https://doi.org/10.1140/epjh/s13129-024-00070-x
Regular Article
Revisiting the Frisch–Peierls Memorandum
Department of Physics (Emeritus), Alma College, 48801, Alma, MI, USA
Received:
30
May
2023
Accepted:
1
March
2024
Published online:
8
April
2024
This paper analyzes the physics of the famous 1940 Frisch–Peierls memorandum, which examined the possibility of creating a nuclear weapon utilizing a fast-neutron chain reaction with uranium-235. While Frisch and Peierls’ estimate of the critical mass was far too low, their analysis was fundamentally sound. I also survey the role of the memorandum in the overall history of wartime nuclear developments, and its prescient predictions of aspects of the Cold War.
Copyright comment Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2024. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
