In the United States and the Soviet Union at the same time began work on the atomic bomb project.In 1942 in August in one of the buildings, located in the courtyard of the Kazan University, began to operate Secret Laboratory №2.The head of this object was Igor Kurchatov, Russian "father" of the atomic bomb.At the same time in August, near Santa Fe, New Mexico, a former local school earned "Metallurgical Laboratory" also secret.It was led by Robert Oppenheimer, "father" of the atomic bomb in America.
on solution of the problem took a total of three years.The first atomic bomb was detonated on US training ground in July 1945.Two more in August were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.It took seven years for the birth of the atomic bomb in the USSR.The first explosion took place in 1949.
Igor Kurchatov: brief biography
Igor Kurchatov, the "father" of the atomic bomb in the USSR, was born in 1903, January 12.This event occurred in Ufa province, today the city of Sims.Kurchatov is considered one of the founders of the applications of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
He graduated with honors from the Simferopol gymnasium and craft school.Kurchatov in 1920 entered the Tauride University, the Physics and Mathematics Department.Already 3 years later he successfully graduated from this high school early."Father" of the atomic bomb in 1930, began working in the Physical-Technical Institute in Leningrad, where he headed the physics department.
era to Kurchatov
Back in the 1930s in the Soviet Union began work related to nuclear energy.Chemists and physicists from different scientific centers, as well as specialists from other countries took part in all-Union conferences are arranged USSR.
radium samples were obtained in 1932.But in 1939, designed a chain reaction of fission of heavy atoms.1940 was a landmark in the nuclear field: the design was created by the atomic bomb, and the proposed methods for developing uranium-235.Conventional explosives was first proposed as a fuse to initiate the chain reaction.Also in 1940, Kurchatov presented his report on the subject made by the fission of heavy nuclei.
Research in the Great Patriotic War
Once in 1941, the Germans attacked the Soviet Union, were suspended nuclear research.Basic Leningrad and Moscow institutes that deal with nuclear physics, were urgently evacuated.
Head of Strategic Intelligence Beria knew that the physics of the West consider nuclear weapons an attainable reality.According to historical records, in the Soviet Union in 1939, in September came incognito Robert Oppenheimer, director of works on creation of the atomic bomb in America.The Soviet leadership could learn about the availability of these weapons of information that informed the "father" of the atomic bomb.
In the Soviet Union in 1941 began to receive intelligence from the UK and the US.According to these sources, the West was launched intensive work, the purpose of which - the creation of nuclear weapons.
the spring of 1943 was created Laboratory №2 for the production of the first atomic bomb in the USSR.There was a question about who to entrust the management of it.List of candidates originally included about 50 names.Beria, however, their choices down to Kurchatov.He was called in October 1943 to the bride in Moscow.Today Research Center, which grew out of the lab bears his name - "Kurchatov Institute".
In 1946, April 9, issued a decree on the establishment of the Laboratory №2 design bureau.Only in early 1947 we were prepared first production buildings, which were in the region of Mordovia reserve.Some of the laboratories were in the monastery buildings.
RDS-1, the first Russian atomic bomb
prototype called the Soviet RDS-1, which, according to one version, meant "a special jet engine."After some time, we began to decipher this abbreviation little differently - "Jet engine of Stalin."The documents for secret Soviet bomb was called "rocket engine".
It is a device whose power was 22 kilotons.Its development of nuclear weapons were in the USSR, however, the need to catch up with the United States, which went ahead during the war, forced domestic science use data intelligence.The basis of the first Russian atomic bomb was taken "Fat Man", designed by the Americans (pictured below).
was his August 9, 1945 the United States dropped on Nagasaki.He worked as a "Fat Man" on the decay of plutonium-239.The scheme was to undermine implosion: the charges exploded around the perimeter of the fissile material and creating a blast wave that is "squeezed" a substance that is in the center, and caused a chain reaction.This scheme was later recognized as ineffective.
Soviet RDS-1 was made in the form of a large diameter and weight svobodnopadayuschie bomb.Because plutonium has been made of the explosive charge of an atomic device.Electrical equipment and ballistic body RDS-1 were home development.The bomb consisted of a ballistic shell, nuclear charge, explosive devices and equipment Automation systems blasting charge.
deficit uranium
Soviet physicist, based on plutonium bomb the Americans, faced with a problem that had to be solved in the shortest possible time: the production of plutonium at the time of development has not yet begun in the USSR.Therefore, originally used a captured uranium.However, the required reactor of at least 150 tons of the substance.In 1945 he resumed his work the mines in East Germany and Czechoslovakia.Uranium deposits in the Chita region, in Kolyma, in Kazakhstan, in Central Asia, the North Caucasus and Ukraine were found in 1946.
the Urals, near the town of Kyshtym (near Chelyabinsk), began to build the "Lighthouse" - radiochemical plant, and the first Soviet industrial reactor.Kurchatov personally supervised the laying of uranium.Construction was deployed in 1947 in three locations: two in the Central Urals and one - in the Gorky region.
rapidly going construction work, but uranium is still not enough.The first industrial reactor even in 1948 could not be started.Only 7 June loaded uranium.
experiment on the launch of a nuclear reactor
"father" of the Soviet atomic bomb personally took over the duties of the chief operator on the remote control of a nuclear reactor.June 7 between 11 and 12 o'clock in the morning, Kurchatov began to experiment on its launch.June 8 reactor reached 100 kilowatts of power.After that, the "father" of the Soviet atomic bomb drowned start a chain reaction.Two days continued for the next stage of the preparation of a nuclear reactor.After cooling water was filed, it was clear that uranium available to the insufficient to carry out the experiment.The reactor only after loading the fifth portion of the substance has reached a critical state.The chain reaction was possible again.It happened at 8 am on June 10th.
