Measuring the yields in tonnes is counter productive/intuitive to the explanation since the nuclear cutter charges are optimized to produce X-rays, not explosive power, and so are therefore not analogous to chemical reactions. The goal is to produce high energy that can be then magnetically lensed (redirected) towards a target structure (in this case, the WTC's core). So, this device isn't measured by yield but by radiation output. Please see:

https://irp.fas.org/agency/dod/dsb/nweffects.pdf p27

The devices are designed from the ground up to direct its radiation in a specific direction:

Tthere is a potentially large “lumpiness” or spatial variability in the prompt radiation output at any given point, particularly for high-altitude detonations, that results from mass absorption shadowing. The flux or fluence of prompt gammas, neutrons and X-rays is by no means isotropic about the burst point of a high-altitude detonation. Clumps of materials (thrusters, gas bottles, propellant tanks, firing units, etc., for example) surround a warhead in a non- symmetric fashion and make radiation output estimation inherently three-dimensional. In realistic situations, some warhead components will shield the prompt radiations from other components, creating a large shadow cone in a preferential direction.

There is also something called "cold" X-rays, which of course they don't want. Low energy. They want the highest energy X-rays.

On p39 you can see them targeting structures themselves:

Radiation can cause damage in many different ways. Energy deposition from neutrons or X-rays will rapidly heat materials, causing deformation, decomposition, spallation, delamination, degradation of material properties, and the generation of intense shocks. Neutrons will cause displacement damage, activation, heating, and charged particle production in materials. X-rays and γ-rays will generate charge deposition and photocurrents that can upset or burn out electrical systems and cause dielectric breakdown in insulators.

On p43 you can see them talking about ways to engineer the weapons to create tightly focused beams, but these systems become very large. The background here is mostly Star Wars type systems where nuclear explosions are themselves used to create very temporary but powerful lasers that can take down nuclear warheads in space. The sat would literally explode, almost like the way anti-tank armour works.

Measuring the yields in tonnes is counter productive/intuitive to the explanation since the nuclear cutter charges are optimized to produce X-rays, not explosive power, and so are therefore not analogous to chemical reactions. The goal is to produce high energy that can be then magnetically lensed (redirected) towards a target structure (in this case, the WTC's core). So, this device isn't measured by yield but by radiation output. Please see:

https://irp.fas.org/agency/dod/dsb/nweffects.pdf p27

The devices are designed from the ground up to direct its radiation in a specific direction:

Tthere is a potentially large “lumpiness” or spatial variability in the prompt radiation output at any given point, particularly for high-altitude detonations, that results from mass absorption shadowing. The flux or fluence of prompt gammas, neutrons and X-rays is by no means isotropic about the burst point of a high-altitude detonation. Clumps of materials (thrusters, gas bottles, propellant tanks, firing units, etc., for example) surround a warhead in a non- symmetric fashion and make radiation output estimation inherently three-dimensional. In realistic situations, some warhead components will shield the prompt radiations from other components, creating a large shadow cone in a preferential direction.

There is also something called "cold" X-rays, which of course they don't want. Low energy. They want the highest energy X-rays.

On p39 you can see them targeting structures themselves:

Radiation can cause damage in many different ways. Energy deposition from neutrons or X-rays will rapidly heat materials, causing deformation, decomposition, spallation, delamination, degradation of material properties, and the generation of intense shocks. Neutrons will cause displacement damage, activation, heating, and charged particle production in materials. X-rays and γ-rays will generate charge deposition and photocurrents that can upset or burn out electrical systems and cause dielectric breakdown in insulators.

Measuring the yields in tonnes is counter productive/intuitive to the explanation since the nuclear cutter charges are optimized to produce X-rays, not explosive power, and so are therefore not analogous to chemical reactions. The goal is to produce high energy that can be then magnetically lensed (redirected) towards a target structure (in this case, the WTC's core). So, this device isn't measured by yield but by radiation output. Please see:

https://irp.fas.org/agency/dod/dsb/nweffects.pdf p27

The devices are designed from the ground up to direct its radiation in a specific direction:

Tthere is a potentially large “lumpiness” or spatial variability in the prompt radiation output at any given point, particularly for high-altitude detonations, that results from mass absorption shadowing. The flux or fluence of prompt gammas, neutrons and X-rays is by no means isotropic about the burst point of a high-altitude detonation. Clumps of materials (thrusters, gas bottles, propellant tanks, firing units, etc., for example) surround a warhead in a non- symmetric fashion and make radiation output estimation inherently three-dimensional. In realistic situations, some warhead components will shield the prompt radiations from other components, creating a large shadow cone in a preferential direction.

There is also something called "cold" X-rays, which of course they don't want. Low energy. They want the highest energy X-rays.

On p39 you can see them targeting structures themselves