Contents | |
---|---|
Preface | |
Chapter I. | Introduction |
Chapter II. | Statement Of The Problem |
Chapter III. | Administrative History Up To December 1941 |
Chapter IV. | Progress Up To December 1941 |
Chapter V. | Administrative History 1942-1945 |
Chapter VI. | The Metallurgical Project At Chicago In 1942 |
Chapter VII. | The Plutonium Production Problem As Of February 1943 |
Chapter VIII. | The Plutonium Problem, January 1943 To June 1945 |
Chapter IX. | General Discussion Of The Separation Of Isotopes |
Chapter X. | The Separation Of The Uranium Isotopes By Gaseous Diffusion |
Chapter XI. | Electromagnetic Separation Of Uranium Isotopes |
Chapter XII. | The Work On The Atomic Bomb |
Chapter XIII. | General Summary |
Appendix 1. | Methods Of Observing Fast Particles From Nuclear Reactions |
Appendix 3. | Delayed Neutrons From Uranium Fission |
Appendix 4. | The First Self-Sustaining Chain Reaction Pile |
The ultimate responsibility for our nation's policy rests on its citizens and they can discharge such responsibilities wisely only if they are informed. The average citizen cannot be expected to understand clearly how an atomic bomb is constructed or how it works but there is in this country a substantial group of engineers and scienntists who can understand such things and who can explain thei potentialities of atomic bombs to their fellow citizens. The present report is written for this professional group and is a matter-of-fact, general account of work in the USA since 1939 aimed at the production of such bombs. It is neither a documented official history nor a technical treatise for experts. Secrecy requirements have affected both the detailed content and general emphasis so that many interesting developments have been omitted.
References to British and Canadian work are not intended to be complete since this is written from the point of view of the activities in this country.
The writer hopes that this account is substantially accurate, thanks to co-operation from all groups in the project; he takes full responsibility for all such errors that may occur.
Henry DeWolf Smyth,
1st July, 1945.