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

[Malebolgia]

thank u Brian ;)

- Marco

----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian Haynes" <Deus777 at hotmail.com>
To: <evangelion at eva.onegeek.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2002 11:18 PM
Subject: N2 mines, Was: Re: [EVA] [SPOILER?]The Kaji "Cluedo" Question - in
a basement with silenced gun.


> ---<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
>