dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaPhysicists and the 1945 Decision to Drop the Bomb
| Authors | Nina Byers |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0210058 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0210058 |
| Journal | CERNCour.42N9:28739,2002 |
Abstract
In 1943 fear that the German war machine might use atomic bombs was abating and among physicists another fear was taking its place - that of a postwar nuclear arms race with worldwide proliferation of nuclear weapons. Manhattan Project scientists and engineers began to discuss uses of nuclear energy in the postwar world. Niels Bohr, Leo Szilard, James A. Franck and others launched a concerted effort to lay groundwork for international control of the technology. Realizing the devastation nuclear weapons could cause and that they could be made and delivered much more cheaply than conventional weapons of the same power, they tried to persuade policy makers to take into account long range consequences of using atomic bombs and not base their decisions on short range military expediency alone. They met with little success. The scientists' main message, unheeded then and very relevant now, is that worldwide international agreements are needed to provide for inspection and control of nuclear weapons technology. Their memoranda and reports remain as historic documents eloquently testifying to their concern.
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"abstract": "In 1943 fear that the German war machine might use atomic bombs was abating\nand among physicists another fear was taking its place - that of a postwar\nnuclear arms race with worldwide proliferation of nuclear weapons. Manhattan\nProject scientists and engineers began to discuss uses of nuclear energy in the\npostwar world. Niels Bohr, Leo Szilard, James A. Franck and others launched a\nconcerted effort to lay groundwork for international control of the technology.\nRealizing the devastation nuclear weapons could cause and that they could be\nmade and delivered much more cheaply than conventional weapons of the same\npower, they tried to persuade policy makers to take into account long range\nconsequences of using atomic bombs and not base their decisions on short range\nmilitary expediency alone. They met with little success. The scientists\u0027 main\nmessage, unheeded then and very relevant now, is that worldwide international\nagreements are needed to provide for inspection and control of nuclear weapons\ntechnology. Their memoranda and reports remain as historic documents eloquently\ntestifying to their concern.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0210058",
"authors": [
"Nina Byers"
],
"categories": [
"physics.hist-ph",
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],
"journal_ref": "CERNCour.42N9:28739,2002",
"title": "Physicists and the 1945 Decision to Drop the Bomb",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0210058"
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