Trinity: World’s first nuclear test

Trinity was the code name of the first detonation of a nuclear weapon, conducted by the U.S. Army in New Mexico on July 16, 1945
 

Colourised photo of mushroom cloud from Trinity nuclear test


Radiation level (roentgens)
0.01-0.05 
0.05-0.1 
0.1-0.5 
0.5-1.0 
1.0-5.0 
>5.0
      

Trinity device
                
Trinity test involved implosion-type plutonium device, nicknamed “The Gadget”, assembled on top of 30m-high tower (above)

Bomb design
Conventional explosives around core detonate at same time
to compress plutonium into critical mass, triggering chain reaction and nuclear blast

Sphere with plutonium core

Explosive blocks


NEW MEXICO
Albuquerque
Santa Fé
Roswell
Alamogordo              
TEXAS
MEXICO
100km 60 miles
                   
 
Test site: Explosion produced heat 10,000 times greater than surface of sun and spread fallout across U.S.

“Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds” – words from Hindu scripture recalled by nuclear scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer after witnessing test
      

Sources: DOE, NPS, Washington Post
Pictures: Getty Images, LANL
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