Convert Attojoules to Kilotons of TNT
Convert Attojoules (aJ) to Kilotons of TNT (kt(TNT)) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
kt(TNT) = aJ × 2.390057361e-31
About Attojoules
An attojoule (aJ) is 10⁻¹⁸ J - the scale of individual X-ray photons and superconducting qubit circuits. A 1 keV X-ray photon carries 160 aJ; a visible green photon (~550 nm) carries ~0.36 aJ. Josephson junction energies in superconducting qubits are set in tens to hundreds of aJ to achieve quantum coherence at millikelvin temperatures. XRISM's cryogenic TES X-ray spectrometer resolves individual photon energies at the hundreds-of-aJ level with ~7 eV FWHM resolution. 1 aJ = 10⁻¹⁸ J = 6.242 eV.
About Kilotons of TNT
A kiloton of TNT (kt(TNT)) = 10³ tons of TNT = exactly 4.184 TJ. It is the standard unit for sub-megaton nuclear weapon yields. Hiroshima's Little Boy: ~12-18 kt; Nagasaki's Fat Man: ~19-23 kt. The W88 warhead (Trident II) is ~475 kt; the W76 is ~100 kt. The Beirut port explosion (2020): estimated 0.5-1.1 kt. A magnitude 5.0 earthquake releases ~0.5-2 kt of seismic energy. A kiloton blast creates a fireball ~90-100 m radius and a lethal thermal radius of ~1-2 km. 1 kt(TNT) = 4.184 TJ = 1,162.8 MWh.
Quick Reference Table
| Attojoules (aJ) | Kilotons of TNT (kt(TNT)) |
|---|---|
| 1 aJ | 2.39 × 10-31 kt(TNT) |
| 2 aJ | 4.78 × 10-31 kt(TNT) |
| 5 aJ | 1.195 × 10-30 kt(TNT) |
| 10 aJ | 2.39 × 10-30 kt(TNT) |
| 25 aJ | 5.975 × 10-30 kt(TNT) |
| 50 aJ | 1.195 × 10-29 kt(TNT) |
| 100 aJ | 2.39 × 10-29 kt(TNT) |