Atomic Energy for Military Purposes [the “official” book about the making of the first Atomic Bomb] - Henry Smyth - 1945

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Atomic Energy for Military Purposes [the “official” book about the making of the first Atomic Bomb] – Henry Smyth – 1945

Short Description

Full text of the Official Report … subtitled A General Account of the Scientific Research and Technical Development That Went into the Making of Atomic Bombs.

This is the new and enlarged edition, which includes statements by the British and Canadian Governments.

Not everyone’s cup of tea. For scientists particularly physicists and physical chemists a startlingly frank book about the Manhattan Project and what went on about, and into the making of, the first atomic weapon.

Published by the Princeton University Press in 1945, described as a fifth printing. Paper covered octavo, 308 (previously 264) pages, with photographs of the facilities and the first boom. The front covered has been repaired at the hinge, otherwise a pretty good copy.

The back history is well laid out, the fundamental science and the challenges. The simplicity of “critical mass” has always amazed Voyager. But it was the speed that CM is attained that was the key before all sorts of other leakages could take place in that extended micro-second. Typical of what can be achieved during wartime. The management (laboratory) structure … the heads of each, all famous scientists. Voyager hero, British Nobel Prize Winner, James “Neutron” Chadwick spent three years there and is recognised here as making a fundamental contribution.

Oppenheimer is the first name that comes to most. His organisational ability could not be questioned. The speed at which the first device was manufactured after the science was decided upon is nothing mor than remarkable. On the night of the first test they were delayed by a significant lightening storm … Oppenheimer went out into the darkness and at the first sight of stars declared the experiment on …

The First Atomic Bomb – the whole official story – like it or not … it makes interesting scientific and historical reading.

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