Talk:Tamper (nuclear weapon)

What makes a tamper a tamper? Inertia, or inertia + neutron reflection, or either one?
The introduction seems undecided on this question. The following sentence suggests that a "tamper" has both functions: "It is used in nuclear weapon design to reduce the critical mass of a nuclear weapon and to delay the expansion of the reacting material through its inertia." Whereas this next bit suggests that "tamper" is specific to the inertia function: "Due to its inertia it delays the thermal expansion of the fissioning fuel mass, keeping it supercritical longer. Often the same layer serves both as tamper and as neutron reflector."

Then, the bit about lightweight beryllium suggests more emphasis on neutron reflection (with X-ray transparency), and then the block-quote suggests that the name comes from the inertia function. Then there's even mention that the tamper can enhance yield if it's made of fissionable material.

From all this, I'm getting the vibe that the "tamper" is defined not by its specific effect, which varies between designs, but simply as "the material surrounding the core which engages in physics during supercriticality to enhance yield" (/efficiency?). To test this definition: if it were found that wrapping the core in a layer of tin foil, or NaCl, or fish, caused more nuclear fissions/fusions via new physics, then would that layer be a "tamper" regardless of the specifics? SSSheridan (talk) 07:50, 20 November 2023 (UTC)


 * Actually, reading in the "Nuclear weapon design" article, phrases like "reflector/tamper" and "pusher/tamper" make it sound like the inertia is what makes it a "tamper." If that's the case, then this article should be revised to clarify that. Presumably the lightweight beryllium reflector would still also function as a tamper, but a less effective one. And if wrapping the core in fish increased yield via new physics, it would get a new name.
 * Obviously, there's no official organization policing these definitions, which is why I can't do the edits myself without input from someone who's familiar with the open-source literature. SSSheridan (talk) 08:09, 20 November 2023 (UTC)
 * The name comes from its inertial properties, akin to the tamper used with conventional explosives. Neutron reflection is an important property, as it reduces the critical mass. Other materials surround the core but are not considered part of the tamper. Aluminium is often used to provide a gentler transition between the plastic explosive and the dense tamper. Hawkeye7   (discuss)  10:11, 20 November 2023 (UTC)