Catalogue description Ministry of Aircraft Production and related bodies: Second World War Atomic Energy Research in Britain, Technical Reports

This series consists of a collection of technical reports describing various aspects of the research and development work in the field of atomic energy carried out in Britain during the years 1939-1945. The reports fall generally into two groups:

1. Descriptions of experimental and theoretical work undertaken by laboratories, including the Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, Birmingham University and the National Physical Laboratory. This covered nuclear physical studies, the development of analytical methods and investigations of the chemical and physical properties of uranium and its compounds.

2. Development work undertaken in industry aimed at the achievement of an industrial process for the production of high purity uranium metal.

Extensive work was also carried out on the development of methods for the separation of uranium isotopes, with supporting work on the manufacture and properties of uranium hexafluoride. This included the development of electrolytic cells for the production of fluorine; the study of fluorocarbon compounds to serve as lubricants; the development of instruments, particularly in relation to vacuum testing. Other reports discuss methods for separating heavy water from ordinary water and the extraction of thorium metal from its ores.

Some technical reports by the MAUD Committee are included.