcritical Tests Name Date Time (UT[a]) Location Elevation + Height Notes A series of 50 tests January 1, 1960 Los Alamos National Lab Test Area 49 2,183 metres (7,162 ft) - 20 metres (66 ft) Series of 50 tests during US/USSR joint nuclear test ban.[12] Odyssey NTS Area U1a 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 190 metres (620 ft) Trumpet NTS Area U1a-102D 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 190 metres (620 ft) Kismet March 1, 1995 NTS Area U1a 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 293 metres (961 ft) Kismet was a proof of concept for modern hydronuclear tests; it did not contain any SNM (Special Nuclear Material - Plutonium or Uranium). Rebound July 2, 1997 10:--:-- NTS Area U1a 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 293 metres (961 ft) Provided information on the behavior of new plutonium alloys compressed by high pressure shock waves; same as Stagecoach but for the age of the alloys. Holog September 18, 1997 NTS Area U1a.101A 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 290 metres (950 ft) Holog and Clarinet may have switched locations. Stagecoach March 25, 1998 NTS Area U1a 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 290 metres (950 ft) Provided information on the behavior of aged (up to 40 years) plutonium alloys compressed by high pressure shock waves. Bagpipe September 26, 1998 NTS Area U1a.101B 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 290 metres (950 ft) Cimarron December 11, 1998 NTS Area U1a 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 290 metres (950 ft) Plutonium surface ejecta studies. Clarinet February 9, 1999 NTS Area U1a.101C 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 290 metres (950 ft) Holog and Clarinet may have switched places on the map. Oboe September 30, 1999 NTS Area U1a.102C 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 290 metres (950 ft) Oboe 2 November 9, 1999 NTS Area U1a.102C 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 290 metres (950 ft) Oboe 3 February 3, 2000 NTS Area U1a.102C 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 290 metres (950 ft) Thoroughbred March 22, 2000 NTS Area U1a 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 290 metres (950 ft) Plutonium surface ejecta studies, followup to Cimarron. Oboe 4 April 6, 2000 NTS Area U1a.102C 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 290 metres (950 ft) Oboe 5 August 18, 2000 NTS Area U1a.102C 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 290 metres (950 ft) Oboe 6 December 14, 2000 NTS Area U1a.102C 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 290 metres (950 ft) Oboe 8 September 26, 2001 NTS Area U1a.102C 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 290 metres (950 ft) Oboe 7 December 13, 2001 NTS Area U1a.102C 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 290 metres (950 ft) Oboe 9 June 7, 2002 21:46:-- NTS Area U1a.102C 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 290 metres (950 ft) Mario August 29, 2002 19:00:-- NTS Area U1a 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 290 metres (950 ft) Plutonium surface studies (optical analysis of spall). Used wrought plutonium from Rocky Flats. Rocco September 26, 2002 19:00:-- NTS Area U1a 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 290 metres (950 ft) Plutonium surface studies (optical analysis of spall), followup to Mario. Used cast plutonium from Los Alamos. Piano September 19, 2003 20:44:-- NTS Area U1a.102C 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 290 metres (950 ft) Armando May 25, 2004 NTS Area U1a 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 290 metres (950 ft) Plutonium spall measurements using x-ray analysis.[b] Step Wedge April 1, 2005 NTS Area U1a 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 190 metres (620 ft) April–May 2005, a series of mini-hydronuclear experiments interpreting Armando results. Unicorn August 31, 2006 01:00:-- NTS Area U6c 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 190 metres (620 ft) "…confirm nuclear performance of the W88 warhead with a newly-manufactured pit." Early pit studies. Thermos January 1, 2007 NTS Area U1a 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 190 metres (620 ft) Feb-6 thru May 3, 2007, 12 mini-hydronuclear experiments in thermos-sized flasks. Bacchus September 16, 2010 NTS Area U1a.05? 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 190 metres (620 ft) Barolo A December 1, 2010 NTS Area U1a.05? 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 190 metres (620 ft) Barolo B February 2, 2011 NTS Area U1a.05? 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 190 metres (620 ft) Castor September 1, 2012 NTS Area U1a 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 190 metres (620 ft) Not even a subcrit, contained no plutonium; a dress rehearsal for Pollux. Pollux December 5, 2012 NTS Area U1a 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 190 metres (620 ft) A subcritical test with a scaled down warhead mockup.[c] Leda June 15, 2014 NTS Area U1a 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 190 metres (620 ft) Like Castor, the plutonium was replaced by a surrogate; this is a dress rehearsal for the later Lydia. The target was a weapons pit mock-up.[d] Lydia ??-??-2015 NTS Area U1a 1,222 metres (4,009 ft) - 190 metres (620 ft) Expected to be a plutonium subcritical test with a scaled down warhead mockup.[ citation needed ] There have also been simulations of the effects of nuclear detonations using conventional explosives (such as the Minor Scale U.S. test in 1985). The explosives might be spiked with radioactive materials to simulate fallout dispersal.

History Edit

Nuclear testing by country Edit

Treaties against testing Edit

Compensation for victims Edit

Milestone nuclear explosions Edit

See also Edit

Notes Edit

Citations Edit

References Edit