A powerful graphical display of technical information: Robert Serber's plot of physical conditions inside a nuclear explosion

摘要

ABSTRACTA 1943 graph depicting the time evolution of physical conditions within an exploding nuclear weapon is reconstructed and discussed. The graph is remarkable for its combination of generality, simplicity, and density of information. Analyzing how Robert Serber constructed this graph proves to be a valuable exercise for developing deeper understanding of the physics of a nuclear explosion.