It was written in 19423 by robert serber who had been tasked by robert oppenheimer to teach a course to. It is a fascinating book, released from its top secret status only in 1992. Serber put the nature of their vital mission bluntly. In september 1945, he was with the first american team to enter hiroshima and nagasaki to assess the damage from the atomic bombs. Notes on serbers lectures were gathered into a mimeographed document titledthelos alamos primer, which was supplied to all. In its 24 pages, serber both adroitly summarized the state of existing knowledge and laid out a prescient road map for the work ahead and the challenges that might arise. He gave a series of lectures which summarized designing and building an atomic bomb. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want.
R o b e r t s e r b e r 1 9 0 9 1 9 9 7 a biographical memoir by r o b e r t p. One of the few participants at the april 1943 gathering with a sense of the overall program was 34yearold robert serber, shown in. Robert serber march 14, 1909 june 1, 1997 was an american physicist who participated in the manhattan project. The first lectures on how to build an atomic bomb, university of california press, 1992 isbn 0520075765 original 1943 la1, declassified in 1965, plus commentary and historical introduction. Robert oppenheimers protege, and the scientists learned that their job was to design and build the worlds first atomic bombs.
Columbia university press, new york 1998, isbn 0231105460. This paper describes the background to the primer and analyzes the physics contained in its 22 sections. To bring the group up to speed, serber delivered a series. It was written in 19423 by robert serber who had been tasked by robert oppenheimer to teach a course to newly arrived scientists and technicians on the fundamentals of the manhattan project they were involved with. Reminiscences of a life on the frontiers of science. The ultimate responsibility for our nations policy rests on its citizens and they can discharge such responsibilities wisely only if they are informed. Serber during the first two uifib weeks of april 1943, as an indoctrination course in connection with the starting of the las alamos project. Atomic energy for military purposes the smyth report. The first lectures on how to build an atomic bomb, updated with a new introduction by richard rhodes. Original 1943 la1, declassified in 1965, plus commentary and historical introduction. Written by physicist robert serber, the primer describes what was known in 1943 about what technical and scientific questions still remained to. A pioneering figure in 20th century american physics, robert serber is perhaps best known for having been j. They were originally given by the physicist robert serber after being delivered in person on april 514, 1943, based on conclusions reached at a conference held in july and september 1942 at the. In its 24 pages, serber both adroitly summarized the state of existing knowledge and laid out a prescient road map.
Serber during the first two weeks of april 1943, as an indoctrination course in. Written by physicist robert serber, the primer describes what was known in 1943 about what technical and scientific. Robert oppenheimers protege, and they learned that their job was to invent the worlds first atomic bomb. They were originally given by the physicist robert serber after being. The first lectures on how to build an atomic bomb, university of california press, 1992 isbn 0520075765original 1943 la1, declassified in 1965, plus commentary and historical introduction. The following notes are based on a set of five lectures given by r. Challenges facing stockpile stewardship in the 21st century. Topics nuclear weapons, physics, manhattan project collection opensource language english. Request an exam or desk copy recommend to your library pdf. The first lectures on how to build an atomic bomb at. Approved for public release federation of american. The new york times called him the intellectual midwife at the birth of the atomic bomb.
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