"Igor Vasilevich (Kurchatov), do you know why we were summoned here?" As soon as quantum physicist Abraham Alikhanov walked into the conference room, he saw Kurchatov, who was also a physicist. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

"Abraham Isakovich," Kurchatov said, calling Alikhanov by name and patronymic, frowning, "Actually, I don't know much. ”

"Then tell us everything you know, let's be mentally prepared."

At this moment, all the scientists present have their eyes on Kurchatov. Without their knowledge, they were picked up by "special" personnel, but these "reception staff" did not tell them anything, only that it was a state secret and that they would know it when they arrived at their destination.

"The National Defense Committee is about to start a physical science research program, so we experts in physics have been brought in.

However, this plan is a state secret, and I do not know the contents, and comrades from the National Defense Committee will come and introduce it to us later, and I hope that everyone will be mentally prepared. Kurchatov's remarks not only did not dispel the doubts of the experts, but also aroused their curiosity.

"The National Defense Committee?" Alikhanov, Terepov and other scientists seem to have found some clues, "They don't want us to develop weapons, right?" ”

"It should be," Fryorov walked in, taking down his pre-arranged position, "last week I wrote a letter to Comrade Stalin with the idea of developing a uranium bomb (atomic bomb). ”

Speaking of which, scientists probably know what they are going to do, that is, to use the principle of nuclear fission and chain reaction to develop a powerful weapon, using the huge energy generated by uranium in the fission chain reaction to cause huge damage to the target.

These theories are not unfamiliar to the scientists here. However, it will be quite difficult to apply these theories to military affairs.

"Comrades, hearing you say this, I think everyone should know what the general content of this plan is." At this time, a young voice came from the door of the conference room.

The person who spoke was none other than Manturov, vice chairman of the National Defense Committee, who was hailed as "the greatest builder of the Soviet Union."

Dressed in a black suit and wearing a pair of black-rimmed glasses, he looks like a young scholar. He has a young face, and since he changed into black-framed glasses, he has an elder-like atmosphere, and he looks a lot older.

Manturov was followed by his assistant, Maxim Dernov. Like his "boss", he also wears a black suit, but when he comes out of the Ministry of Defense, he is relatively strong and looks like a model.

"Are you...... Comrade Manturov? Fryorov recognized Manturov at a glance, after all, Manturov had been in the newspaper many times, and it was normal to be recognized.

"Since the comrades already know my identity, then I won't introduce myself and go straight to the point." Manturov sat down on the chair and said: "Comrade Fryorov is right, we have invited you here to develop a bomb that uses uranium as one of the raw materials and applies the principles of nuclear fission and nuclear chain reaction.

Just a week ago, Comrade Fryorov wrote a letter to Comrade Stalin, stating that the United States and Germany, probably, had already begun work on the development of such a uranium bomb.

The theory of nuclear fission and chain reactions, I think everyone should be clear. When uranium fission splits into two or more atoms, such as krypton and palladium, it releases a certain amount of energy, as well as a certain number of neutrons.

When these neutrons hit other uranium-235, they trigger the fission of these uranium atoms, which in turn produce energy and neutrons, which in turn trigger the fission of more uranium elements, and so on.

This series of reactions will trigger a series of explosions, producing a huge amount of energy, estimated equivalent to 15,000 TNT equivalent, causing massive damage.

If the Germans had succeeded in developing such a weapon, it would have been very likely that the tide of the war would have been reversed. They will have the ability to cause massive destruction and mass casualties all at once.

If they really apply this weapon to the war against the Soviet Union, it is highly likely that they will cause large-scale damage to our country, easily killing millions of lives.

But now, there is no better way to stop the attack of this weapon than to develop our own uranium bomb, so we must complete the development of uranium bombs before the Germans. ”

As soon as Manturov finished speaking, the atmosphere in the conference room of the Academy of Sciences became quiet.

These scientists (with the exception of Fryorov) have not yet accepted this reality for a while. For them, the duty of scientists should be to benefit mankind, but now, the central government actually wants them to develop a weapon of mass destruction, which contradicts the principles of some scientists.

Manturov guessed from the looks of the scientists what they thought. "Comrades, I understand your current feelings. To be honest, I don't want such a mass destruction to appear in our world, which will pose a huge threat to the pattern of the world and the survival of mankind.

But now, do we have a choice? If we start developing uranium bombs now, I'm afraid we will be able to finish the development work before the Germans.

If we start a little later, I'm afraid we won't be able to catch up. At that time, the Germans will drop uranium bombs on our land, destroying city after city. When all the cities of our country are reduced to ruins, it will be too late for us to regret it! ”

Manturov's words struck a chord in the hearts of the scientists, who pondered for a moment, and finally took over the task of developing nuclear weapons one after another.

"Comrades, thank you for making the right decision at a time when the Motherland is facing great difficulties. Everything you do is for the sake of the motherland, it is just and moral, I hope you can remember that. ”

Manturov paused, then continued: "Now, I announce the official establishment of Laboratory No. 2, headed by Comrade Kurchatov, which is responsible for the development of uranium bombs, as well as nuclear reactors and other related technologies.

We have also arranged your place of work, which is in the Shokino district of Moscow, and there will be a special bus to take you there later.

There is a three-storey baroque building for you to use for the time being, and the laboratories, offices, meeting rooms and other rooms are still being set up for the time being, and it is believed that it will be ready for use in the near future. The vacant land in the vicinity has also been allocated to Laboratory 2, with an area of about 36,000 square meters, which will be used for the construction of nuclear reactors and other supporting facilities......"