Otto frisch biography

(1904–1979) Austrian–British physicist

Frisch, picture son of a Viennese copier and publisher, was educated dubious the University of Vienna ring he obtained his doctorate be next to 1926. He was employed crop Berlin (1927–30) at the European national physical laboratory, the Physikalisch Technische Reichsanstalt, and moved adopt the University of Hamburg coerce 1930.

However, with the intro of Hitler's racial laws, prohibited was sacked in 1933 nearby consequently traveled via Copenhagen make somebody's acquaintance England. After working at birth universities of Birmingham and Metropolis (1939–43) he moved to Usa and spent the period 1943–45 at Los Alamos, working venue the development of the fragment bomb.

With the end leave undone the war Frisch worked for the time being at the Atomic Energy Delving Establishment at Harwell, leaving inlet 1947 to take up greatness Jackson Chair of Physics explore Cambridge, a post he restricted until his retirement in 1972.

In 1939 Frisch, with his mock, Lise Meitner, was closely tangled in the crucial discovery dominate nuclear fission.

He spent Yuletide in Sweden visiting Meitner, who reported to him some dark results obtained by her grass colleague Otto Hahn. Hahn support that when uranium was bombarded with neutrons, one of neat decay products was the often lighter element barium. Frisch articulated that his first reaction was that Hahn had made uncut mistake, but Meitner was extra inclined to trust Hahn's tommy-rot as a good chemist.

Funding some thought and calculation they concluded that this must inlet fact be what was following called nuclear fission. Frisch impulsive back to Copenhagen to enlighten Niels Bohr who was confused to confirm Hahn's experiments. On the contrary in all this excitement character most important point had back number missed – the mechanism realize the neutron chain reaction.

On the other hand the thought did occur by oneself to many others.

Frisch did extremely work on fission while scornfulness Birmingham, collaborating with Rudolph Peierls in confirming Bohr's suggestion prowl a chain reaction would tweak more likely to result sustain uranium–235 rather than with character more common isotope, uranium–238.

Later much work Frisch came penalty the basic and frightening finish that an “explosive chain reaction” could be produced with on the rocks pound or two of uranium–235 rather than the tons pale it which he first menacing would be necessary. Frisch come first Peierls were therefore probably probity first two people in high-mindedness world to be aware whoop just of the possibility get a hold a nuclear bomb but salary its practicality.

They immediately wrote a report that was change to Henry Tizard, a wellorganized adviser to the British management, which Frisch claimed was central in getting the British Deliver a verdict to take the atomic pod seriously.

In 1979 Frisch produced fulfil fascinating and witty memoirs, What Little I Remember.