Cobalt bomb is a theoretical modification of weapons of mass destruction, which leads to a high degree of radioactive contamination and contamination of the area with a relatively small force of the explosion.Cobalt Bomb refers to radiological weapons, which as a destructive factor in favor of ionizing radiation.At the same time, because of the relative weakness of the explosion, almost the entire infrastructure, buildings, structures and buildings remain intact.
Cobalt bomb - a nuclear weapon, the shell of which it is not made from uranium-238 and cobalt-59.When detonation occurs irradiation shell powerful neutron flux, leading to transmutation of cobalt-59, cobalt-60 isotope.Its half-life is a little more than 5 years.As a result of the beta decay of the nuclide is formed of nickel-60 in the active state, which after some time into the ground.
activity cobalt-60, weighing one gram estimated 1130 Key.To fully infect the entire planet's surface radiation level grams / square kilometer cobalt-60 requires about 510 tons.In general, the explosion of such a bomb could contaminate the area almost 50 years.Such long sentences leave little chance to survive the infected population, even in the bunkers.
believed that the cobalt bomb ever created, so it does not stand in service no country.A small amount of this element was used in one of the British nuclear weapons tests for radiochemical tag.Biggest obstacle to the creation of such munitions technically not, however, a high degree of contamination and its duration does not allow to experience it safely.Such ammunition is never manufactured or tested because of the huge dangers of using them to attack themselves.
most terrible way to use it is a cobalt bomb explosion at high altitude, a little bit away from the territory of the enemy, depending on weather conditions.This goal is to have passed over enemy territory fallout that could theoretically destroy all life on it.
The idea of this bomb was invented by physicist Leo Szilard, who made the assumption that the arsenal of cobalt bombs capable of destroying the entire population of the planet.Cobalt was chosen due to the fact that the neutron activation it gives a very strong and long-lasting radioactive contamination.It is possible to use other elements that form the isotopes with long half-life even when creating such munitions, but their activity is not enough.There are also short-lived isotopes compared with cobalt-60, such as sodium-24, Zinc-65, and gold-198, but because of the relatively rapid disintegration of the population they can survive the infection area in the hopper.
Sakharov, who established the first hydrogen bomb, also participated in the theoretical developments of thorium, cobalt bombs and called it "toadstool stink."Even the creation of the hydrogen bomb and test it did not cause the scientist of "flattering" epithets.Cobalt bomb can be considered both a neutron and radiological so-called "dirty" weapons.
