A
dirty bomb or
radiological dispersal device (
RDD) is a speculative
radiological weapon that combines radioactive material with conventional explosives. The purpose of the weapon is to contaminate the area around the dispersal agent/conventional explosion with radioactive material, serving primarily as an
area denial device against civilians. It is however not to be confused with a nuclear explosion, such as a
fission bomb, which by releasing nuclear energy produces
blast effects far in excess of what is achievable by the use of conventional explosives.