Enrico Fermi Biography and Timeline — Page 2

Recognition of Chain Reaction Possibility

Recognizes that uranium fission can release secondary neutrons and therefore may permit a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction.

Columbia University Professorship

Joins Columbia University as professor of physics and continues neutron research soon after arriving in the United States.

Uranium Graphite Lattice Experiments

Conducts increasingly large uranium and graphite lattice experiments to determine the neutron economy required for a chain-reacting pile.

Uranium Graphite Assemblies Tested

Fermi's group measured how uranium and graphite arrangements affected neutron losses and multiplication. The development expanded the tools available for subsequent innovation.

Exponential Pile Experiments

Uses subcritical exponential piles to estimate neutron multiplication and refine the design parameters needed for a full-scale nuclear reactor.

Subcritical Pile Measurements Guide Reactor

Research on exponential piles informed calculations for later self sustaining nuclear reactors. The work created a practical link between experimentation and infrastructure.

Chicago Pile-1 Criticality

Directs Chicago Pile-1 as it achieves the first controlled self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction beneath the stands of Stagg Field at the University of Chicago.

Chicago Pile Control System

Develops and supervises the control strategy for Chicago Pile-1 using neutron-absorbing rods to regulate the approach to criticality safely.

Chicago Pile Design

Directs the design of a graphite and uranium lattice whose geometry and purity are calculated to permit a controlled self-sustaining chain reaction.

Metallurgical Laboratory Work

Moves his reactor research to the Metallurgical Laboratory in Chicago and directs the experimental programme leading toward a critical pile.

Argonne Reactor Programme

Continues reactor research after Chicago Pile-1 by participating in the development of improved experimental piles at the Argonne site.

X-10 Reactor Consultation

Contributes scientific expertise to the reactor programme that leads to the X-10 Graphite Reactor used for plutonium-production development and training.

LOPO Reactor

Helps bring the LOPO reactor at Los Alamos to criticality, demonstrating an aqueous homogeneous reactor fueled with enriched uranium.

Role range: 1944-1944