FREE ESSAY ON THE FIRST REACTOR

THE FIRST REACTOR

The First Reactor
The First Reactor chronicles the conception and implementation of the first
self-sustaining nuclear pile. The booklet has three main sections to it. The first one
tells of the history and background of the organizations and research that were used for
the momentous experiment, as well as the actual proceedings that occurred on December 2,
1942. The second section is basically a brief synopsis of the first. The third section
documents part of Enrico Fermi's life and the secrecy surrounding his work, from his
wife's perspective.
Years of research went into the culmination of the first self-sustaining nuclear
reaction. Different preliminary experiments were done by many scientists to discover the
properties and intricacies of neutron production and interaction. All leading up to the
fateful day under the west stands of Stagg Field when the first successful
self-sustaining reaction occurred, or as they cleverly say in the booklet, 'The Italian
navigator has landed in the New World.' 
The secrets of the nuclear projects were closely guarded. So close in fact, that not even
Enrico's own wife was allowed to know. In the section written by her, telling of her
bewilderment, we get a sense of how strongly the classified information was kept from the
people who didn't need to know.