Gsponer A. Fourth Generation Nuclear Weapons: Military effectiveness and collateral effects

2nd Symposium "Nukleare und radiologische Waffen," INT, Euskirchen, 20-22 Sept., 2005. — 54 p.Abstract
The paper begins with a general introduction and update to Fourth Generation Nuclear Weapons (FGNW), and then addresses some particularly important military aspects on which there has been only limited public discussion so far. These aspects concern the unique military characteristics of FGNWs which make them radically different from both nuclear weapons based on previous-generation nuclear-explosives and from conventional weapons based on chemical-explosives: yields in the 1 to 100 tons range, greatly enhanced coupling to targets, possibility to drive powerful shaped-charge jets and forged fragments, enhanced prompt radiation effects, reduced collateral damage and residual radioactivity, etc.Second and third generation nuclear weapons
Boosting
Two-stage thermonuclear weapons
Third generation nuclear weapons
The Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator debate
Fourth generation nuclear weapons
Inertial confinement fusion experiments and FGNW
Microexplosions and high energy-density
Petawatt-class lasers (superlasers)
Nuclear isomers
Antimatter
Micro/nano-technology and nuclear bullets
Pure antimatter bombs?
Target coupling
Initial energy from conventional or nuclear weapons
Initial work from conventional or nuclear weapons
Coupling to homogeneous and heterogeneous targets
FGNW coupling
Thermonuclear-driven jets and projectiles
Conventional shaped-charges
Nuclear and thermonuclear shaped-charges
FGNW-driven jets and projectiles
Collateral effects
Mechanical and thermal effects
Prompt radiation effects
Delayed radiological effects
Electromagnetic effectsMilitary aspects
Technical aspects
Political aspectss