Enrico Fermi, The First Atomic Reactor Designer

He graduated with a brilliant and received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Pisa before reaching age twenty-one years. He was, Enrico Fermi, the first atomic reactor designer, born in 1901 in Rome, Italy. By the age of twenty-six years he had become a full professor at the University of Rome. And in the meantime he had published the main working paper, relating to one branch of physics
that are difficult and deep-called "quantum statistics." In this paper, the Fermi developed a theory of the statistics used to describe the behavior of particles in the union of a large number of separate, species now referred to the "fermions." Because the electrons, protons and neutrons - three "cluster building" which consists of ordinary objects - all of which "fermions." Fermi's theory has very important meaning for science. This opens the possibility Statemennya we have a better understanding of the principal nucleus, the degradation behavior of an object (such as occurs in similar sections in certain stars), and the elements contained from metal properties. This is clearly a subject matter that has a lot to.

Fermi in 1933 to formulate a theory about the "decline beta" (a kind of radioactivity) which relates the first quantitative discussion about the "neutrino and weak interaction," two important topics in today's world of physics. Such investigations, although not easy to understand layman, placing one Fermi as a leading physicist in the world. However, the results of Fermi's most important works not yet emerged.

1932, an English physicist, James Chadwick, has managed to find a name subatomis particles: neutrons. Starting from the year 1934, Fermi continued flow by sending a high-speed particles of atoms with neutrons. Experiments show that many types of atoms capable of absorbing the neutrons, and in many cases the atoms resulting from the conversion of this kind containing nuclear radioactive.

People are supposed to expect that it would be much easier for neutron seeped into the main part of the atom when a neutron moving at high speed. However, Fermi's experiment shows the opposite of that. That is, when the fast neutrons used in a way dipelankan make him pass through the "paraffin" or water, he can be more readily absorbed by the atoms. This discovery is very important in use in the field of nuclear reactor development. Materials used in reactors to make slow moving neutrons known as "moderator."

In 1938, Fermi important investigation of neutron absorption makes it obtained the Nobel Prize in physics. However, it coincided with him having trouble in Italy. First, Jewish Fermi's wife, while the Fascist government in Italy issued a number of laws that anti-Jewish tone. Second, Fermi was a staunch anti-fascist berfaham, a very dangerous attitude at the time under the Italian dictator Mussolini. In December 1938, when he went to Strockholm to receive the Nobel Prize, he did not return to Italy, but went to New York. Karuan course, Colombia University prance be one of the experts that the greatest scientists in the world. Not thinking, Fermi immediately available position. Fermi became American citizen in 1944.

In early 1939, reported by Lise Meitner, Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann that the absorption of neutrons sometimes causes the uranium atoms to be separated. When this report breaking news, Fermi (as well as some leading physicists) soon realized that pisahnya separate uranium atoms can release enough neutrons to start the chain reaction. Furthermore, Fermi (also with other physicists) immediately see and imagine that the military potential can be produced by this chain reaction. By the month of March in 1939, Fermi had contacted the United States Navy and tried to attract their attention in the fabrication of atomic weapons. However, only a few months later, after Albert Einstein wrote a letter about it to President Roosevelt, then the United States government concerned with atomic energy.

Once the United States government interest, the duties of the foremost scientists are developing a prototype tool to monitor the release of atomic energy to see whether the chain reaction that could survive alone can truly accountable. Because a scientist Enrico Fermi and authorities weighing in Happenings neutrons, and because he has combined both theory and practical talents experiments, he was appointed head of the group to try to build the first atomic reactor in the world. First he worked at the University of Colombia, and then at the University of Chicago. In this Chicago, dated December 2, 1942, it completed nuclear reactor designed and built to work under the supervision of Fermi. This is really a first round of the atomic era, because for the first time in human history people managed to create a nuclear chain reaction. Successful experiment was soon sent to the east with the magic words, but contain hidden images, "the Italian navigator has set foot in the new world." After the successful event of this experiment, it was decided to rush forward as quickly as possible through the so-called "Manhattan Project." Fermi continued decisive role in the project as a prominent expert adviser.

After the war, Fermi became professor at the University of Chicago. He died in 1954, Fermi and two children to marry. Chemical element number 100, "Fermium," called his name as a mark of respect.

Fermi is an important person judging from the various causes and directions. First, no doubt he was the greatest scientist in the 20th century and one of the few famous people who either as theorist and experimentalist. There is very little scientific work outlined in this book, but Fermi is already written more than 200 scientific articles during his career.

Second, Fermi was a very important figure in terms of fabrication of the atomic bomb, although some other people grasp the role of equal importance in the job.

However, the importance of Fermi terpokok stemmed primarily on the role that he holds in the case of the discovery of atomic reactors. Obviously Fermi shares in this connection. He gave a decisive contribution to the theory, and he watched its design and development as well as the first reactor.

Since 1945, there was no atomic bomb used in warfare, but a large number of nuclear reactors built for generating energy for peaceful purposes. Reactors would have seemed even more important meaning in the future. Moreover, several reactors are used for radio memprodusir useful isotopes, which are used in the field of medical and scientific investigation. Reactor also - and more frightening - a source of "Plutonium," the main ingredient (substance) that can be used to make atomic weapons. There is understandable fear that nuclear reactors could be catastrophic for humanity, but no one thinks that the discovery bagatelle. Whether for good or for bad, Fermi's work will have broad impact in the future. Michael H. Hart,One hundred most influential figures in the history.