What is the difference between thermonuclear weapons and nuclear weapons?

First of all, a nuclear weapon is an atomic bomb and a thermonuclear weapon is a hydrogen bomb, but they are called differently.

1. The atomic bomb is one of the nuclear weapons, which uses the photothermal radiation, shock wave and induced radioactivity of the nuclear reaction to cause killing and destruction, as well as large-scale radioactive pollution, so as to prevent the other side's military action to achieve strategic goals. As a branch of the atomic bomb, thermonuclear weapons are more powerful than the atomic bomb.

2. Nuclear weapons use the energy released by self-sustaining nuclear fission or fusion reaction to produce explosion and have the effect of mass destruction. In a broad sense, nuclear weapons usually refer to nuclear weapons systems with operational capabilities, which are composed of nuclear bombs, throwing and launching systems, command and control, communication and operational support systems.

3. Thermonuclear weapons are powerful weapons of mass destruction, which mainly use the energy released by the nuclear fusion reaction of hydrogen isotopes (deuterium and tritium) to kill and destroy.

Extended information:

All the nuclei of nuclear weapons involved in the reaction have been transformed into other nuclei, and the atoms have also changed. So people used to call this kind of weapons atomic weapons. But it is essentially the reaction and transformation of the nucleus, so it is more accurate to call nuclear weapons. The lethality of thermonuclear weapons is not only due to the huge heat generated by the explosion, but also to the various rays released.

thermonuclear weapon is a general term for hydrogen bomb, which is the main force of modern strategic nuclear weapon and plays a role of nuclear deterrence. As a strategic nuclear weapon, hydrogen bomb is still developing in the direction of miniaturization and directionality, which means that nuclear weapon has new safety parameters in peacetime, but it can effectively destroy targets in wartime.

Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia-Nuclear Weapons

Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia-Thermonuclear Weapons.