CHAPTER 2
SUMMARY OF EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMS
2.1
PROGRAM 1, RADIOCHEMISTRY
The objective of this program was the collection and radiochemical analysis of bomb debris samples, the primary purpose of the analysis being the determination of yield. Also, for
Mike Shot, an attempt was made to obtain pertinent diagnostic information (whether or not, and
to what extent, the desired thermonuclear reaction took place and propagated, etc.) by means
of further analysis designed to detect activity in selected tracer materials;
_i quantities of which were built
into, or placed in the vicinity of, the device.
The quantity of gaseous and particulate bomb debris samples collected from the detonation induced clouds, utilizing collectors mounted on manned F-84G aircraft, was adequate. The aircraft were based on Kwajalein and required in-flight refueling to accomplish their mission.
Shielded flight clothing was worn by the pilots of these aircraft to reduce radiation exposure.
The clothing seems to have been effective in some cases, indicating that low-energy gamma
radiation was present in the cloud during some penetrations. The radiation exposures recdived
by these pilots were in all cases well within the prescribed limits.
Laboratory analysis was not complete at the time of writing and is being done at the Los
Alamos Scientific Laboratory (LASL).. Preliminary results are: Mike Shot, 5 to 7 Mt; King
Shot, 550 + 50 kt. The discrepancy between this yield result for Mike Shot and that given by
ball-of-fire photography (see Sec. 2.3) has not yet been resolved. At present, however, it
appearsthat the ball-of-fire result is more reliable.
2.2
(See note on p. 14.)
PROGRAM 2, PROGRESS OF THE NUCLEARREACTION
This program was designed to document the performanceof the devices tested, utilizing
various diagnostic measurements. New and untested experimental techniques were used on
Mike Shot; hence the large amountof data obtained is very gratifying. For Mike Shot, measure-
ments were made of the alpha (logarithmic rate of rise of the nuclear reaction) of the
_reaction to the beginning of the thermonuclear reaction,
the rate of propagation of the thermonuclear reaction, and the energy spectrum of the neutron
flux. The data for these measurements were recorded in a concrete bunker which was 9000 {t
from the device and was connected to the cab by a hellum-filled tunnel, through which gammaray and neutron signals could pass with little attenuation. For King Shot, alpha and transit time
(the time from the firing signal to the first nuclear reaction) were measured, the latter by a
remote-measurement technique capable of tactical utilization.