FOIA: Light Flash Produced by an Atmospheric Nuclear Explosion

LASL_79_84_NOV_1979.pdf
Light Flash Produced by an Atmospheric Nuclear Explosion
Light Flash Produced by an Atmospheric Nuclear Explosion reference material received into the Los Alamos Report Library. Written for the Dept of Energy.
Document date: 1979-11-01
Department: Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, DOE
Author: Guy E. Barasch
Document type: report
pages: 4


Archivist's Notes: Fair to good quality document. Marks: Received Los Alamos Report Library Aug 12, 1982; bar code; For Reference; Not to be taken from this room

1979 paper from the university of california's los alamos scientific laboratory about the results of exploding a nuclear bomb in the atmosphere. they were concerned with the amount of light given off and whether this could be used to detect and differentiate a natural event from an atmospheric bomb.

the results of a bomb test on may 1st 1952 in nevada are given alongside graphs of the light emitted. it gives a detailed description of what exactly happens when a bomb is detonated. it concludes that they can spot the difference between natural and unnatural light signals (nuclear explosions give off two peaks of light) and so that they can detect future tests. this four page document will interest many who have ever wondered what happens when an atom bomb is exploded or a general interest in physics.

[edit on 22-11-2007 by justyc]

This report written more in the form of a white paper than a government document was undoubtedly written in response to the Vela Incident where the satellite Vela detected an atmospheric nuclear detonation. There was some doubt because of the lack of additional evidence of an explosion and that called into question the method used to detect an explosion, in this case the light flash. The paper written only a few days after the event describes how a light flash from a nuclear detonation can't be mistaken for a natural occurrence such as lightning or a meteor.

Related FOIA Documents:
FOIA: Security Council discussion paper for Jan 7, 1980 meeting
FOIA: DCIA memo on the Sep 22, 1979 Vela Satellite event recording a suspected nuclear test
FOIA: Sandia Laboratories report on the Sep 22, 1979 Vela satellite event - Alert 747
FOIA: A report by a panel of non-government scientists on the Sep 22, 1979 Vela satellite event

Related Links:
Wikipedia article on the Vela Incident