Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
99.91.1 |
Object Name |
Report |
Scope & Content |
A General Account of the Development of Methods of using Atomic Energy for Military Purposes, Under the Auspices of the U.S. government 1940-1945, by H.D. Smyth, soft cover, 182 pgs. Original, has name Betti C. Goldwasser written on front, top right. The purpose of this report is to describe the scientific and technical developments in this country since 1940 directed toward the military use of energy from atomic nuclei. This report is intended to be intelligible to scientist and engineers. Table of Contents; Foreword Preface I. Introduction The Conservation of Mass and of Energy The Equivalence of Mass Energy Radioactivity and Atomic Structure Ionization by Radioactive Substances The Different Radiations or Particles The Atom Radioactivity and Nuclear Change Half-Lives; The Radioactive Series First Demonstration of Artificial Nuclear Disintegration The Nutron The Positron and the Deuteron Nuclear Structure Artificial Radioactivity Energy Considerations Nuclear Binding Energies Mass Spectra and Binding Energies Experimental Proof of the Equivalence of Mass and Energy Nuclear Reactions Methods of Nuclear Bobardment Results of Nuclear Bobardment Types of Reaction Probability and Cross Section Practicability of Atomic Power in 1939 Small Scale of Experiments The Need of a Chain Reaction Period of Speculation Discovery of Uranium Fission General Discussion of Fission State of Knowledge in June 1940 Definite and Generally-Known Information of Fission General state of Nuclear Physics Summary II. Statement of the Problem Introduction The Chain-Reaction Problem Neutron Escape; Critical Size Use of a Moderator to Reduce Non-fission Capture Use of a Lattice to Reduce Non-fission Capture Reduction of Non-fission Capture by Isotope Seperation Production and Purification of Materials Control of the Chain Reaction Practical Application of the Chain Reaction Possibility of Using Plutonium Combined Effects and Enriched Piles Use of Thorium or Protoactinium or Other Material Amounts of Materials Needed Availability of Materials Time and Cost Estimates Health Hazards Method of Approach to the Problem Power VS. Bomb Military Usefulness Summery Policy Problem III. Administrative History up to December 1941; IV. Progress up to December 1941 Interest in Military Possibilities Restriction of Publication Initial Approaches to the Government. The First Committee The Committee Reconstituted Under NDRC Support of Research Committee Reorganized in Summer of 1941 The National Academy Reviewing Committee Information Received from the British Decision to Enlarge and Reorganize Summary IV. Progress up to December 1941 The Immediate Questions The Chain Reaction Program Proposed June 15, 1940 Progress up to February 15, 1941 Initiation of New Program Work on Resonance Absorption* The First Intermediate Experiments The Multiplication Factor K Experiments on Beryllium Theoretical Work Work of Plutonium Radioactive Poisons Isotope Seperation Small-Scale Separation by the Mass Spectograph The Centrifuge and Gaseous Diffusion Methods Thermal Diffusion in Liquids The Production of Heavy Water Production and Analysis of Materials Exchange of Information with the British The National Academy Committee Report Conditions for a fission bomb Destructive Effect of Fission Bombs Time Required for Development and Production of the Necessary U-2 35 Rough Estimate of Costs Summary V. Administrative History 1942-1945 Reorganization of NDRC Uranium Section-Transfer to OSRD Formation of the Planning Board Functions of the Planning Board and OSRDS-1 Section Meeting of Top Policy Group-Approval of Reorganization Meeting of OSRD S-1 Section on December 18, 1941 Meeting of OSRD S-1 Section on January 16, 1942 Rearrangement of the Work Early in 1942 Report to the President by Bush on March 9,1942 Reviews of the Program by Conant Change from OSRD S-1 Section To OSRD S-1 Executive Committee Report to the President by Bush and Conant On June 17, 1942 Selection of Colonel J.C. Marshall Selection of General L.R. Groves Military Policy Committee: Functioning of the OSRD Committees Subsequent Organization: The Manhattan District Summary VI. Metallurgical Project at Chicago in 1942; VII. Plutonium Production Problem-February 1943 Introduction Objectives Organization of the Work Plan of this Chapter Procurement of Materials General Uranium Ore Uranium Oxide and Uranium Metal Graphite Procurement The Chain Reaction Further Intermediate Experiments An Auxiliary Experiment; Delayed Neutrons The First Self-Sustaining Chain-Reacting Pile Energy Developed by the Pile Conclusion Relation between Power and Production of Plutonium The Chemistry of Plutonium Miscellaneous Studies The Fast-Neutron Reaction Planning a Production Plant Planning and Technical Work Possible Types of Plant The Pilot Plant at Clinton Specific Proposals Summary VII Plutonium Production Problem - February 1943 Need of Decisions The Scale of Production The Magnitude of the Problem Assignment of Responsibility