fission: 60th anniversary

[griff38]

Prometheus' gift of fission

A sonnet commemorating the 60th anniversary of the first laboratory-induced nuclear chain reaction.

 

PROMETHEUS

In Fermi's first reacting pile black bricks

Of graphite slugged with uranium

Were stacked to trick the laws of physics

With simple geometrics: Neutrons released

From fission diffused through radii

And slowed towards the surface of an orb

Sized so more neutrons found nuclei

To fission than surface to escape from;

Cadmium rods were inserted to absorb

Multiplying neutrons until the last

Layer of brick was laid -- then the rods

Were removed and the pile went critical,

Another theft from hypothetical gods

Of energy from the fuel of the physical.