Lecture Notes: SAR Bomba and the Nuclear Arms Race

Introduction

• SAR Bomba: Largest nuclear bomb ever detonated by the Soviet Union in 1961, also known as RDS 220 or Big Ivon.
• Comparison: 3,800 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
• Lead Physicist: Andre Sakharov, who later campaigned against the nuclear arms race.

Historical Context

• Late 1950s: The nuclear arms race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
• Paris Summit 1960: Aimed at discussing disarmament but failed due to the U-2 incident.
• Nikita Khrushchev: Soviet leader who was impulsive and aggressive, wanted to assert Soviet dominance.

Development of SAR Bomba

• Test Ban Moratorium: Breakthroughs in new tech were halted; focus was on stockpiling.
• Sakharov's Concerns: Uneasy about the lethal effects even from testing the weapons.
• Khrushchev's Directive: Demanded the development of a 100 Megaton bomb.

Design and Testing

• Timeline: From conception to detonation took 16 weeks.
• Design Change: Sakharov reduced the yield from 100 to 50 megatons to minimize fallout.
• Test Site: Nova Zembla, a remote Arctic island.

Detonation and Effects

• Date: October 1961.
• Detonation: 4,000 meters above ground, using a parachute to slow descent.
• Fireball and Shockwave: Enormous thermal radiation and shockwave that circled the globe thrice.
• Human Impact: No immediate casualties but significant long-term environmental and health effects.

Political and Environmental Impact

• International Reaction: Global condemnation and fear.
• Sakharov’s Activism: Became a critic of nuclear testing and received the Nobel Peace Prize.
• Partial Test Ban Treaty 1963: Prohibited atmospheric testing, catalyzed partly by SAR Bomba.

Reflections on Nuclear Weapons

• Impracticality of Large Weapons: Too large for strategic use; smaller, more deliverable warheads are preferred.
• U.S. Plans for Larger Bombs: Projects like Chama and Sundial aimed at creating 1,000 Megaton and 10,000 Megaton bombs.

Conclusion

• Legacy of SAR Bomba: Often dismissed as reckless, but helped push towards disarmament treaties.
• Historical Lessons: Demonstrates the dangers and impracticality of excessively large nuclear weapons.