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Orion Drive
> Stanislaw Ulam
Stanislaw Ulam
Stanislaw Marcin Ulam
(April 13,
1909
–
May 13,
1984)
was a Polish mathematican.
He made important contributions in mathematics, including in the areas of
algebraic topology, ergodic theory, number theory and set theory,
as well in physics, especially nuclear physics and the study of
dynamical systems. He may also have been the first person
to propose the idea
of a technological singularity;
in
1958,
the year after John von Neumann's death, Ulam described
a conversation that the two of them had once had on this topic.
Ulam contributed to the Manhattan Project,
and together with Edward Teller proposed the
Teller-Ulam design for thermonuclear weapons
(known publically for 30 years as the "Teller-Ulam H-bomb secret").
Although Edward Teller is often popularly know as the father of the H-bomb,
according to the German-American physicist and Nobel laureate, Hans Albrecht Bethe,
(who also worked on the project), it would be more accurate to say that
"Ulam is the father, because he provided the seed, and Teller is the mother, because he remained with the child."
(The exact contributions of Ulam of Edward Teller,
and how the Teller-Ulam design was arrived at,
has been a matter of public and private dispute since the 1950s).
Stanislaw Ulam was the first person to conceive of external nuclear
pulse propulsion, which is of course the basic idea behind Project Orion. Apparently
he began to think about using atomic bombs as a means of propulsion, the day
after the Trinity atomic bomb test in
1945,
and had thought of the idea of external nuclear pulse propulsion by
1946.
At the end of his life, Ulam declared that this was the invention of which he was
most proud.
Here are some books by Stanislaw Ulam:
By Stanislaw M Ulam
Scribner
Unknown Binding (317 pages)
| Lowest Used Price: $1.88
(As of 18:38 Pacific 6 Jan 2009 More Info)
Click Here | Product Description:
The autobiography of mathematician Stanislaw Ulam, one of the great scientific minds of the twentieth century, tells a story rich with amazingly prophetic speculations and peppered with lively anecdotes. As a member of the Los Alamos National Laboratory from 1944 on, Ulam helped to precipitate some of the most dramatic changes of the postwar world. He was among the first to use and advocate computers for scientific research, originated ideas for the nuclear propulsion of space vehicles, and made fundamental contributions to many of today's most challenging mathematical projects. With his wide-ranging interests, Ulam never emphasized the importance of his contributions to the research that resulted in the hydrogen bomb. Now Daniel Hirsch and William Mathews reveal the true story of Ulam's pivotal role in the making of the "Super," in their historical introduction to this behind-the- scenes look at the minds and ideas that ushered in the nuclear age. An epilogue by Franoise Ulam and Jan Mycielski sheds new light on Ulam's character and mathematical originality. |
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By Stanislaw M Ulam
MIT Press
Unknown Binding (709 pages)
| Lowest Used Price: $24.86
(As of 18:38 Pacific 6 Jan 2009 More Info)
Click Here |
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Cambridge University Press
Paperback (320 pages)
| List Price: $27.95
Lowest New Price: $146.76
Lowest Used Price: $10.95
(As of 18:38 Pacific 6 Jan 2009 More Info)
Click Here | Product Description:
This explorative insight into the life and legacy of the famous Polish mathematician reveals his background and focuses on current research inspired by Stanislaw's vision. The text includes two pieces written by Stanislaw and personal conversations on John von Newmann and Paul Erdos. |
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By Various
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Paperback
| Lowest Used Price: $30.00
(As of 18:38 Pacific 6 Jan 2009 More Info)
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By Necia Grant (ed) Cooper
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Paperback
| Lowest Used Price: $19.00
(As of 18:38 Pacific 6 Jan 2009 More Info)
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By Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos National Lab, [Los Alamos, NM]
Paperback
| Lowest Used Price: $144.00
(As of 18:38 Pacific 6 Jan 2009 More Info)
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By Mark Kac and Stanislaw Ulam
Penguin Books Ltd
Paperback (208 pages)
| Lowest Used Price: $13.57
(As of 18:38 Pacific 6 Jan 2009 More Info)
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By George (1904-1968) Gamow
New York, Viking Press
Hardcover
| Lowest Used Price: $69.00
(As of 18:38 Pacific 6 Jan 2009 More Info)
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