Katharine Way, John Wheeler, and the Dawn of Nuclear Fission
Katharine Way, supervised by John A. Wheeler, contributed to early nuclear fission exploration. Wheeler's reflections on her work and personal tragedies influenced his scientific approach, evident in ongoing research.
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Katharine Way, the first Ph.D. supervised by John A. Wheeler at the University of North Carolina, played a significant role in the early exploration of nuclear fission. Despite limited scholarly attention to her work, Way's research on rotating nuclei using the liquid drop model hinted at the possibility of nuclear fission before its formal discovery. Wheeler's reflections on this "missed opportunity" were influenced by personal tragedies during World War II. Further insights into Way's life and post-war contributions, such as the Nuclear Data Project, can be gleaned from Wheeler's archival collections. Wheeler's ongoing fascination with nuclear fission, even in his later work on black holes, underscores the impact of this early research on his scientific approach. A forthcoming paper will delve deeper into Way's legacy, encouraging continued exploration of her scientific endeavors and personal connections within the APS Library's extensive resources.
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