The University of Chicago has recently announced the formation of an institute for the Study of Metals. The purpose of the Institute is to bring metallurgists, physicists and physical chemists together to work upon the fundamental problems in metals, combining the varied backgrounds, techniques, and ways of thinking of these professions toward the common goal of understanding the behavior of metals, the relation of this behavior their structure, and the mechanisms whereby the various types of structur e are obtained. Though the director of the Institute is a Metallurgist and the main effort will be in the direction of the field indicated by its name, research will be aimed at the basic understanding of the solid state in general.
Advances in metallurgy in the past have in a large degree resulted from careful observation of large masses of data and inspired guessing by people familiar with the behavior of metals. Only in rare instances has theory clearly designated more than a general direction or improvement. It is believed that in this Institute rapid advances will be made both in a scientific understanding of metals, and in the relation of this scientific knowledge to practical problems. Here, under one roof, are collected the talents and viewpoints of all three professions. While the theoretical leadership will come mainly from physicists, metallurgists will bring their techniques (which will be used in preparing research materials for the whole Institute) and a knowledg e of that vast reservoir of somewhat unassimulated data on structure and behavior of metals that constitutes modern metallurgy. The metallurgists will themselves undertake fields in which research on constitutionary structure, diffusion, phase transforma tions, grain growth, and similar fields in which a phenomenological approach must preced or accompany the strictly mathematical. Physical chemists will study reducation of reactions of metals with non-essential metals and the related thermodynamic sideli nes; analytical chemists will not only provide service, but will develop new methods of analysis involving spectrochemistry, radiochemical techniques, and others.
An important initial filed of research will be the deformation of metals, over the whole range from very small strains (anelasticity) to very large ones leading to fracture. Theories of resistance to deformation will be tested over a wide range of tem perature on whatever metal will most sensitively show the effect desired-a marked advantage over the customary course which uses the material most available.
Semi-conducators and superconductors, ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism are other fields selected by the staff for research at a early date. Problems of the structure of metallic phases (both of pure metals and of alloys), and the effect of deform ation on structure will be studied by the x-ray laboratory. Particular attention will be paid to transition structures in all types of transformation.
A cryogenic laboratory is being built for the study of superconductivity as well as for spectroscopic, thermal, magnetic, structural, and mechanical studies over a wide range of temperatures. Liquid helium is planned for the immediate future, with ext ensions to magnetic cooling in a few years.
Close relations will be maintained with the two other newly-formed research institutes at the University of Chicago, the Institute for Nuclear Studies and the Institute for Radiobiology and Biophysics. For example, neutron scattering in relation to cr ystal structure is to be investigated in cooperation with the former. Cooperation with the research staff in industrial concerns will be established. In particular, it is hoped that industrial research men will work in the Institute as visiting research associates and will attend conferences on various aspects of metallurgy, to be held from time to time.
The Institute will maintain close connections with the instructional activities of the university, but it is not intended to establish a separate Department of Metallurgy, and consequently, no degrees in metallurgy will be awarded. Students may, howev er, elect to do a thesis under a member of the Institute staff, but must meet all academic requirements for degrees awarded by the physics or chemistry departments. A number of post-doctoral research associateships are available for metallurgists, physic ists and others.
The laboratories of the Institute are at present housed in temporary quarters in the West Stands on Stagg Field--next to the spot made famous as the site of the first nuclear chain-reacting pile of 1942. A new research building is planned immediately adjacent to the present campus, which will house not only the Institute for the Study of Metals, but also the Institute of Nuclear Studies and the Institute of Radiobiology.
A total staff, including both academic and service personnel, of about fifty is planned for the near future, and it is expected the a full force of about one hundred will be employed at the time the permanent building is occupied. At present, the acad emic staff includes the following: J.E. Burke (formerly associated with Cornell University; International Nickel Co.; and Los Alamos); C.S. Barrett (Carnegie Institute of Technology); Simon Freed (University of Chicago); David Gurinsky (New York Universit y; Los Alamos); Lester Guttman (University of California; Los Alamos); Harold Hirsch (Stevens Institute; Los Alamos); T'ing sui Ke (Yenching University; University of California; Radiation Laboratory, M.I.T.); Earl A. Long (Ohio State University; Universi ty of California; University of Missouri; Los Alamos); Norman Nachtrieb (University of Chicago; Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company; Los Alamos); Adam Skapski (Jagiellonion University, Poland; Crakow Mining Academy); Cyril Stanley Smith (Massachusetts Institut e of Technology; American Brass Company; Los Alamos); John W. Stout (University of California; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Los Alamos); Francis T. Worrell (University of Pittsburgh; University of Tennessee; Radiation Laboratory, M.I.T.); Willia m H. Zachariasen (University of Chicago); and Clarence Zener (Washington State College; Watertown Arsenal).