Choice of Plant Site Choice of Type of Plant The Problems of Plant Design Specification of the Overall Problem Nature of the Lattice Loading and Unloading Possible Materials; Corrosion Protection of the Uranium from Corrosion Water Supply Controls and Instrumentation Shielding Maintenance Schedule of Loading and Unloading Size of Units General Nature of Separation Plant Analytical Control Waste Disposal Recover of Uranium Corrosion in the Separation Plant Effect of Radiation on Chemical Reactions Choice of Process The Health Problem The Properties of Plutonium The Training of Operators The Need for Further Information The Research Program Organization of the Project Cooperation Between the Metallurgical Laboratory and DuPont Summary VIII Plutonium Problem, January 1943-June 1945 Introduction The Chain Reaction in a Pile Life History of One Generation of Neutrons The Effects of Reaction Products on the Multiplication Factor The Reaction Products and the Separation Problem The Choice of a Chemical Separation Process Combination Process The Argonne Laboratory The Clinton Plant The Clinton Pile The Separation Plant Performance of Clinton Pile The Hanford Plant Canning and Corrosion Present Status of the Hanford Plant The Work of Heavy Water The Argonne Heavy-Water Pile The Health Division Routine Examinations Instruments for Radiation Measurements Research Summary IX. General Discussion of the Separation of Isotopes Factors Affecting the Separation of Isotopes Criteria for Appraising a Separation Process Seperation Factor Yield Hold-up Start-up Time Efficiency Cost Some Seperation Process Gaseous Diffusion Practical Distillation General Application of Countercurrent Flow The Centrifuge Thermal Diffusion Method Chemical Exchange Method Electrolysis Method Statistical Methods in General The Electromagnetic Method and Its Limitations Other Isotope-Separation Methods Cascades and Combined Processes The Heavy Water Plants: The Centrifuge Pilot Plant The Heavy Water Plants The Centrifuge Pilot Plant Isotope Separation Compared with Plutonium Production Summary X. The Separation of the Uranium Isotopes by Gaseous Diffusion Separation Introduction The Principles of Separation by Diffusion A Single Diffusion Stage The Cascade Gas Circulation in the Cascade The Problem of Large-Scale Separation Introduction The Objective The Process Gas The Number of Stages Barrier Area Barrier Design Pumping and Power Requirements Leaks and Corrosion Actual vs. Ideal Cascade Hold-up and Start-up Time Efficiency Detailed Design Summary of the Problem Organization Research, Development, Construction, and Production 1942 to 1945 Production of Barriers Pumps and Seals Miscellaneous Developments Pilot Plants Plant Authorization The Site Dates of Start of Construction Operation Summary XI. Electromagnetic Separation of Uranium Isotopes Introduction Electromagnetic Mass Separators Preliminary Work Initiation of a Large Program Immediate Objectives The Gian Magnet Development up to September 1942 Advantages of the Electromagnetic System Policy Question Approval of Plant Construction Organization for Planning Construction The Basis of the Technical Decisions Technical Decisions Required Experimental Units at Berkeley The Isotron Separator The Magnetron and the Ionic Centrifuge The Situation as of Early 1943 Construction and Operation: March 1943 to June 1945 Comparison with Diffusion and Plutonium Plants Nature and Organization and Development Work Chemical Problems The Thermal Diffusion Plant Miscellaneous Problems Present Status Summary XII. The Work of the Atomic Bomb The Objective History and Organization State of Knowledge in April 1943 General Discussion of the Problem Critical Size The Reflector or Tamper Efficiency Detonation and Assembly Effectiveness Method of Assembly Summary of Knowledge as of April 1943 The Work of the Laboratory Introduction Theoretical Physics Division Experimental Nuclear Physics Division Chemistry and Metallurgy Division Ordnance, Explosives, and Bomb Physics Divisions Summary XIII. General Summary Present Overall Status Prognostication Planning for the Future The Questions Before the People Appendix 1 Methods of Observing Fast Particles from Nuclear Reactions Scintillations The Process of Ionization The Electroscope Ionization Chambers Proportional Counters Geiger-Mueller Counters The Art of Counter Measurements The Wilson Cloud Chamber The Photographic Method The Observation and Measurement of Neutrons Appendix 2 The Units of Mass, Charge and Energy Appendix 3 Delayed Neutrons From Uranium Fission Appendix 4 The First Self-Sustaining Chain-Reacting Pile Description of the Pile Predicted performance of the Pile Measurements Performed During Construction Control Operation of the Pile Appendix 5 Sample List of Reports 6 x 9" 182 pages |
Catalog type |
Archive |
Creator |
H.D. Smyth |
Title |
A General Account of the Development of Methods of using Atomic Energy for Military Purposes |
Collection |
Found in Collection |
Lexicon category |
8: Communication Artifact |
Lexicon sub-category |
Documentary Artifact |