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[deleted] t1_izntwmg wrote

Reply to comment by PlaidBastard in What is the difference between atomic, nuclear and hydrogen bombs? by something-stupid2134

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RobusEtCeleritas t1_iznuh96 wrote

All nuclear weapons use fission in some way. Even "pure fusion" weapons are not really pure fusion.

Reaching a state where a thermonuclear burn can take place, outside of stars and certain scientific research devices, requires fission.

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meme_slave_ t1_iznwitd wrote

Correct me if i am wrong but there aren't any "pure fusion" bombs, to achieve that you'd need to somehow use conventional explosives to heat deuterium and tritium to a couple hundred million degrees and ridiculous unachievable bar.

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RobusEtCeleritas t1_iznx823 wrote

Yes, that's what I was saying. There are weapons that are loosely referred to as "pure fusion", but they don't actually purely consist of fusion fuel. Some amount of fission fuel is needed to ignite the thermonuclear burn of the fusion fuel.

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