Thank you very much for your clarifications...I did a deeper dive into what you recounted.
Apparently, it was Oppenheimer who had a bet with another scientist and the bet was that the Trinity test would fail. Being that the plutonium implosion type of bomb was just designed and implemented, I would guess that there would be some doubt as to its initial success.
So the statement by Leahy may not have been an example of pompous poorly informed opinion. Or he may have thought that he was opinionating on the failed plutonium “gun-type” weapon.
It was Teller who believed it was possible that the chain reaction after the blast would ignite the atmosphere, and it was Oppenheimer who ran the calculation to show that the atmosphere was not dense enough to support that scenario.
The plutonium bomb was initially tested as a “gun-type” device similar to the uranium bomb. That turned out to be unfeasible. So the scientists had to design the plutonium implosion type. Which was more complicated and had to be tested.
I have read a few books on the Manhattan project but although they are good, they don’t get into the deep, technical details, also, it would seem that my memory failed me a bit here.
Again, thank you for your comments.
You should read a few more books.
Plutonium was unsuitable for gun type assembly due it it’s reactivity.
Never “tested” so never failed. Only thing tested was criticality that showed another method was needed to assemble a critical mass.
It’s tough to beat General Groves and “Now It Can Be Told”. Another good ‘un is “109 East Palace”.
Teller was actually bored with the conventional atomic physics at Los Alamos.
Even before the Trinity test accomplished, he was way out there and championing the “Super” bomb, or hydrogen weapon, to anyone who would listen. This caused a lot of problems, because he was getting everyone else off track during general discussions waxing eloquent about the possibilities of a fusion bomb.
Oppenheimer basically had to find something else for him to do, and keep him occupied, from being a distraction on everyone else.
It’s tough to beat General Groves and “Now It Can Be Told”. Another good ‘un is “109 East Palace”.
Teller was actually bored with the conventional atomic physics at Los Alamos.
Even before the Trinity test accomplished, he was way out there and championing the “Super” bomb, or hydrogen weapon, to anyone who would listen. This caused a lot of problems, because he was getting everyone else off track during general discussions waxing eloquent about the possibilities of a fusion bomb.
Oppenheimer basically had to find something else for him to do, and keep him occupied, from being a distraction on everyone else.