{"id":286563,"date":"2023-08-10T20:30:42","date_gmt":"2023-08-11T00:30:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=286563"},"modified":"2023-08-11T07:47:46","modified_gmt":"2023-08-11T11:47:46","slug":"oppenheimer-and-the-atomic-bomb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba\/science-cuba\/oppenheimer-and-the-atomic-bomb\/","title":{"rendered":"Oppenheimer and the atomic bomb"},"content":{"rendered":"

I thought we would start<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

a chain reaction that would destroy the whole world…<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

that\u2019s what we did.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

J.R. Oppenheimer,<\/span><\/p>\n

In dialogue with Einstein<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The creation of the atomic bomb is a complex and decisive chapter in contemporary history, whose protagonists were scientists, politicians and the military. The project was directed by U.S. physicist Julius Robert Oppenheimer, whose life and work has been reflected in books, articles, and documentaries and, most recently in Christopher Nolan\u2019s film <\/span>Oppenheimer<\/span><\/i>, based on <\/span>The American Prometheus<\/span><\/i>, Kai Bird\u2019s and Martin J. Sherwin\u2019s book that earned them, among others, the Pulitzer Prize in 2006.<\/span><\/p>\n

To better understand the historical process in which this happens, it is necessary to know something about the science involved.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, unexpected phenomena were discovered and new theories were enunciated to explain matter and the universe. This is how radioactivity, the theory of relativity, quantum mechanics and, with them, a new conception of energy and space-time enter the world scene.<\/span><\/p>\n

Einstein shows that the speed of light is an unreachable barrier, at a higher speed time dilates and space contracts; it is discovered that when matter disintegrates its mass is transformed into energy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Throughout the century society is electrified, industrialized at a dizzying pace. Knowledge of science is the soul of development; technology, the way to achieve it; while capital and the search for resources are the forces to dominate the world, a world, moreover, at war.<\/span><\/p>\n

During World War II, in which two great sides faced each other, the Allied Troops and the Axis Countries, the new science and technology also became weapons. Scientists and engineers are active soldiers, their knowledge and skills are made available to the political and military tendencies of their countries.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the crucial elements of the time is the discovery of the release of nuclear energy when matter disintegrates and emits particles and radiation. Physicists seek the transformation of mass into energy (as Einstein had shown with the well-known expression E=mc2) and with it the suspicion of the possible creation of an atomic bomb, with a colossal power never seen before. It was a possibility, then not developed, but it would give a notable advantage to whoever obtained it.<\/span><\/p>\n

The key that allows the release and use of this energy is given by two physical phenomena: the fission or rupture of heavy atoms and the fusion by the union of light nuclei; and two processes: the chain reaction, when the emitted particles and radiation give rise to new similar reactions, and obtaining the critical mass, the amount of matter necessary so that the chain reaction does not stop and immense quantities of energy can be released. It only remained to create the technology to produce them.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Gadget, the first atomic bomb, which would be tested in New Mexico in mid-July 1945.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The scientists and politicians involved in this chapter of history were people with great contradictions. When making certain decisions, interests and fears fought against the use of an unknown force in its consequences and the possibility of dominating the world with a new weapon, considered the ultimate weapon.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Robert Oppenheimer, known as Oppie, was a highly educated scientist with a great facility for languages, a promoter of Theoretical Physics studies in the United States and selected to lead the Manhattan Project for the creation of the first atomicbomb. Knowledge of his actions, the consequences they had, and the way in which he was later treated are fundamental to understanding the time.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    There are milestones in this historical process, reflected in both the book and the film, Oppenheimer\u2019s professional training, the Manhattan Project for the creation of the bomb, the maneuvers to discredit him and the recovery of his moral and scientific prestige.<\/span><\/p>\n