Otto Frisch was an Austrian-British physicist who made significant contributions in the field of nuclear physics. He was born on October 1, 1904, in Vienna, Austria, and died on September 22, 1979, in Cambridge, England.
Frisch is best known for his collaboration with his aunt, Lise Meitner, in the discovery of nuclear fission. In 1938, together with Meitner, Frisch successfully explained the process of nuclear fission, which is the splitting of an atomic nucleus into two or more smaller nuclei accompanied by the release of a large amount of energy. This breakthrough had far-reaching implications for the understanding of nuclear reactions and energy production, ultimately leading to the development of nuclear power and nuclear weapons.
Beyond his work on nuclear fission, Frisch also made important contributions to other areas of nuclear physics. He conducted research on neutron moderation, nuclear reactions, and particle physics, making valuable contributions to the scientific community.
Due to the rise of Nazism in Austria, Frisch, being of Jewish descent, was forced to flee to the United Kingdom in 1938. He continued his scientific work at institutions such as the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge, where he collaborated with other prominent physicists.
Otto Frisch's contributions to nuclear physics have had a lasting impact on the field, and his discoveries continue to shape our understanding of atomic energy and its various applications.
