Simply put: no. This is just misinformation. Thermonuclear weapons derive their energy from fusion, not fission. The prompt criticality of the igniting fission weapon has nothing to do with the criticality seen in a nuclear reactor used for generating energy.

The grandparent asked about nuclear weapons, not specifically thermonuclear weapons.

Good point. I think it's fair to criticize instances of technology and innovation. So it would be fair to criticize all innovation that is specific only to weapons.

All fusion weapons use a fission core as the spark. This is why we need plutonium or uranium for nuclear warheads.

https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/how-nuclear-weapons-work

> Modern nuclear weapons work by combining chemical explosives, nuclear fission, and nuclear fusion. The explosives compress nuclear material, causing fission; the fission releases massive amounts of energy in the form of X-rays, which create the high temperature and pressure needed to ignite fusion.

And if you'd read my post, you'd note I already covered that.

I disagree that it has nothing to do with it. All of this technology was being developed at the same time, and the most important part of the technology for both purposes is criticality.

The trinity nuclear test (a fission weapon) was 1945.

Gen III nuclear reactors like those being installed at Vogtle and other sites area 21st century design.

Yes, technology advances. We're no longer pedaling around on penny farthings or driving around on Benz Patent-Motorwagens, but the technology is the same basis in many ways, just evolved.

Is fusion weapon research informative of fusion reactor research, and vice versa?

Not even remotely useful. If it was, there would be no more research on fusion reactors. They'd just process the heaps of government data available from both full weapon tests & other research projects.

The Manhattan Project literally built the world's first nuclear fission reactor. The group that built that reactor later became Argonne National Laboratory which then built the first nuclear reactor that generated electricity. Nuclear weapons and nuclear power come from the same roots.