[Physics] ny aspect of an explosion resulting from a nuclear weapon test that cannot be simulated using super computers

computational physicsexplosionsnuclear-physicssimulations

This Washington Post news article states that with the advent of computer simulation of nuclear tests, live tests are no longer needed.

Generally speaking there are 3 aspects of an explosion resulting from a nuclear weapon test that are tested:

  1. effectiveness
  2. yield
  3. explosive capability.

Russia carried out its last nuclear test in 1990, UK in 1991,the US in 1992, France and China in 1996, India & Pakistan in 1998.

List Of nuclear weapon tests

  • Therefore, does this mean that all aspects of a nuclear explosion can be simulated using super computers, or is there any aspect of a nuclear explosion that cannot be simulated by super computers?

Best Answer

All of it can be simulated to a certain level of precision - given enough computing power AND correct experimental values for all the parameters. The tricky bit without tests is to get experimental values for eg. the thermal conductivity of Plutonium at TPa of pressure.

Experimental tests can also only validate something to a certain level of precision - depending on the instrumentation and repeatability of the device.

edit: Yes, there are quantum effects that can't be predicted - which specific atom will fission first - but that isn't really important from an engineering perspective.