Y-12 Electromagnetic Isotope Seperator
As the Manhattan project proceeded with the entry of the United States into WWII, three parallel U-235 purification techniques were worked on. Ernst Lawrence's UC Berkeley team analyzed separation by electromagnetics (like a mass spectrometer), while Eger Murphree and Jesse Wakefield Beams's Columbia team analyzed gaseous diffusion at Columbia University, and Philip Abelson researched thermal diffusion at the Carnegie Institution. These eventually led to the development of three plants at Oak Ridge: Lawrence's work led to the construction of the Y-12 plant, Murphree and Beam's work led to the creation of the K-25 plant, and Abelson's work led to the construction of the S-50 Plant. Y-12 required massive electromagnetic coils, which due to wartime shortages was replaced by 395 million Troy ounces of silver borrowed from the US Treasury Department. As all three plants faced problems during WWII, the purification steps were eventually staggered. Hence, the final uranium used in Little Boy dropped on Hiroshima had its final step purified at Y-12. Y-12 remains active and purifies uranium parts for every nuclear weapon in the US arsenal.
American Museum of Science and Energy, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Y-12 Electromagnetic Isotope Seperator
As the Manhattan project proceeded with the entry of the United States into WWII, three parallel U-235 purification techniques were worked on. Ernst Lawrence's UC Berkeley team analyzed separation by electromagnetics (like a mass spectrometer), while Eger Murphree and Jesse Wakefield Beams's Columbia team analyzed gaseous diffusion at Columbia University, and Philip Abelson researched thermal diffusion at the Carnegie Institution. These eventually led to the development of three plants at Oak Ridge: Lawrence's work led to the construction of the Y-12 plant, Murphree and Beam's work led to the creation of the K-25 plant, and Abelson's work led to the construction of the S-50 Plant. Y-12 required massive electromagnetic coils, which due to wartime shortages was replaced by 395 million Troy ounces of silver borrowed from the US Treasury Department. As all three plants faced problems during WWII, the purification steps were eventually staggered. Hence, the final uranium used in Little Boy dropped on Hiroshima had its final step purified at Y-12. Y-12 remains active and purifies uranium parts for every nuclear weapon in the US arsenal.
American Museum of Science and Energy, Oak Ridge, Tennessee