| cobalt bomb [`kō´bȯlt ´bäm] NUCLEONICS A quantity of cobalt-60 mounted in a housing with walls having up to 8 inches (20 centimeters) of lead for protection, and with means for removing a lead plug to release a beam of gamma rays for use in cobalt-beam therapy. ORDNANCE A theoretical atomic or hydrogen bomb encased in cobalt, which cobalt would be transformed into deadly radioactive dust upon detonation. |