Open AccessRadiation-Neutralization of Stored Biological Warfare Agents with Low-Yield Nuclear Warheads
Author(s) -
H. Krüger
Publication year - 2000
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/793927
Subject(s) - warhead , nuclear weapon , explosive material , yield (engineering) , nuclear engineering , biological warfare , collateral damage , environmental science , nuclear physics , engineering , physics , chemistry , toxicology , biology , criminology , organic chemistry , sociology , thermodynamics
MCNP Monte Carlo radiation transport computations were performed exploring the capability of low-yield nuclear fusion and fission warheads to neutralize biological warfare agents with the radiation dose deposited in the agent by the prompt neutron output. The calculations were done for various typical storage configurations on the ground in the open air or in a warehouse building. This application of nuclear weapons is motivated by the observation that, for some military scenarios, the nuclear collateral effects area is much smaller than the area covered with unacceptable concentrations of biological agent dispersed by the use of conventional high explosive warheads. These calculations show that biological agents can be radiation-neutralized by low-yield nuclear warheads over areas that are sufficiently large to be useful for military strikes. This report provides the calculated doses within the stored agent for various ground ranges and heights-of-burst