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By Authamy of the UL 5S. Atomic Energy
—
TEST PROGRAM PIRING SEQUENCE
December 5, 1947
I. General Considerations
Any test plan must achieve to the maximum. degree possi-
ble the objectives of the test.
These are two fold:
(a) to improve the short range military position of ,
the nation throughtesting modeis which may rapidly
become stockpile items, and
(vo) to improve the longer range military position by
obtaining such information from the behavior. of
particular models that better and more efficient
weapons may be designed.
Wherever possible,
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both objectives should be attained to the full-
est extent, but in a clear case of conflict it 1s assumed that
(a) takes precedence over (b).
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tt may be recalled (a) that. the significant past develop-
ment of atomic. weapons was the PM method of assembly, and (b)
that the. phenomena involved ‘in this weapon are so complex that
CLASSIFICATION of@ecr,
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it was considered necessary to test this model, whereas the gun
weapon was used without test,
The success of Trinity and sub-
*gequent detonations therefore clearly indicated that the direc-
tion of weapon improvement would be along the line of the FM
model.
However, the test of one model is obviously insufficient
basis for a program of weapon development, especially since the
phenomena occuring in that particular model are not completely
understood.
One can neither be confident of improved designs
of weapons employing the same material (Pu) as the Trinity bomb,
nor of FM models employing other material (U-235), without additional tests.
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This document: conleins resterete 4 deta «“s defined
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