A physicists guide to The Los Alamos Primer. (12th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reed, B Cameron
• Is Part Of: Physica scripta. Volume 91:Number 11(2016:Nov.)
• Publication Date: 2016-10-12
• Subjects: Manhattan Project -- Los Alamos Primer -- Robert Serber -- nuclear weapons; Physics -- Periodicals; 530.05
• DOI: 10.1088/0031-8949/91/11/113002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0031-8949

Abstract

Abstract: In April 1943, a group of scientists at the newly established Los Alamos Laboratory were given a series of lectures by Robert Serber on what was then known of the physics and engineering issues involved in developing fission bombs. Serber's lectures were recorded in a 24 page report titled The Los Alamos Primer, which was subsequently declassified and published in book form. This paper describes the background to the Primer and analyzes the physics contained in its 22 sections. The motivation for this paper is to provide a firm foundation of the background and contents of the Primer for physicists interested in the Manhattan Project and nuclear weapons.