Project, Plutonium

R. E. Coimick, in G. T. Seaborg and J. J. Kat2, eds., TheMctinide Elements, National Nuclear Enefgy Series, Plutonium Project Record, Vol. Div. IV, Vol. 

When the Plutonium Project was established early in 1942, for the purpose of producing plutonium via the nuclear chain reaction in uranium in sufficient quantities for its use as a nuclear explosive, we were given the challenge of developing a chemical method for separating and isolating it from the uranium and fission products. We had already conceived the principle of the oxidation-reduction cycle, which became the basis for such a separations process. This principle applied to any process involving the use of a substance which carried plutonium in one of its oxidation states but not in another. By use of this... 

The work on the Plutonium Project in early 1942 was centralized in the Metallurgical Laboratory of the University of Chicago. The following extract from my journal describes my arrival in Chicago with my colleague Isadore Perlman ... 

Plutonium Project Nuclei formed in fission Decay characteristics, fission... 

Cantril, S.T. and Parker, H.M., Status of health and protection at the Hanford Engineer Works, in Industrial Medicine on the Plutonium Project, Stone, R.S., Ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, 1951. 

National Nuclear Energy Series, Plutonium Project Record, Vol. 9, Coryell, C. C., Sugarman, N., McGrav-Hill Book Company,... 

Nuclei Formed in Fission Decay Characteristics, Fission Yields, and Chain Relationships, issued by the Plutonium Project, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 68, 2411, 1946. 

The closer k approached 1.0, the slower the rate of change of pile intensity. Fermi made another calculation. The pile was nearly critical. He asked that ZIP be slid in. That adjustment brought the neutron count down. This time, he told Weil, take the control rod out twelve inches, Weil withdrew the cadmium rod. Fermi nodded and ZIP was winched out as well. This is going to do it, Fermi told Compton. The director of the plutonium project had found a place for himself at Fermi s side. Now it will become self-sustaining. The trace [on the recorder) will climb and continue to dimb it will not level off. ... 

Wigner s mastery of the theoretical phases of the plutonium project was complete - at least equal to Fermi s and, in engineering, chemistry and material science, probably beyond. Thus, there is hardly an aspect of reactor science and engineering, as we now define the fields, that does not bear Wigner s stamp. In the following pages I shall review Wigner s contributions in each of the sub-fields to which he contributed. 

The objectives of the P-9 work were summarized in an early memorandum by Drs. Compton and Smyth. The first objective that was stated was to guarantee the success of the Plutonium Project by providing an alternate method for the manufacture of plutonimn in case the W plants were to develop unexpected difficulties. In the absence of this contingency, the work was to provide, for future use, more efficient methods for utihzing uranium, with a higher and more easily accessible production of radioactive materials and with the possible... 

Head of du Pont TNX (plutonium project) Division Williamson, Robert... 

Papers 12 and 13 record Wigner s contributions to the instruction manual prepared by the Metallurgical Laboratory for the du Pont Company which had just assumed reponsibility for the Plutonium Project. Even at this early time Wigner had analyzed various combinations of coolant and moderator of particular note is his analysis of the engineering problems associated with a heavy-water moderated reactor. 

Dr. DARROW has suggested that a short introduction may enhance the usefulness of the more specialized papers to be presented to the Society by members of the old Theoretical Physics group of the Metallurgical Laboratory (Plutonium Project). Because the presentation of these papers will have to be very brief and because some of our collaborators could not present abstracts in time for the meetings, I was most happy to follow our Secretary s invitation to summarize our work in general terms. 

On the whole, the calculation of the multiplication constant for an infinite lattice is quite straightforward and one of the great surprises of the Plutonium Project was how easy it was. Mr. G. N. Plass and myself happened to be the ones who attempted to calculate the optimal lattice (i.e., the lattice with the highest early in 1942. Although the physical constants were not known at that time too accurately, the dimensions we obtained (later incorporated in the first chain reacting unit) are now believed to give a koo just percent short of the koo of the real optimal lattice. We are quite convinced that... 

Nat. Nuclear Energy Ser. Dtv. IV Plutonium Project Report 14A, Actinide Elements R.-E. CONNtCK, 221-300... 

As K-25 stock continued to drop and plutonium projects remained uncertain, Lawrence lobbied yet again for further expansion of Y-12, arguing that it provided the only possible avenue to a bomb by 1945. His plan was to convert all tanks to multiple beams and to build two more racetracks. By this time even the British had ven up on gaseous diffusion and urged acceptance of Lawrence s plan. 

F. C. Nachod, Ion exchange, Theory and application New York 1949. R. J. Mijers, Advances in Colloid Science I, New York 1942. A series of papers by various authors connected with the Plutonium project,/. Am, Chem, Soc, 69 (1947) 2796. 2881. 

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