Physics in the atomic energy program

It would be no more possible to have a symposium on applied physics without reference to the atomic energy program, than it would to talk about atomic energy without reference to physics. The atomic energy program was initiated by physicists; it is based on a recent discovery in physics; its future course will follow the developments in physics; through the program the government is giving physics its most substantial support; and the results of the program will be an outstanding achievement of physical science. Moreover the areas of physics which bear this close relationship to the program are so extensive and so new that most of what we call basic physics finds some application, and applied research often turns out to give basic conclusions.

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