How was the hydrogen bombs discovered?

Answer 1

On an archaeological dig in Tunisia.

Just kidding.

Two scientists came up with the design in the 40's and early 50's. They proposed using a fission reaction in the bomb as a trigger to compress the fusion fuel and then ignite it. It was invented rather than discovered.

Answer 2

The first nuclear bombs were fission bombs. Nuclei of enriched uranium were split and the emitted neutrons split other nuclei and started a chain reaction. The process of splitting is called fission. The hydrogen bomb is a fusion bomb where atoms of hydrogen are fused together under enormous pressure to make helium. The little bit of matter left over from this is turned to energy. This is basically what happens in the center of the sun. Since hydrogen bombs use regular fission bombs to create the pressures and temperatures necessary to fuse hydrogen they are many many times more powerful. It was known long before we started nuking people that a light element like hydrogen would fuse if enough force could be brought to bear so when they perfect the fission bomb they finally had that force.

Answer 3

Invented you mean. Edward Teller et al did a bit of math, set up a little lab called Lawrence Livermore an made one.