Hans Bethe

Hans Albrecht Bethe (pronounced Bay-tuh; July 2, 1906 – March 6, 2005), was a German-American physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics for 1967 for his discovery of stellar nucleosynthesis. During World War II, he was head of the Theoretical Division at the secret Los Alamos laboratory developing the first atomic bombs. His team worked out the critical mass of uranium-235 necessary to sustain the fission reaction that would enable the bomb to explode.

Related Topics:
July 2 - 1906 - March 6 - 2005 - German - American - Physicist - Nobel Prize in Physics - 1967 - Stellar nucleosynthesis - World War II - Los Alamos - Atomic bomb - Critical mass - Uranium-235 - Fission

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The first atomic bomb was detonated at the Trinity site in the Jornada del Muerto Desert, southwestern United States, on 16 July 1945. Witnessing it, Bethe claimed concern only for the smooth running of the test and was not concerned with the implications for the world. "I am not a philosopher," he explained. He also played an important role in the development of the larger hydrogen bomb in the early 1950s. Bethe later campaigned together with Albert Einstein in the Emergency Committee of Atomic Scientists against nuclear testing and the nuclear arms race. He influenced the White House to sign the ban of atmospheric nuclear tests in 1963 and Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (SALT I) in 1972.

Related Topics:
Trinity site - Jornada del Muerto Desert - Southwestern United States - 16 July - 1945 - Philosopher - Hydrogen bomb - 1950s - Albert Einstein - Emergency Committee of Atomic Scientists - Nuclear testing - Nuclear arms race - White House - Ban of atmospheric nuclear tests - 1963 - Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty - SALT I - 1972

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