Thermonuclear weapon

A nuclear weapon that derives much of its explosive energy from nuclear fusion, typically using a fission explosion to trigger fusion reactions.

Teller–Ulam design: A staged thermonuclear weapon architecture that uses radiation from a primary explosion to compress a fusion-containing secondary. It describes the basic staging principle behind most modern thermonuclear weapons.
Manhattan Project: The United States-led wartime program that developed the first atomic bombs. Its fission weapons and scientific institutions laid groundwork for postwar thermonuclear research.
Strategic deterrence: The prevention of attack by threatening unacceptable retaliation with strategic forces. Thermonuclear arsenals became central to threats of large-scale retaliatory destruction.
Mutual assured destruction: A deterrence condition in which opposing nuclear powers can each inflict unacceptable destruction after an attack. Thermonuclear arsenals made reciprocal devastation a central feature of Cold War strategy.
Nuclear fission: The splitting of a heavy atomic nucleus into lighter nuclei, releasing energy and neutrons. A fission primary commonly supplies the initial energy and radiation for fusion staging.
Ivy Mike: The first full-scale test of a thermonuclear device, conducted by the United States in 1952. It demonstrated staged thermonuclear burning, though its cryogenic fuel made it impractical as a weapon.
Nuclear triad: A state's strategic nuclear forces organized around land-based missiles, submarines, and aircraft. Thermonuclear warheads can be deployed across all three delivery legs.
Nuclear arms race: Competition among states to build and improve nuclear arsenals. Thermonuclear development intensified competition over yield, delivery, and strategic advantage.
Nuclear fusion: The joining of light atomic nuclei into heavier nuclei, releasing energy when the products have greater binding energy. Fusion supplies a substantial share of the explosive yield.
RDS-6s: The Soviet Union's 1953 thermonuclear device, based on a layered design rather than full staging. It shows that early thermonuclear development followed distinct national design paths.

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