A Study On Kurchatov And The Soviet Union Nuclear Program

The research object of this paper is I.V.Kurchatov,the "father of atomic bomb" of the Soviet Union.The time span is around 37 years,from Kurchatov’s starting of work in 1923 to his death in 1960.As for structure,this paper includes introduction,main body and conclusion.The introduction part presents the significance of the chosen topic,reviews the research status of Kurchatov at home and abroad,and introduces the research methods,writing ideas,innovations and shortcomings of this paper.The main body consists of seven chapters,which can be divided into two parts according to the content.The first part is Chapter 1,which mainly introduces Kurchatov’s early study experience and scientific research.Kurchatov’s work could be divided into two stages in this period.The first stage was from 1923 to 1933.Kurchatov successively studied the radioactivity of snow,hydrology,electrolysis,dielectric polarization,ferroelectrics and variable resistance technology(1933-1935).The second stage was from 1932 to1942.During this stage,his research direction began to turn to nuclear physics.After the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War,the Soviet Union’s nuclear physics research was interrupted and Kurchatov started to carry research work on military science in the army.Until the end of 1942,he was summoned to Moscow and entrusted with an important task.The second part includes six chapters from Chapter 2 to Chapter 7,which is the core part of this paper.It elaborates in detail Kurchatov’s main activities after the start of the Soviet Union’s nuclear program.Chapter 2 takes No.2 laboratory,the core institution of the Soviet Union’s nuclear program,as the theme.In the beginning,it introduces the initial situation of l No.2laboratory,and then in the main part,Kurchatov’s work in No.2 laboratory is elaborated,including five aspects.Firstly,introduce talents and manage administrative affairs.How Kurchatov set up the scientific research team of No.2 laboratory and how he managed the various administrative affairs of No.2 laboratory as the director are introduced.The latter can be divided into four directions: laboratory construction,formulation of rules and regulations,personnel transfer(including personnel transfer and business trip)and other daily work.Secondly,organize and lead scientific research.The three parts of work directly related to the Soviet Union’s nuclear program,namely uranium work,reactor construction and research on atomic bomb,which Kurchatov led and engaged in No.2 laboratory,are briefly introduced.Thirdly,construct the cyclotron.Kurchatov’s efforts in the construction of cyclotron to facilitate the research work of No.2 laboratory and the scientific development of the Soviet Union in the future are summarized.Fourthly,draft work plan and report.The work plans made by Kurchatov for No.2laboratory and the work reports submitted to the superior during his tenure as the director are canvassed.Last but not least,analyze nuclear intelligence.Kurchatov’s analysis,sorting and summary of nuclear intelligence during his stay in No.2 laboratory are reviewed.At the end of this chapter,the development of laboratory 2 from 1950 s till now is introduced.Chapter 3 mainly introduces Kurchatov’s work in nuclear intelligence analysis.The successful completion of the Soviet nuclear program is inseparable from the collection,analysis and application of nuclear intelligence.Benefitted by the wellorganized and efficient nuclear intelligence collection work,the Soviet Union was able to master a large amount of important nuclear intelligence before and during the nuclear program,which became the solid foundation for Kurchatov to carry out nuclear intelligence analysis.When analyzing nuclear intelligence,Kurchatov mainly paid attention to the following four aspects: isotope separation,reactor,atomic bomb and others.It is basically consistent with Kurchatov’s uranium work,reactor construction and research on atomic bomb manufacturing in the nuclear program.The intelligence analysis provides a lot of valuable information for the three parts of work mentioned above and saves the time and resources of the Soviet Union’s nuclear program,which also provides a reference for the decision-making of the Soviet leadership.Chapter 4 mainly introduces the uranium work Kurchatov led and participated in.Uranium work refers to the work directly related to uranium,such as the study of the nature of uranium,the acquisition of metallic uranium and isotope separation.It is the basis of the Soviet Union’s nuclear program.The uranium work led by Kurchatov was divided into the initial stage,which was the period before July 30 th,1943;development stage,which was from July 30 th 1943 till Aug 20 th,1945;and completion stage which was after August 20,1945.Two basic problems of the Soviet Union’s nuclear program were solved: the possibility of using atomic energy,and the acquisition of enough uranium for reactor construction and atomic bomb manufacturing.Chapter 5 mainly introduces the construction of uranium-graphite reactor which Kurchatov led and took part in.During the initial exploration of the Soviet Union’s nuclear program,the No.2 laboratory,under the lead of Kurchatov,determined two schemes of uranium-graphite reactor and uranium-heavy water reactor as the main direction of the Soviet Union’s reactor construction,and carried out scientific research on these two reactors at the same time.With the deepening of theoretical research,the shortage of uranium,high-purity graphite and heavy water seriously hindered the further development of reactor work.Kurchatov began to try to obtain these three key nuclear raw materials by various means.From 1945 to early 1946,due to the shortage of heavy water,and in comparison,the work related to uranium-graphite reactor progressed more smoothly,Kurchatov finally chose to give priority to the construction of uranium-graphite reactor.On December 25,1946,Kurchatov led the construction and launching of the experimental reactor Ф-1.Through Ф-1,three tasks were accomplished: the production of the first batch of plutonium,the testing of materials required by the 817 complex,and the understanding of the biological impact of the reactor radiation.Experimental reactor Ф-1 accumulated experience for the construction of industrial reactor A.on June 19,1948,Kurchatov launched industrial reactor A,which provided guarantee for the production of weapons-grade plutonium and became the foundation of the Soviet Union’s nuclear industry.Chapter 6 mainly introduces the role Kurchatov played in the research and development of Soviet nuclear weapons(including atomic bomb and hydrogen bomb).After the nuclear program began,Kurchatov led No.2 laboratory to start the research of atomic bomb.From the end of 1945 to the beginning of 1946,Kurchatov facilitated the establishment of the 11 th Design Institute and personally participated in the construction and scientific research of the 11 th Design Institute.Under the lead and with the efforts of Kurchatov,the Soviet Union successfully detonated its first atomic bomb and broke the nuclear monopoly of the United States.Later,Kurchatov participated in the research and development of new types of atomic bombs and hydrogen bombs.In the early 1950 s,he helped complete the tests of multiple types of atomic bombs and hydrogen bombs,promoting the completion of the Soviet Union nuclear program.Chapter 7 reviews Kurchatov’s efforts in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy.Kurchatov led the construction of nuclear power plant of the Soviet Union and proposed the construction of nuclear-powered icebreakers,establishment of a nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet,research on nuclear radiation applications,promotion on international cooperation in controlled thermonuclear fusion,assistance in nuclear research in China and Eastern European countries,and promotion in the development of international nuclear disarmament.Since the Soviet Union nuclear program is essentially a military product and the peaceful use of nuclear energy is a by-product of the program,the significance should not be exaggerated.Finally,the conclusion summarizes the full text,and evaluates Kurchatov in combination with the main content,the background and purpose of the Soviet Union nuclear program.