Washington Conferences on Theoretical Physics

In 1938 Bethe formulated the mechanism for energy generation in stars. This research grew out of his participation at the third Washington conference on theoretical physics in April 1938. The reaction... 

Szilard learned from Rabi that Enrico Fermi had discussed the possibility of a chain reaction in his public presentation at the Fifth Washington Conference on Theoretical Physics that had met the week before. Szilard adjourned to Fermi s office but did not find him there. He went back to Rabi and asked him to talk to Fermi and say that these things ought to be kept secret. Rabi agreed and Szilard returned to his sickbed. 

Although World War II ended with the formal surrender of Japan on 2 September 1945, the work of the Manhattan Project continued for another 16 months. In January 1947, the Manhattan Project ceased when its work was transferred to the newly established Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). See also BUSH, VANNEVAR FAT MAN FIFTH WASHINGTON CONFERENCE ON THEORETICAL PHYSICS FUCHS, KLAUS EMIL JULIUS GADGET GERMANY JUMBO NATIONAL DEFENSE RESEARCH COMMITTEE (NDRC) OFFICE OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (OSRD) STAGG FIELD. 

There was a Conference on Theoretical Physics in Washington some time in the early spring which I could not attend because of my jaundice. I heard, however, that Fermi gave a report at this meeting on the theory of fission and its practical consequences. Although I did not hear his lecture I have no doubt that he also developed the essential points of the Bohr-Wheeler theory of fission independently and foresaw many of its consequences just as Szilard did, although his attitude was much more cautious than Szilard s. 

Bohr was en route to a conference in Washington on theoretical physics that would begin the next afternoon he left to catch his train without seeing Fermi. As soon as Bohr was gone Anderson hunted up the Italian, who had returned to his office by now. Before I had a chance to say anything, Anderson remembers, he smiled in a friendly fashion and said, T think I know what you want to tell me. Let me explain it to you. I have to say that Fermi s explanation was even more dramatic than Bohr s. ... 

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