- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- March 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780226816647
- eISBN:
- 9780226816661
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of Chicago Press
- DOI:
- 10.7208/chicago/9780226816661.003.0003
- Subject:
- History, History of Science, Technology, and Medicine
This chapter shows Bruno Pontecorvo's pioneering contributions to wartime research in nuclear physics, illustrating how they propelled industrial and military endeavors. Pontecorvo had become one of ...
More
This chapter shows Bruno Pontecorvo's pioneering contributions to wartime research in nuclear physics, illustrating how they propelled industrial and military endeavors. Pontecorvo had become one of the most prominent scientists in the Western nuclear research establishment. His presence in the Soviet Union was far more problematic than what a few government officials led the public believe. Pontecorvo's recent work on neutron well logging had caused him to consider the interaction of neutrons and hydrogen-baring or fissionable substances. The development of innovative counters marked a progress in the neutron well logging program. Pontecorvo's expertise in nuclear geophysics helped him in shaping trajectories of nuclear reactor research, which in turn allowed the beginning of a research program on neutrinos that eventually fed into both neutron well logging and pile physics.Less
This chapter shows Bruno Pontecorvo's pioneering contributions to wartime research in nuclear physics, illustrating how they propelled industrial and military endeavors. Pontecorvo had become one of the most prominent scientists in the Western nuclear research establishment. His presence in the Soviet Union was far more problematic than what a few government officials led the public believe. Pontecorvo's recent work on neutron well logging had caused him to consider the interaction of neutrons and hydrogen-baring or fissionable substances. The development of innovative counters marked a progress in the neutron well logging program. Pontecorvo's expertise in nuclear geophysics helped him in shaping trajectories of nuclear reactor research, which in turn allowed the beginning of a research program on neutrinos that eventually fed into both neutron well logging and pile physics.
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- March 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780226816647
- eISBN:
- 9780226816661
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of Chicago Press
- DOI:
- 10.7208/chicago/9780226816661.003.0008
- Subject:
- History, History of Science, Technology, and Medicine
This chapter emphasizes Bruno Pontecorvo's career after his flight, and also reviews the proliferation of accounts of his antics in espionage literature. The new accounts of the atom spy Pontecorvo ...
More
This chapter emphasizes Bruno Pontecorvo's career after his flight, and also reviews the proliferation of accounts of his antics in espionage literature. The new accounts of the atom spy Pontecorvo helped to alert public opinion about the paucity of security regulations and the need to tighten them. His presence in Moscow made atomic scientists eager to get restricted information on anything he knew about atomic energy. There was a connection between Pontecorvo's presence in Russia and with the Soviets' attempts to learn more about how to find uranium. The analysis of developments in neutron well logging verified the importance of his research on prospecting problems. Ronald Reed concluded that the hypothesis that Pontecorvo was a spy could be made, but that there was not sufficient evidence to support it.Less
This chapter emphasizes Bruno Pontecorvo's career after his flight, and also reviews the proliferation of accounts of his antics in espionage literature. The new accounts of the atom spy Pontecorvo helped to alert public opinion about the paucity of security regulations and the need to tighten them. His presence in Moscow made atomic scientists eager to get restricted information on anything he knew about atomic energy. There was a connection between Pontecorvo's presence in Russia and with the Soviets' attempts to learn more about how to find uranium. The analysis of developments in neutron well logging verified the importance of his research on prospecting problems. Ronald Reed concluded that the hypothesis that Pontecorvo was a spy could be made, but that there was not sufficient evidence to support it.
