Robert Oppenheimer Biography and Timeline

Gravitational Collapse

Publishes work with Snyder on continued gravitational contraction of massive stars.

Role range: 1904-1967

Manhattan Project

Oppenheimer is given the title "Coordinator of Rapid Rupture", specifically referring to the propagation of a fast neutron chain reaction in an atomic bomb

Manhattan Project

Groves appoints Oppenheimer to head the project's secret weapons laboratory

Manhattan Project

Robert Oppenheimer convenes a summer conference at the University of California, Berkeley to discuss the design of a fission bomb, Edward Teller brings up the possibility of a hydrogen bomb as a major point of discussion

Manhattan Project

Robert Oppenheimer convenes a summer conference at the University of California, Berkeley to discuss the design of a fission bomb, Edward Teller brings up the possibility of a hydrogen bomb as a major point of discussion

Project Y

At a meeting of the S-1 Executive Committee, it is decided that a centralized laboratory should be established to study fast neutrons, code-named "Project Y"

Manhattan Project

At a meeting of the S-1 Executive Committee, it is decided that a centralized laboratory should be established to study fast neutrons, code-named "Project Y"

Project Y

At a meeting of the S-1 Executive Committee, it is decided that a centralized laboratory should be established to study fast neutrons, code-named "Project Y"

Manhattan Project

Leslie Richard Groves appoints Robert Oppenheimer to coordinate the scientific research of the project at the "Site Y" laboratory

Site Y

Leslie Richard Groves appoints Robert Oppenheimer to coordinate the scientific research of the project at the "Site Y" laboratory

Manhattan Project

Groves and Oppenheimer visit Los Alamos, New Mexico and designate it as the location for "Site Y

Site Y

Groves and Oppenheimer visit Los Alamos, New Mexico and designate it as the location for "Site Y

Manhattan Project

Groves appoints Oppenheimer to head the project's secret weapons laboratory. Theorists Hans Bethe, John Van Vleck, Edward Teller, Felix Bloch, Emil Konopinski, Robert Serber, Stanley S. Frankel, and Eldred C.

Manhattan Project

Nelson (the latter three all former students of Oppenheimer) quickly confirm that a fission bomb is feasible.

Manhattan Project

Oppenheimer and Robert Serber of the University of Illinois work on the problems of neutron diffusion (how neutrons moved in the chain reaction) and hydrodynamics (how the explosion produced by the chain reaction might behave). Arthur Compton asks theoretical physicist J.

Manhattan Project

Robert Oppenheimer convenes a summer conference at the University of California, Berkeley to discuss the design of a fission bomb, Edward Teller brings up the possibility of a hydrogen bomb as a major point of discussion.

Manhattan Project

Robert Oppenheimer of the University of California, Berkeley to take over research on fast neutron calculations-key to calculations about critical mass and weapon detonation

Manhattan Project

The scientific research is directed by American physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer

Manhattan Project

The scientific research is directed by American physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer

Role range: 1939-1945

University of California Los Alamos Contract

A contract is concluded with the University of California to manage Los Alamos administration, procurement and payroll.

First Los Alamos Nuclear Physics Experiment

Los Alamos begins its first nuclear-physics experiment, measuring plutonium-239 fission-neutron yield and marking the laboratory's transition into active experimental work.

Kistiakowsky Recruitment Proposal

Oppenheimer proposes recruiting explosives expert George Kistiakowsky to strengthen the expanding implosion programme.

Manhattan Project

Construction begins for the first reactor at the Hanford Site

Manhattan Project

Project W-47, later called Project Alberta set up to plan delivery of the bomb

Project Alberta

Project W-47, later called Project Alberta set up to plan delivery of the bomb

Project W-47

Project W-47, later called Project Alberta set up to plan delivery of the bomb

Manhattan Project

Project W-47, later called Project Alberta set up to plan delivery of the bomb

Project Alberta

Project W-47, later called Project Alberta set up to plan delivery of the bomb

Role range: 1939-1945

Thin Man

Development efforts were directed to a plutonium gun-type fission weapon called "Thin Man"

Plutonium Gun Abandoned

Oppenheimer informs the Los Alamos staff that reactor plutonium's neutron background makes the plutonium gun design impractical and implosion must become the priority.

Trinity Test Site Approval

Oppenheimer approves plans to conduct the first full-scale bomb test in the Jornada del Muerto area of the Alamogordo Bombing Range.

Manhattan Project

Successful test of explosive lens for Fat Man

Fat Man

Successful test of explosive lens for Fat Man

Manhattan Project

Successful test of explosive lens for Fat Man

Final Plutonium Bomb Design Meeting

A senior design meeting fixes the plutonium bomb approach around a solid core, explosive lenses, electric detonators and a modulated neutron initiator.

Manhattan Project

Second meeting of the Target Committee, at Los Alamos, which works to finalize the list of cities on which atomic bombs may be dropped

Bombing of Japan

Second meeting of the Target Committee, at Los Alamos, which works to finalize the list of cities on which atomic bombs may be dropped

Manhattan Project

Second meeting of the Target Committee, at Los Alamos, which works to finalize the list of cities on which atomic bombs may be dropped

Target Committee

Second meeting of the Target Committee, at Los Alamos, which works to finalize the list of cities on which atomic bombs may be dropped

Scientific Panel Use Recommendation

The Interim Committee's Scientific Panel reports that it sees no technical demonstration likely to end the war and no acceptable alternative to direct military use.