N2 mines, Was: Re: [EVA] [SPOILER?]The Kaji "Cluedo" Question - in a basement with silenced gun.

[Brian Haynes]

---<snip>---
> Yes it's interesting to debate about these bombs: don't forget that the
> exact name is N2 (I suppose "square", sorry for mistake). So, it means
> "double neutron"? As I know, neutron weapons are possible and probably
> non-nuclear, with the unusual feature of killing peoples with minus
objects
> damage... But these are only rumors I heard; it'd be nice to receive some
> good information by a technician.
---<snip>---
I don't know much about neutron weapons, but if they are not supposed to
damage nonliving objects, then I don't think N2 mines are neutron bombs
since they do set off quite a shock wave.  Whatever N2 mines are, I doubt
they are nuclear since they use them all over in NGE and they never talk
about radiation.  Misato and Shinji even get hit by the shockwave of the N2
mine and they don't have to worry about radiation at all.  If N2 mines are
supposed to be neutron bombs, somebody didn't do their research because
Misato and Shinji would've been dead in episode 1 from the radiation if they
could feel the shockwave.

I did a quick Google search and found a lot of information.  One site that
put the definition of a neutron bomb very simply was
(http://www.manuelsweb.com/neutronbomb.htm).  From the site: "Tactical
neutron bombs are primarily intended to kill soldiers who are protected by
armor. Armored vehicles are very resistant to blast and heat produced by
nuclear weapons, but steel armor can reduce neutron radiation only by a
modest amount so the lethal range from neutrons greatly exceeds that of
other weapon effects. The lethal range for tactical neutron bombs can exceed
the lethal range for blast and heat even for unprotected troops. Armor can
absorb neutrons and neutron energy, thus reducing the neutron radiation to
which the tank crew is exposed, but this offset to some extent by the fact
that armor can also react harmfully with neutrons. Alloy steels for example
can develop induced radioactivity that remains dangerous for some time. When
fast neutrons are slowed down, the energy lost can show up as x-rays. Some
types of armor, like that of the M-1 tank, employ depleted uranium which can
undergo fast fission, generating additional neutrons and becoming
radioactive. Special neutron absorbing armor techniques have also been
developed, such as armors containing boronated plastics and the use of
vehicle fuel as a shield.


Also called ENHANCED RADIATION WARHEAD, specialized type of small
thermonuclear weapon that produces minimal blast and heat but which releases
large amounts of lethal radiation. The neutron bomb delivers blast and heat
effects that are confined to an area of only a few hundred yards in radius.
But within a somewhat larger area it throws off a massive wave of neutron
and gamma radiation, which can penetrate armour or several feet of earth.
This radiation is extremely destructive to living tissue. Because of its
short-range destructiveness and the absence of long-range effect, the
neutron bomb would be highly effective against tank and infantry formations
on the battlefield but would not endanger cities or other population centres
only a few miles away. It can be carried in a Lance missile or delivered by
an 8-inch (200-millimetre) howitzer, or possibly by attack aircraft."

There are two references on the site that are the sources for these
paragraphs.

The best fit I can find of existing technology to an N2 mine is a hydrogen
bomb, which produces a large amount of energy in the form of heat and a
shockwave, but in which more of the neutrons are reabsorbed in the fusion
reaction and not released.  I referenced information on hydrogen bombs from
http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/h1/hydrogn-bm.asp.

     -Brian