[BenLurkin]

Okay, and I guess a "neutron generator" is something that generates neutrons so they can be used for something to do with nuclear fission.

I will adjourn to Google to research for a moment (but I may return with more dumb questions).

[BenLurkin]

This seems pretty serious. Why is the tantalum more of a concern?

"A mechanism based on implosion provided the solution to this problem. In this design, the fissile material is shaped into a single sphere with a mass slightly less than critical. Layers of carefully shaped high explosives surround the sphere. When the explosives are detonated, the force of the shock wave compresses the fissile material into a smaller volume, forming a supercritical mass. This method of assembly is much faster than the gun-type mechanism and thus eliminates the problems resulting from spontaneous neutron emission of Pu-240. The spherical mass resulted in a pumpkin-shaped weapon called "Fat Man".

"To assure that a chain reaction occurs, an initiator is placed at the center of the sphere of fissile materials. It consists of a source of alpha particles, radioactive polonium, surrounded with thin aluminum foil. The foil-wrapped source is then surrounded with beryllium powder. When the initial explosion squeezes the fissile material into a supercritical mass, the foil breaks, allowing the alpha particles to reach the beryllium and produce the initial neutrons."

Source: http://www.chemcases.com/nuclear/nc-09.htm

[U S Army EOD]

It greatly increases the yield of a nuclear weapon.

[The_Reader_David]

You are correct. A neutron generator is essential to the design of smaller nuclear (fission) bombs.

[Calpernia]

>>>"neutron generator"

What was that thing that a scientist had buried under his rose bed at his home again? (Iraq)