Whats the difference between atomic bombs and hydrogen bombs?
Atomic devices use fissionable material like Uranium 238. Once the critical mass of U238 has been assembled then energy will be released. Hydrogen devices rely on a Fusion process; this is were two positively charged protons are brought so close together that the short range nuclear force ‘lock on’ and holds them them together, and , in the process releases energy. To get the protons of the hydrogen atoms to make a close enough approach to allow the short range nuclear force to capture them, high temperatures are needed. These temperatures are supplied by a atomic device. So, the hydrogen device is triggered by a atomic one.
