this post was submitted on 31 Aug 2025
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You know, something I always wondered was what would have happened if the core was allowed to stay in Prompt Critical configuration?
The design provided the extreme rate of fission at T=0, which in a bomb is when it gets compressed (the density increases). But that density is relatively uniform, the demon core didn't change properties.
Normally I'd suspect it would just melt, but since it was in a neutron reflector, it should increase the rate of fission as T>0. Hence the chain reaction.
Ask the goddamn Russians.
Because if anyone's going to have a worse version of an American nuclear mishap, it's the Russians.
Jeez. Talk about an area denial weapon. That's horrifying. Just massive deadly glowing sphere of doom that's both too energetic and not energetic enough to stop the chain reaction. That's incredible.
"Try making this situation anything but worse."
I'm surprised they had a robot radiation hardened enough to actually try. I've got to look up what they did. The whole room it was in was a neutron reflector, the robot would be, and the interference would be crazy from the decay products.
Wonder what they would have done if the robot couldn't do it.
I think at that point you have to get someone to volunteer as tribute...
It's not like this was the first time, such a situation came up. And it's not like we have to guess what plan B looks like.
Fuuuuuuuck yes, a playlist to binge.