Nuclear physics
Boosted Fission
A fission weapon design in which a small amount of deuterium-tritium gas is injected into the fissile core to enhance yield.
Boosting allows a fission bomb to deliver several times its un-boosted yield with the same amount of fissile material. The fusion neutrons released by D-T reactions cause a much higher fraction of the fissile core to fission before the bomb disassembles. Most modern fission primaries are boosted.
Related terms
Nuclear Fission
The splitting of heavy atomic nuclei (typically uranium-235 or plutonium-239) into lighter fragments, releasing large amounts of energy.
Tritium
A radioactive heavy isotope of hydrogen with two neutrons, used as fusion fuel and in boosted-fission weapons.
Thermonuclear Weapon
Synonym for hydrogen bomb — a nuclear weapon whose primary energy comes from fusion reactions.