Manhattan Project Edward Teller

teller s id badge photo los alamos


los alamos laboratory

in 1942, teller invited part of robert oppenheimer s summer planning seminar, @ university of california, berkeley origins of manhattan project, allied effort develop first nuclear weapons. few weeks earlier, teller had been meeting friend , colleague enrico fermi prospects of atomic warfare, , fermi had nonchalantly suggested perhaps weapon based on nuclear fission used set off larger nuclear fusion reaction. though explained fermi why thought idea not work, teller fascinated possibility , bored idea of atomic bomb though not yet anywhere near completion. @ berkeley session, teller diverted discussion fission weapon possibility of fusion weapon—what called super , concept of later known hydrogen bomb.

arthur compton, chairman of university of chicago physics department, coordinated uranium research of columbia university, princeton university, university of chicago, , university of california, berkeley. remove disagreement , duplication, compton transferred scientists metallurgical laboratory @ chicago. teller left behind @ first, because while , mici american citizens, still had relatives in enemy countries. in 1943, los alamos laboratory established in los alamos, new mexico design atomic bomb, oppenheimer director. teller moved there in march 1943. apparently, teller managed annoy neighbors there playing piano late in night.

teller became part of theoretical (t) division. given secret identity of ed tilden. irked @ being passed on head; job instead given hans bethe. oppenheimer had him investigate unusual approaches building fission weapons, such autocatalysis, in efficiency of bomb increase nuclear chain reaction progressed, proved impractical. investigated using uranium hydride instead of uranium metal, efficiency turned out negligible or less . continued push ideas fusion weapon though had been put on low priority during war (as creation of fission weapon proved difficult enough). on visit new york, asked maria goeppert-mayer carry out calculations on super him. confirmed teller s own results: super not going work.

a special group established under teller in march 1944 investigate mathematics of implosion-type nuclear weapon. ran difficulties. because of interest in super, teller did not work hard on implosion calculations bethe wanted. these low-priority tasks, discovery of spontaneous fission in plutonium emilio segrè s group gave super increased importance. in june 1944, @ bethe s request, oppenheimer moved teller out of t division, , placed him in charge of special group responsible super, reporting directly oppenheimer. replaced rudolf peierls british mission, in turn brought in klaus fuchs, later revealed soviet spy. teller s super group became part of fermi s f division when joined los alamos laboratory in september 1944. included stanislaw ulam, jane roberg, geoffrey chew, harold , mary argo, , maria goeppert-mayer.

teller made valuable contributions bomb research, in elucidation of implosion mechanism. first propose solid pit design successful. design became known christy pit , after physicist robert f. christy made pit reality. teller 1 of few scientists watch (with eye protection) trinity nuclear test in july 1945, rather follow orders lie on ground backs turned. later said atomic flash if had pulled open curtain in dark room , broad daylight streamed in.

decision drop bombs

in days before , after first demonstration of nuclear weapon, trinity test in july 1945, fellow hungarian leo szilard circulated szilard petition, argued demonstration japanese of new weapon should occur prior actual use on japan, , weapons never used on people. in response szilard s petition, teller consulted friend robert oppenheimer. teller believed oppenheimer natural leader , him such formidable political problem. oppenheimer reassured teller nation s fate should left sensible politicians in washington. bolstered oppenheimer s influence, decided not sign petition.

teller therefore penned letter in response szilard read:

...i not convinced of objections. not feel there chance outlaw 1 weapon. if have slim chance of survival, lies in possibility rid of wars. more decisive weapon more surely used in real conflict , no agreements help.

our hope in getting facts of our results before people. might convince next war fatal. purpose actual combat-use might best thing.

on reflection on letter years later when writing memoirs, teller wrote:

first, szilard right. scientists worked on producing bomb, bore special responsibility. second, oppenheimer right. did not know enough political situation have valid opinion. third, should have done failed work out technical changes required demonstrating bomb [very high] on tokyo , submit information president truman.

unknown teller @ time, 4 of colleagues solicited secret may june 1945 interim committee. organization decided on how new weapons should used. committee s four-member scientific panel led oppenheimer, , concluded immediate military use on japan best option:

the opinions of our scientific colleagues on initial use of these weapons not unanimous: range proposal of purely technical demonstration of military application best designed induce surrender...others emphasize opportunity of saving american lives immediate military use...we find ourselves closer these latter views; can propose no technical demonstration bring end war; see no acceptable alternative direct military use.

teller later learned of oppenheimer s solicitation , role in interim committee s decision drop bombs, having secretly endorsed immediate military use of new weapons. contrary impression teller had received when had asked oppenheimer szilard petition: nation s fate should left sensible politicians in washington. following teller s discovery of this, relationship advisor began deteriorate.

in 1990, historian barton bernstein argued unconvincing claim teller covert dissenter use of weapon. in 2001 memoirs, teller claims did lobby oppenheimer, oppenheimer had convinced him should take no action , scientists should leave military questions in hands of military; teller claims not aware oppenheimer , other scientists being consulted actual use of weapon , implies oppenheimer being hypocritical.