A neutron bomb is an atomic weapon that works by neutron radiation that strikes living beings with a relatively small explosion force and shock wave.
The essence of the neutron bomb
The technology for creating a neutron bomb was first developed in the 60s of the last century in the United States. These technologies are now available to Russia, France and China. These are relatively small charges and are considered small and ultra-small nuclear weapons. However, the bomb has artificially increased the power of neutron radiation, which strikes and destroys protein living bodies. Neutron radiation perfectly penetrates armor and can destroy manpower even in specialized bunkers.
The peak of the creation of neutron bombs fell in the United States in the 80s. A large number of protests and the emergence of new types of armor forced the US military to stop producing them. The last US bomb was dismantled in 1993.
At the same time, the explosion does not carry any serious destruction - the crater from it is small and the shock wave is insignificant. The radiation background after the explosion returns to normal in a relatively short time; after two or three years, the Geiger counter does not register any anomaly. Naturally, neutron bombs were in the arsenal of the world's leading nuclear powers, but not a single case of their combat use was recorded. It is believed that the neutron bomb lowers the so-called threshold of nuclear war, which dramatically increases the chances of its use in major military conflicts.
How a neutron bomb works and methods of protection
The bomb contains a conventional plutonium charge and some thermonuclear deutero-tritium mixture. When a plutonium charge is detonated, deuterium and tritium nuclei merge, which results in concentrated neutron radiation. Modern military scientists can make a bomb with a directed radiation charge up to a strip of several hundred meters. Naturally, this is a terrible weapon from which there is no escape. Military strategists consider fields and roads along which armored vehicles move as an area of its application.
It is not known whether a neutron bomb is currently in service with Russia and China. The benefits of its use on the battlefield are rather arbitrary, but the weapon is very effective in killing civilians.
The damaging effect of neutron radiation incapacitates the combat personnel inside the armored vehicles, while the equipment itself does not suffer and can be captured as a trophy. Specially for protection against neutron weapons, a special armor was developed, which includes sheets with a high content of boron, which absorbs radiation. They also try to use alloys that do not contain elements that give a strong radioactive orientation.
