Thermonuclear Weapon Capability
8.
In order to accomplish the immediate objective of emer-
gency capability with a thermonuclear weapon at the earliest
possible time,
the AEC and the DOD in June 1952, established a
Special working team consisting of representatives of Los Alamos
Scientific Laboratory (responsible for the warhead assembly), the
Sandia Laboratory (fuzing and ballistics assemblies) and the Air
Force Special Weapons Center (aircraft adaptation and ground
assembly facilities).
Production of the
DELETED
‘for
this purpose is mainly dependent upon the availability of lithium
6 to be produced at Oak Ridge (see Pert II, Fissionable Materials).
Over-all design of a deliverable weapon is underway but *1i11 not
pe firm for several months.
and fuzing studies and drop tests have tesun.
Additional Effort on Thermonuclear Research
9.
DOE AECE ry
¥
by
tQ
for ballistic
Dummy models have been construzted
The Commission's decision to postpone indefinitely the
construction of a production linear accelerator develore: ty the
University of California Radiation Laboratory has been mentioned
in Part II,
Fissionable Materials,
During the summer @ sSroup wes
organized in the Radiation Laboratory to participate in the thermonuclear weapons program.
The primary functions ere .1'
reseerch
and development leading to new or extended weapon Gesizn concepts,
and (2) development and application of instruments end esuipment
This group is
t
for recording data curing weapon test operations.
now located in @ sepaereted area of the facility et Livernore,
California,
the site of the MTA pilot model.
Current viens call
for a rapid growth in personnel to an operating level cf ebdout
1,200 persons by July 1954.
Project Matterhorn, conducved at