The Los Alamos years

THE YEAR 1939 changed many things. It witnessed the beginning of the most destructive war in history. It has also changed science. Many physicists who never were interested in applications of science devoted their skills to the necessities of war and became applied physicists. They faced new problems, new experiences, different from the accustomed academic environment. But the deepest change in the character of our science came from the discovery of fission. Many of us hoped at that time—and Oppenheimer was one of them—that the number of neutrons released would have been small enough to prevent a chain reaction. But soon enough it was clear that, on the forefront of the most esoteric and basic part of our science, a phenomenon was discovered, full of tremendous destructive and constructive potentialities. It was not yet ready for exploitation; many staggering problems had to be solved, but the way was clearly indicated. Many physicists were drawn into this work, by fate and destiny rather than enthusiasm. A threat hung over us, the frightening possibility of finding this new and incredibly powerful weapon in the hands of the powers of evil, but there is no doubt that we were also attracted by the unique challenge of dealing with nuclear phenomena on a large scale, with taming an essentially cosmic process.

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