The Third Empire

"It seems that the plutonium-239 plan put forward by head of state Chirac was really a shortcut!" As we walked, Heisenberg said to Hahn.

When it came to the choice of nuclear weapons, Shrek first decided on the scheme of plutonium-239. At that time, he didn't seem to feel much. Now he realized shrewdness of Shrek.

Compared with the direct combustion of plutonium, the centrifuge is too expensive!

How much does it cost? The nearby power station is almost enough for people in Germany. Now, only these centrifuges are just good! Consume the power of the whole country to enrich nuclear raw materials, which is also the reason why few countries in future generations can cross the nuclear threshold.

If it is used as raw material for nuclear reactors, it only needs to be enriched to 50% or 60%. Therefore, some countries can take raw materials for nuclear reactors. However, nuclear weapons should be enriched to 99%, almost all of which are uranium-235. The difficulty increases exponentially.

It is conservatively estimated that relying on our own centrifuges, we will have to work for at least two years before we can have the raw materials to build a nuclear weapon.

While communicating, they walked out of the underground centrifuge separation plant here.

"Yes, we have enough plutonium-239. Now, our last problem is to determine the critical mass."

Hahn said.

This is a professional content. The interior of the atom is quite empty. If the atomic nucleus is compared to a football, the atomic space is definitely much larger than the whole football field.

Fission occurs under the impact of neutrons. At the same time, there will be neutrons in the impact products. Moreover, one fission will generate three or four neutrons, which means that once the fission starts, it can go on spontaneously, because the neutrons of the product will hit other atomic nuclei and continue to induce nuclear reactions.

In this way, a neutron hits the nucleus to form a fission reaction, releasing four neutrons. Four neutrons then hit four nuclei to generate four nuclear reactions, which will hit sixteen neutrons. Therefore, it increases exponentially. A large number of nuclei undergo fission in a short time, and huge energy is released.

This is the atomic bomb.

However, the interior of the atom is quite empty. If the volume of the atom is not large enough, there will be a result. Before neutrons hit the nucleus, they fly out of it.

The volume of the whole nuclear material that can react continuously is called the critical volume, and the corresponding mass is called the critical mass.

This is not enough through theoretical calculation. It must be measured in the experiment.

Heisenberg nodded: "yes, the measurement of critical mass is urgent. Have you found a good person?"

There is no doubt that this kind of test is quite dangerous, and the candidates for the test must also be careful.

Hahn nodded: "we have selected seven people from the volunteers to form a measurement team. Among them, the operator is undertaken by sloting. His reaction is the fastest and he also has excellent psychological quality."

Heisenberg carefully received the information from Hahn. The top is the code of the whole test project, scratching the tail of the dragon.

Just this name is enough to reflect the danger of this project. It's like scratching the tail of the dragon. Once you annoy the dragon, you'll be killed with a slap.

Slotin, nickname, kill little Superman.

He died many times and never died many times, so he got such a title.

Slotin, a Canadian, is the champion of amateur boxing in school. Before he finished college, he came to Spain with the friendship of his revolutionary comrades in arms and participated in the Spanish Civil War. As a result, like George Orwell, he saw the ideal he pursued. It was ridiculous.

All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal. This is definitely the best irony. The fruits of the revolution were usurped in the end.

Slotin woke up. Like Orwell and others, he was captured in the last battle, and then began a new life in Germany.

He soon integrated into his new life. He had a good time in Germany. He became a test pilot of Henschel company in Germany. He had a good time. All dangerous subjects and subjects that could fall to death at any time were tested by him.

Therefore, he also won the trust of Germany. If he was a spy, he didn't have to risk so many deaths to engage in intelligence. After all, it depends on the cost.

He has experienced the risk of death. In the test flight alone, he has more than 20 times, and each time he has saved himself from danger. Therefore, he finally won the title of "kill little Superman". He is extremely satisfied with this title.

He likes exploration. Just before he came to the secret base, he planned to climb the Alps with his bare hands. As a result, after layers of screening, two years ago, he was recruited to participate in this top secret project in Germany.

The resume of Slotin is in Heisenberg's hand. Heisenberg saw the last page and said, "let him try. If the experiment is successfully completed, I will strive for the honorary title of holy Aryan from the Fuehrer."

Base, central area.

The whole nuclear program is too huge. Therefore, like the Manhattan program in the United States, it is divided into internal and external areas with different confidentiality levels. Some peripheral technicians do not know what projects they are engaged in.

For example, in a power plant, I think I'm just a technician in the power plant.

Internally, I only know one aspect of my work, and I don't know all of it.

If there are traitors, they only know one detail at most. Only Heisenberg and Hahn control the whole project.

Slotin was very interested in this task. In a laboratory in the central area, after intensive preparation, the experiment was about to begin.

"This is the devil's core." Slottin looked at the experimental device in front of him, and his eyes burst out of the flame of his love. For him, this thing is too magical!

In front of him are two hemispheres. These two hemispheres are made of beryllium outside. Inside, they have a plutonium core. It is also two and a half pieces, which are respectively inlaid on the two outer hemispheres.

If compared, it is like an egg. Cut it in half. The beryllium outside is the egg skin and the plutonium inside is the egg yolk.

The plutonium inside is all that has been burned out of the nuclear reactor so far, a full 6.2 kg! Now, it is used to carry out a series of nuclear tests. If it is installed directly according to the design scheme, it may be an atomic bomb.

In fact, the experimental steps are very simple. Gradually approach and approach the two hemispheres, insert a screwdriver, pry open and insert shims of different specifications to find the distance relationship between them. It's very easy to kill little Superman.