Fermi at Los Alamos and the early Britain's way to nuclear energy

TL;DR

This paper uncovers previously unknown documents from Fermi's 1945 Los Alamos course, highlighting their significance for Britain's independent nuclear energy development post-WWII, despite US restrictions.

Contribution

It introduces new historical documents and analyzes their impact on Britain's early nuclear program independent of US cooperation.

Findings

Discovered important Fermi course documents from 1945.

Documents reveal Britain's strategic move towards nuclear independence.

Supports the role of Chadwick in Britain's nuclear efforts.

Abstract

A novel recovery of some important documents related to the Fermi course on neutron physics, held at Los Alamos in 1945, is announced. Its relevance for the effective launch of a British nuclear programme in the early postwar period, independently of the U.S. technical cooperation (precluded by the American authorities) and warmly supported by Chadwick, is discussed.