The Los Alamos Primer The First Lectures on How to Build An Atomic Bomb - Cómo contruir una Bomba Atómica

The Los Alamos Primer The First Lectures on How to Build An Atomic Bomb - Cómo contruir una Bomba Atómica Robert Serber , Richard Rhodes , William Eliezer In April 1943, at a new secret laboratory on a mesa in the high New Mexican desert, a crowd of the most brilliant young scientists in America heard five stunning lectures that summed up everything the world knew about how to build an atomic bomb. The lecturer was Robert Serber, a theoretical physicist and protege of J. Robert Oppenheimer; the laboratory was Los Alamos. Serber's lectures, assembled in note form and mimeographed, became the legendary LA-1, the Los Alamos Primer, the first document passed out to new recruits to the wartime enterprise, classified Secret Limited for twenty years after the Second World War and published here for the first time. Now contemporary readers can see just how much was known and how much remained to be learned when the Manhattan Project began. Would the "gadget", the atomic bomb, really work? How powerful would it be? Could it be made small enough and light enough to carry in a bomber? Could its explosive nuclear reaction be controlled? Working with Richard Rhodes, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian of the development of the atomic bomb, Professor Serber has annotated the Primer for the nonscientist. His preface, a lively informal memoir, vividly conveys the mingled excitement, uncertainty, and intensity the Manhattan Project scientists felt. Rhodes's introduction reviews the development of nuclear physics up to the day that Serber stood before his blackboard at Los Alamos and summarizes the work that followed. In this first published edition, the Los Alamos Primer finally emerges from the archives. No lectures anywhere have had greater historical consequences. In April 1943, At A New Secret Laboratory On A Mesa In The High New Mexican Desert, A Crowd Of The Most Brilliant Young Scientists In America Heard Five Stunning Lectures That Summed Up Everything The World Knew About How To Build An Atomic Bomb. The Lecturer Was Robert Serber, A Theoretical Physicist And Protege Of J. Robert Oppenheimer; The Laboratory Was Los Alamos. Serber's Lectures, Assembled In Note Form And Mimeographed, Became The Legendary La-1, The Los Alamos. Primer, The First Document Passed Out To New Recruits To The Wartime Enterprise, Classified Secret Limited For Twenty Years After The Second World War And Published Here For The First Time. Now Contemporary Readers Can See Just How Much Was Known And How Much Remained To Be Learned When The Manhattan Project Began. Would The Gadget, The Atomic Bomb, Really Work? How Powerful Would It Be? Could It Be Made Small Enough And Light Enough To Carry In A Bomber? Could Its. Explosive Nuclear Reaction Be Controlled? Working With Richard Rhodes, Pulitzer Prize-winning Historian Of The Development Of The Atomic Bomb, Professor Serber Has Annotated The Primer For The Nonscientist. His Preface, A Lively Informal Memoir, Vividly Conveys The Mingled Excitement, Uncertainty, And Intensity The Manhattan Project Scientists Felt. Rhodes's Introduction Reviews The Development Of Nuclear Physics Up To The Day That Serber Stood Before His Blackboard At. Los Alamos And Summarizes The Work That Followed. In This First Published Edition, The Los Alamos Primer Finally Emerges From The Archives. No Lectures Anywhere Have Had Greater Historical Consequences. Based On A Set Of 5 Lectures Given By R. Serber During The First Two Weeks Of Apr. 1943 As An Indoctrination Course In Connection With The Starting Of The Los Alamos Project. Robert Serber ; Annotated By Robert Serber ; Edited With An Introduction By Richard Rhodes. Based On A Set Of 5 Lectures Given By R. Serber During The First Two Weeks Of Apr. 1943 As An Indoctrination Course In Connection With The Starting Of The Los Alamos Project. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The classified lectures that galvanized the Manhattan Project scientistswith annotations for the nonspecialist reader and an introduction by a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian. In March 1943 a group of young scientists, sequestered on a mesa near Santa Fe, attended a crash course in the new atomic physics. The lecturer was Robert Serber, J. Robert Oppenheimer's protg, and they learned that their job was to invent the world's first atomic bomb. Serber's lecture notes, nicknamed the "Los Alamos Primer," were mimeographed and passed from hand to hand, remaining classified for many years. They are published here for the first time, and now contemporary readers can see just how much was known and how terrifyingly much was unknown when the Manhattan Project began. Could this "gadget," based on the newly discovered principles of nuclear fission, really be designed and built? Could it be small enough and light enough for an airplane to carry? If it could be built, could it be controlled? Working with Richard Rhodes, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian of the development of the atomic bomb, Professor Serber has annotated original lecture notes with explanations of the physics terms for the nonspecialist. His preface, an informal memoir, vividly conveys the mingled excitement, uncertainty, and intensity felt by the Manhattan Project scientists. Rhodes's introduction provides a brief history of the development of atomic physics up to the day that Serber stood before his blackboard at Los Alamos. In this edition, The Los Alamos Primer finally emerges from the archives to give a new understanding of the very beginning of nuclear weapons. No seminar anywhere has had greater historical consequences. Presents the classified lectures that galvanized the Manhattan Project scientists. This work provides a brief history of the development of atomic physics up to the day that Serber stood before his blackboard at Los Alamos.