| Inspectors for the International Atomic Energy Agency have conducted a quick inspection of the Iran nuclear facilities, and saw a huge technological advance in their technology which allows producing fuel for nuclear weapons. This inspection was done in advance of the upcoming report by the United Nations Security Council. Until recently Iranian engineers had difficulty spinning centrifuges at high enough speeds to produce fuel suitable for nuclear reactors. However, the recent inspection revealed Iranian labs are using over 1300 delicate centrifuges producing high quality fuel. This solved a big technology gap for Iran which allows him to enrich uranium for military purposes and become another country possessing nuclear weapons. Such Iranian policy, however, possesses a great political risk for the relations with most European countries, and mainly the United States.
The tensions in the relationships have been growing over the last two years over concerns that Iran is planning to achieve the production of nukes. Before 2006 Iran had denied allegations that they are planning to enrich uranium, and stated that they use it only in peaceful purposes in their nuclear power plants. Last year the tone in the statements of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad changed. He then stated that his country will not bend before the United States and will do what is in the best interests for Iran. The United Nations Security Council and the USA are considering economic and political sanctions against Iran if it decides to pursue the production of enriched uranium on an industrial scale.
The application of nuclear energy:
Nuclear fission energy of uranium or plutonium is used in nuclear bombs, nuclear missiles, nuclear projectiles and mines. In nuclear power plants, nuclear energy is used for obtaining electricity and for heating. Nuclear fission underlies engines of nuclear ice breakers, nuclear submarines and nuclear aircraft carriers. Use of nuclear energy for electricity and central heating system installations is studied by nuclear power engineering.
The energy of thermonuclear synthesis is used in the hydrogen bomb.
Energy, released during radioactive decay, is used in long-term sources of heat and beta galvanic cells. The automatic interplanetary stations of “Pioneer” and “Voyager” use radio-isotopic thermoelectric generators. Soviet Lunohod-1 (a moon robot) used isotopic heat sources.
A nuclear weapon (or atomic weapon) is an explosive, in which the source of energy is synthesis or nuclear fission - nuclear reaction. In a narrow sense, the explosive uses heavy nuclei fission energy. Devices which use energy, released during the synthesis of light nuclei, are called “thermonuclear”. Nuclear weapons include both nuclear ammunition as well as the delivery means of ammunition to targets and control facilities; it belongs to mass destruction weapons along with biological and chemical weapons.
Damage caused by a nuclear explosion:
The nuclear explosion takes place during blasting of nuclear ammunition and the damage is:
Light radiation;
Ionizing radiation;
Shock wave;
Radioactive contamination;
Electromagnetic impulse;
Psychological impact
Classification:
Depending on the type of nuclear charge, it is possible to distinguish:
Proper nuclear weapons: The nuclear fission reaction of heavy elements with the formation of much lighter elements takes place at the time of the explosion in the ammunition of nuclear weapon; sometimes so-called “pure” nuclear charges are distinguished, which are designed so as to minimize the radioactive contamination of the locality;
Thermonuclear weapons: The basic energy release takes place during the thermonuclear reaction - the synthesis of heavy elements from much more lighter elements and a nuclear charge is used as an igniter for the thermonuclear reaction;
Neutron weapons: The low-power nuclear charge, which is supplemented with a mechanism, ensuring the release of a large amount of explosion energy in the form of a stream of quick neutrons; its basic amazing factor is neutron radiation and induced radioactivity.
With respect to the application, nuclear weapons are divided into:
Tactical, meant for damaging manpower and the war equipment of opponents at the battlefront;
Operational and tactical - for destroying the objects of the opponent within the operative limits;
Strategic - for destroying the administrative industrial centers and other strategic targets in the deep rear of the opponent.
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International Atomic Energy Agency has reported that Iran has solved its technological problems and is beginning to enrich uranium for military purposes.
