The Chicago Piles unearthed

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Physics and Engineering
• Historical Scientific Instruments
• Computational Science

Background:

• The Chicago Pile 1 (CP-1) initiated the nuclear age in 1942 as the first nuclear reactor.
• CP-1 was dismantled and rebuilt as Chicago Pile 2 (CP-2), which operated until 1954.
• Despite their historical significance, detailed characterization of CP-1 and CP-2 has been lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create detailed 3D digital twins of CP-1 and CP-2.
• To computationally analyze the design and materials of these pioneering nuclear reactors.
• To provide a comprehensive characterization of these historically significant artifacts.

Main Methods:

• Utilized TRIPOLI-4, a Monte Carlo particle transport code.
• Aggregated data from published and unpublished Manhattan Project documents.
• Developed fully detailed three-dimensional digital models of CP-1 and CP-2.

Main Results:

• Simulation results accurately reproduced available experimental measurements.
• The digital twins provide insights into the neutron chain reaction feasibility.
• Shed light on the early development and characteristics of fuel and moderator materials.

Conclusions:

• The digital reconstruction of CP-1 and CP-2 offers a detailed understanding of their design and function.
• This work addresses the historical gap in characterizing these pivotal nuclear artifacts.
• The findings contribute to the understanding of early nuclear reactor development and material science.