Louis Slotin

Louis Slotin (1 December 1910 – 30 May 1946) was a Canadian physicist and chemist who played a key role in the Manhattan Project, the United States' endeavor during World War II to develop nuclear weapons. Slotin is best known for his criticality accident on 21 May 1946, which led to his death nine days later, marking the first such fatal incident in history. His work and tragic accident have been significant in the study of nuclear safety, leading to the establishment of stricter safety protocols in nuclear research and handling of radioactive materials.

Early Life and Education

Louis Slotin was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, to a family of Jewish immigrants from Russia. He demonstrated an early interest in science, leading him to pursue a degree in Physics at the University of Manitoba. After completing his undergraduate studies, Slotin received a scholarship to study at King's College London, where he earned his doctorate in Physical Chemistry.

Career

After completing his education, Slotin conducted research in radiation and nuclear chemistry, which eventually led him to join the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. There, he worked on the critical assembly of plutonium cores, which were essential components of nuclear weapons. Slotin's expertise in handling radioactive materials was crucial in the assembly of the "Gadget," the first nuclear device tested at the Trinity test site in July 1945.

The Criticality Accident

On 21 May 1946, while demonstrating a procedure known as "tickling the dragon's tail" – manually bringing two hemispheres of a plutonium core close together to reach a critical mass – Slotin's screwdriver slipped, causing the hemispheres to come too close and initiating a critical reaction. Despite his quick reaction to separate the hemispheres and terminate the reaction, Slotin absorbed a lethal dose of radiation. He died nine days later, on 30 May 1946, from acute radiation syndrome.

Legacy

Louis Slotin's accident had profound implications for nuclear safety protocols. It highlighted the dangers of manual criticality experiments and led to the development of remote handling techniques for radioactive materials. Slotin's death, along with that of his colleague Harry Daghlian (who died from a similar accident months earlier), underscored the need for stringent safety measures in nuclear research and handling.

In Popular Culture

Slotin's life and tragic accident have been depicted in various forms of media, including films, plays, and literature, often highlighting the human cost of nuclear weapons development and the importance of safety in scientific research.

See Also

• Manhattan Project
• Criticality accident
• Nuclear safety
• Harry Daghlian