Samuel Theodore Cohen American nuclear physicist, inventor of the W70 warhead Date of Birth: 25.01.1921 Country: USA

1. Samuel Cohen: The Father of the Neutron Bomb
2. Early Life and Education
3. The Manhattan Project and the Neutron Bomb
4. Advocacy and Controversy
5. Legacy and Death

Samuel Cohen: The Father of the Neutron Bomb

Samuel Cohen was an American nuclear physicist most renowned for his invention of the W70 warhead, also known as the neutron bomb. This weapon, designed to maximize human casualties while minimizing damage to structures, is widely considered one of the most inhumane in existence. However, Cohen asserted his creation was "rational and moral."

Early Life and Education

Cohen was born on January 25, 1921, in Brooklyn, New York, to Lazarus and Jenny Cohen, Austrian Jewish immigrants. Despite his father's carpentry trade and his mother's strict health regimen, Cohen's childhood was marked by allergies, poor eyesight, and other health issues.

After moving to Los Angeles at age four, Cohen excelled as a student. He graduated from UCLA in 1943 with a degree in physics before joining the U.S. Army. He was sent to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for advanced training in physics and mathematics.

The Manhattan Project and the Neutron Bomb

Cohen's association with nuclear weapons began in 1944 when he worked on the Manhattan Project, analyzing the radioactivity of nuclear fission. He later contributed to the bomb dropped on Nagasaki in 1945.

In 1947, Cohen joined the RAND Corporation, a Santa Monica think tank. Over a decade later, he developed the neutron bomb while consulting for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The bomb's design enhanced the release of neutrons, capable of penetrating inanimate objects while killing living beings.

Advocacy and Controversy

Despite successful testing, Cohen's repeated appeals for the deployment of the neutron bomb, particularly during the Vietnam War, were ultimately rejected. He retired from RAND in 1969 but continued writing about the bomb in publications such as The Washington Post and The New York Times.

Cohen's advocacy for nuclear weapons drew criticism from both the scientific community and the public. However, his memoirs, "Shame: Confessions of the Father of the Neutron Bomb," published online in 2000, shed light on his perspectives on the moral implications of his invention.

Legacy and Death

Samuel Cohen died on November 28, 2010, at age 89, from complications following surgery for stomach cancer. His legacy remains a subject of debate, with proponents arguing for the potential deterrent value of the neutron bomb while opponents condemn its inhumane nature.