17 of the same month Kurchatov - the creator of the atomic bomb in the Soviet Union - in the magazine shift supervisor did record which warned that the water supply is in any case should not be terminated, otherwise there will be an explosion.June 19, 1938 at 12:45 hosted the industrial launch of the nuclear reactor, the first in Eurasia.
successful bomb test
In June 1949 the Soviet Union had accumulated 10 kilograms of plutonium - an amount that was included in the American bomb.Kurchatov, the creator of the atomic bomb in the Soviet Union, following the decree of Beria, ordered to designate August 29, the test of RDS-1.Land Irtysh
waterless steppe, located in Kazakhstan, near Semipalatinsk, was reserved for the test site.In the center of the experimental field, with a diameter of about 20 km, it was constructed steel tower 37.5 metroa.RDS-1 installed on it.
charge used in the bomb was a multilayer structure.It translated into a critical state of the active substance was carried out by compressing it using a spherical convergent detonation wave, which is formed in the explosive.
consequences of the explosion
Tower after the explosion was completely destroyed.In its place arose a funnel.However, the major damage was inflicted by the shock wave.As described by eyewitnesses as August 30 took a trip to the site of the explosion, an experimental field was a terrible scene.Road and rail bridges were thrown to a distance of 20-30 meters and mangled.Machines and cars scattered over a distance of 50-80 meters from the place where they were completely destroyed houses appeared.Tanks used to test the force of impact, were towers with whipped on his side, and the gun became a pile of twisted metal.Also burned 10 vehicles, "Victory", specially brought here for the experience.Total
bomb RDS-1 was manufactured 5. They are not transferred to the Air Force, and kept in Arzamas-16.Today in Sarov, which was formerly Arzamas-16 (Laboratory is shown in the photo below), the layout exhibited bomb.It is located in the local museum of nuclear weapons.
"fathers" of the atomic bomb
in the creation of the American atomic bomb was attended by only 12 Nobel Prize winners, present and future.In addition, they helped a group of scientists from the UK, which was sent to Los Alamos in 1943.
In Soviet times, it was believed that the Soviet Union completely independently decided nuclear problem.Everywhere it said that Kurchatov, the creator of the atomic bomb in the USSR, it was the "father".While rumors about the secrets stolen from Americans occasionally leaked.It was only in 1990, 50 years later, Julius Hariton - one of the main participants in the events of the time - told about the great role of intelligence in the creation of the Soviet draft.The technical and scientific achievements of Americans mined Klaus Fuchs, who arrived in the British group.
Therefore Oppenheimer can be considered the "father" of bombs that were created on both sides of the ocean.We can say that the creator of the first Soviet atomic bomb is exactly it.Both projects, the American and Russian, were based on his ideas.Incorrectly regarded as Kurchatov and Oppenheimer just an outstanding organizer.About Soviet scientist, and also about the contribution made by the creator of the first atomic bomb in the Soviet Union, we've been told.Major achievements were Oppenheimer research.He was the head of the atomic project because of them, as well as the creator of the atomic bomb in the USSR.
Short biography of Robert Oppenheimer
this scientist born in 1904, April 22, in New York.Robert Oppenheimer in 1925, graduated from Harvard University.Trained future creator of the first atomic bomb within a year at the Cavendish Laboratory Rutherford.A year later, the scientist moved to the University of Gottingen.Here, under the direction of M. Born, he defended his doctoral dissertation.In 1928 the scientist returned to the USA."Father" of the American atomic bomb from 1929 to 1947 he taught at two universities of the country - California Institute of Technology and the University of California.
July 16, 1945 was carried out a successful test of the first bomb in the United States, and shortly thereafter Oppenheimer, along with other members established under President Truman of the Interim Committee, was forced to select objects for the future of the atomic bombing.Many of his colleagues at that time actively opposed the use of dangerous nuclear weapons, the need for which was not, as the capitulation of Japan was sealed.Oppenheimer joined them.
explaining their behavior in the future, he said that relying on politicians and the military, who were better acquainted with the real situation.In October 1945, Oppenheimer has ceased to be a director of Los Alamos National Laboratory.He joined Preston, leading local research institutions.His fame in the United States, as well as outside the country, has reached a climax.New York newspapers wrote about him more and more.President Truman presented Oppenheimer "Medal of Merit", which is the highest order in America.
He wrote, besides scientific papers, several popular science books, "open mind", "Science and everyday knowledge" and others.
the scientist died in 1967, on 18 February.Oppenheimer since his youth was a heavy smoker.He found in 1965, cancer of the larynx.In late 1966, after surgery has brought no results, it has undergone chemotherapy or radiotherapy.However, the treatment had no effect, and 18 February scientist died.
So Kurchatov - the "father" of the atomic bomb in the Soviet Union, Oppenheimer - in the United States.Now that you know the names of those who first worked on nuclear weapons development.Answers to the question: "Who is the father of the atomic bomb?", We talked only about the initial stages of the history of this dangerous weapons.It continues to this day.Moreover, today in this area is actively being new developments."Father" of the atomic bomb - American Robert Oppenheimer, and Russian scientist Igor Kurchatov was a pioneer in this business.
