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28 May, 2025
Successful Test of Non-Nuclear Hydrogen Bomb in China
Sat 26 Apr, 2025
Context:
- China successfully tested a non-nuclear hydrogen bomb based on magnesium hydride, representing a new weapon technology capable of producing powerful explosions without any nuclear process.
Key Points :
- Developer: Developed by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).
Technology :
- No use of nuclear material.
- Based on magnesium hydride, a solid hydrogen storage material.
Impact :
- Creates a powerful fireball during explosion, capable of sustaining temperatures over 1,000°C.
Weight:
- The tested bomb weighs only 2 kilograms.
Working Mechanism:
- Upon detonation by a conventional explosive, magnesium hydride rapidly decomposes, releasing hydrogen gas.
- When exposed to air, the hydrogen gas ignites, creating an intense fireball.
Features:
- Ignites rapidly with minimal ignition energy.
- Flames expand outward rapidly.
- Completely different from traditional nuclear bombs due to absence of nuclear reactions.
Test Results:
- The device generated a maximum pressure of 428.43 kilopascals at a distance of 2 meters.
- This pressure is about 40% of the blast force produced by TNT explosions.
Main Advantage:
- The ability to generate extremely fast and continuous heat.
Atomic Bomb vs Hydrogen Bomb :
| Feature | Atomic Bomb (A-Bomb) | Hydrogen Bomb (H-Bomb) |
| Working Principle | Based on nuclear fission. Heavy nuclei like Uranium or Plutonium split to release energy. | Based on nuclear fusion. Nuclei of hydrogen isotopes (like Deuterium and Tritium) fuse together. |
| Energy Output | Produces less energy per unit mass. | Produces much more energy per unit mass compared to fission. |
| Destructive Capacity | Very powerful, but less than a hydrogen bomb. | Almost 1000 times more destructive than an atomic bomb. |
| History | Used during World War II on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. | First successful test conducted by the USA in 1952. |
| Size and Usage | Relatively large and heavy. | Smaller, lighter, and can be fitted into missiles. |
| Special Feature | Depends solely on fission reaction. | Fusion reaction is initiated by a fission explosion, resulting in massive energy release. |