— fission, thermonuclear, neutron, and “dirty” bombs—each capable of causing catastrophic destruction.
New Delhi — A nuclear bomb is the most dangerous weapon on Earth. In an instant it can put millions to death and reduce cities to rubble. While the term “nuclear bomb” is commonly understood to mean a fission bomb, in reality there are several categories of nuclear weapons. The four principal types are fission, thermonuclear, neutron, and dirty bombs, though including subtypes the count can rise to six or seven. Each type has distinct characteristics.
Fission bomb — the basic atomic bomb. It uses heavy nuclei such as uranium-235 or plutonium-239. Its design brings two parts together violently to initiate a chain reaction — similar to two spheres colliding and detonating. There are two primary designs: the gun-type (used with uranium) and the implosion-type (used with plutonium).
