In conventional atomic weapons, the heat created by the chain reaction causes the reaction
mass to expand and the chain reaction to slow down and cease. In an impact driven device,
the heating problem can be more acute. The amount of energy created by colliding with an
asteroid at high speed can easily exceed the energy needed to vaporize the critical mass.
The device must detonate before the impact energy has vaporized the device. Assembly
of the device must begin before the device has made impact. The assembly process
begins when the Cushion Generator impacts the asteroid surface. The P.O.N.I design
uses a ring or coil of easily vaporized material to create a plasma or gas plume to force
the sub-critical core into the sub-critical shell. Alternately (Half Gun Design), an explosive
charge could decelerate the sub-critical core into the sub-critical shell to complete the
critical mass.
The target body could have a very low density and may not decelerate the device quickly
the device will fire the output for the available compression of the critical mass.
SPLAT (or bug on a windshield), is the big problem with nickel-iron meteors.
Impacting a nickel-iron meteor surface at a high angle from perpendicular would
probably be disastrous. A high angle impact would act like a cheese grater and smear
the device across the surface.
Since the target body composition and velocity can have a wide range in values the
impact design needs to easily adapte to function correctly under most of the conditions
that it may encounter. A conceptually simple method for it to adapt, is to adjust the spacing
between elements during flight. A lightweight external framework, (not shown), with
mechanical means for adjusting the spacing of the elements might suffice. During
powered acceleration or course corrections it would remain in its smaller and more
dimensionally stable form. The smaller form has less likelihood of generating structural
oscillations. The structural oscillations can create significant control and navigation problems.
It may be technically possible to measure the density of the critical mass during compression
and to trigger the neutron pulse tube near the peak density, if the set density is not achieved.
When the critical mass is just about to hit its peak density, a neutron flux is triggered to
begin the chain reaction. Some mass will still be driving in from behind the super-critical
mass while plasma and gas pressures from the wall should maintain radial containment for
the microsecond that the chain reaction requires to complete.
A high output X-Ray source can bombard the critical assembly. As the density increases
so will the reflection.(compensating for impact deformation). If possible, the circuitry
should trigger the neutron source either, at a particular density, or at its peak density
which ever occurs first. If the critical mass does not achieve its target density, the
neutron source will at least fire at the supercritical masses maximum density. This will
allow us to get as much energy out of the device as possible. At least their may be some
yield, and the device won’t be a total loss.
| Some of the Advantages of the P.O.N.I |
In the implosion design, the compression forces come from all directions. In the gun design,
impact design appears to have more similarities to the gun design. A significant difference
from the operation of the gun design is the deformation of the barrel and the target shell
equivalent by the impact. Optimally the critical core and shell of the critical mass have
come together before impact so that they are in proper contact and correctly meshed.
The compression of the device will start from the leading edge and move back along its
line of travel.
1. If the device attempts to enter the atmosphere, the safety ring separating the two halves
of the critical core apart, will melt, and the critical mass will come together. The critical core
will then overheat, and fuse into slag.
2. By itself, the device cannot become supercritical. If it cannot go supercritical,
it cannot generate enough radiation and charged particles to create an EMP pulse.
Producing a detonation by colliding the device with a dense man-made object at
high altitude would have a very low probability of success.
3. It is not a weapon, and it should be possible to negotiate a treaty in the
United Nations that would allow atomic devices of this type to be placed in
high Earth orbit.
4. It is a quick and dirty option when there is very little warning time. The number
and orbital placement of the P.O.N.I.e's will affect the response time.
5. By varying the spacing of the device components, the design may be flexible
enough to engage targets, with a wide spectrum of physical properties.
6. This design does not need the time or fuel to match velocities with the comet
or asteroid, it just needs to get in the way.
The P.O.N.I. is a concept for nuclear explosive that would be politically acceptable to
place into Earth orbit for asteroid defense. The P.O.N.I is a nuclear explosive that is
inferior to many of the existing nuclear weapons. Orbiting these weapon designs would
be an act of extreme provocation and could be considered a de facto declaration of war.
You may have started a war, or at the very least you have broken the Outer Space
Treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons.
The P.O.N.I design allows the placement of atomic explosives that cannot be used as a
weapon. This would include both generating an Electromagnetic Pulse or a surface detonation.
Since it is not a weapon, it could be placed in high Earth orbit to counter any asteroid or
comet threat. High Earth orbit will make it easier for the device to reach escape velocity and
intercept the asteroid at a much greater and safer distance. The farther away the intercept
is made the less likely the Earth will be struck by the debris.
| Mechanism for Compressing the Critical Mass |
Alien Technology on Earth
| Neutron Source or Initiator |
| Planetary Orbiting Nuclear Interceptor P.O.N.I. |
| Depleting Impact Energy |
| Target Body Characteristics |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
|
The critical mass is separated into two parts, the core and shell to prevent any chance of a
critical event. The energy released by the assembled critical core is lethal (at close
range <100meters), and the critical masses will be damaged or destroyed by the energy released.
For optimum safety and reliability, the two critical sections should be rapidly brought together
just before asteroid impact. As a critical mass is compressed by impact, it will be struck by a
neutron beam triggering the chain reaction that will produce a massive amount of energy. The
energy must be released before the super-critical mass expands from thermal energy, and the
reaction stops.
Partially surrounding the two separated components of the critical mass are the neutron reflecting,
compression, and containment shells. After core assembly, the containment shells will completely
surround the critical mass.
The containment and compression shells interlock to seal, contain, and compress the supercritical
core during the period of maximum deceleration. The containment and compression shells
would usually be made from U-238 and will act to reflect escaping neutrons back toward the
critical mass.
A difficult and common problem in atomic explosives is compressing and containing the
super-critical mass. It would be desirable that the design be a passive device without any
explosives or detonators. For greater flexibility, the trailing critical mass could have some
explosives to minimize the period of time when the masses are close enough to be critical
but the compression shells are still too far apart to interlock.
The assembly period is also a window of vulnerability during which a premature chain
reaction may be initiated by a stray or naturally occurring neutron. There may also be
poorly understood impact phenomena that could generate significant neutrons or radiation
that would complicate the design.
critical event. The energy released by the assembled critical core is lethal (at close
range <100meters), and the critical masses will be damaged or destroyed by the energy released.
For optimum safety and reliability, the two critical sections should be rapidly brought together
just before asteroid impact. As a critical mass is compressed by impact, it will be struck by a
neutron beam triggering the chain reaction that will produce a massive amount of energy. The
energy must be released before the super-critical mass expands from thermal energy, and the
reaction stops.
Partially surrounding the two separated components of the critical mass are the neutron reflecting,
compression, and containment shells. After core assembly, the containment shells will completely
surround the critical mass.
The containment and compression shells interlock to seal, contain, and compress the supercritical
core during the period of maximum deceleration. The containment and compression shells
would usually be made from U-238 and will act to reflect escaping neutrons back toward the
critical mass.
A difficult and common problem in atomic explosives is compressing and containing the
super-critical mass. It would be desirable that the design be a passive device without any
explosives or detonators. For greater flexibility, the trailing critical mass could have some
explosives to minimize the period of time when the masses are close enough to be critical
but the compression shells are still too far apart to interlock.
The assembly period is also a window of vulnerability during which a premature chain
reaction may be initiated by a stray or naturally occurring neutron. There may also be
poorly understood impact phenomena that could generate significant neutrons or radiation
that would complicate the design.
| Containing the Critical Masses With the Neutron Reflective Containment and Compression Shells |
Weapons Archive http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/ This information passes my
reasonableness test.
reasonableness test.