HOW ITS EXPLOSIVE POWER IS HARNESSED

Also known as a thermonuclear weapon, the hydrogen bomb is so called because it uses the common element in a process called ‘nuclear fusion’, in which atoms fuse together. H-bombs are far more powerful and complex than ordinary atomic bombs, which rely on atom-splitting – known as ‘fission’.

An ordinary high explosive trigger compresses plutonium into a critical state, causing initial reaction known as ‘nuclear fission’ as atoms are split.

This ‘primary’ explosion detonates the second device within the warhead. A secondary core is ignited by more plutonium. It also includes hydrogen isotopes - atoms which have a different number of neutrons - which begin a ‘fusion’ reaction. At the same time, a uranium core begins a second ‘fission’ reaction. Second device

Within a split second the resulting explosion releases huge amounts of energy - leading to a devastating blast.