thermonuclear

(adjective)

Of, or relating to, the fusion of atomic nuclei at high temperatures. Also, relating to the use of atomic weapons based on such fusion.

Related Terms

Examples of thermonuclear in the following topics:

  • The Hydrogen Bomb

    • A thermonuclear weapon is a nuclear weapon designed to use the heat generated by a fission bomb to compress a nuclear fusion stage.
    • The fusion stage in these types of weapons is required in order to efficiently create the large quantities of fission that are characteristic of most thermonuclear weapons.
    • The essential features of a mature, thermonuclear weapon design, which officially remained secret for nearly three decades, are the following:
    • The most important principle of the Teller–Ulam configuration is the idea that different parts of a thermonuclear weapon can be chained together in "stages," in which the detonation of each stage provides the energy necessary to ignite the next stage.
    • The basics of the Teller–Ulam design for a thermonuclear weapon.