Journal 135 – Julius Robert Oppenheimer – the father of atomic bomb

Julius Robert Oppenheimer, 1904-1967, was a next well known American physicist with Jewish roots. Robert’s father, Julius, emigrated from Germany when he was at the age 17. J.R. Oppenheimer was only 4 years older than E. Teller. Oppenheimer died at the age 63.
Oppenheimer is known as the father of the atomic bomb. Oppenheimer was chosen to head the team of physicists working on the project, and he played a key role in solving theoretical problems of the bomb. From 1942 to 1945, he directed the Manhattan Project, the United States government’s program to build the first atomic bomb. From 1947 to 1952, Oppenheimer headed the advisory of the newly formed United States Atomic Energy Commission. In 1953, Oppenheimer’s loyalty to the United States was questioned. It led to an investigation by an AEC security panel. It is true, that Oppenheimer initiated opposition to the development of the hydrogen bomb. Unfortunately, he did it with his past associations with Communists.
Finally, the panel cleared Oppenheimer of all charges of disloyalty. However, he was destitute access to secret information. In 1963, Oppenheimer received the highest honor, the Enrico Fermi Award for his contributions to theoretical physics. Many people considered this as an effort by the government to correct a tragic mistake.
Oppenheimer was a talented man. He graduated from Harvard University in 1925, after three years of study. In 1927, Oppenheimer received his Ph.D. from the University of Gottingen in Germany. E. Teller had received his Ph.D. Oppenheimer was on the faculty of the University of California at Berkeley from 1929 to 147. There, he established a leading center for research in theoretical physics. He also taught at the California Institute of Technology; he served as director of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, from1947 to 1966. Julius R. Oppenheimer died on February 18, 1967.