The Gaseous Diffusion Method,the Uranium Enrichment and the Soviet Nuclear Industry,1945-1964
From 1945 to 1964,the Soviet Union established the uranium enrichment industry based on the gaseous diffusion method.German specialists successfully developed cartridge filters,which greatly increased the separation capacity of gaseous diffusion plants.Mechanical expert N.M.Sinev improved the wear-resistance of single-axis compressor bearings,which enabled the stable operation of the gaseous diffusion plant.Mathematician C.L.Sobolev and physicist Gustav Hertz designed an automatic control system,which was the first Soviet practice in the field of automatic control of complex systems.Chemist V.A.Karzavin solved the problem of spontaneous decomposition of uranium hexafluoride by improving the equipment of the diffusion plant,removing the last obstacle to industrial production of gaseous diffusion.The solution of the above-mentioned problems marked the Soviet Union's mastery of enriched uranium production capabilities.On the one hand,the Soviet Union's uranium enrichment research and development activity intensified the US-Soviet nuclear arms race.On the other hand,it promoted the development of the peaceful use of atomic energy and left a rich"nuclear legacy"for today's Russia.
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