Page 23 - Neutrons for Sciences and Society

In 1956 a new CEA research site designated the Centre d’Etudes Nucléaires de Grenoble (CENG) was created at Grenoble. Louis Néel was the originator of this laboratory, understanding the
link of neutrons and of magnetic
structures, and wishing to develop
a nuclear engineering section
within the Institut polytechnique de
Grenoble (IPG). He became the first
director of the CENG. From 1958 the first reactor Mélusine with initially 1 MW power entered operation. It was followed by Siloé in 1963. The 35 MW power could be used to study both atomic and magnetic structures. Felix Bertaut (Fig. 1.6), director of a crystallographic laboratory of the CNRS, was involved with these studies. This strong interlinking of the CENG and the laboratories of the CNRS and university was typical of the originality of the Grenoble site as distinct from Saclay. This intimate connection was enhanced by the fact that Louis Néel was at the same time director of the CNRS Magnetism laboratory (to which was attached Bertaut’s laboratory), of the INPG, and of the CENG.
1.1.2 In Germany
An atomic weapons project was initiated during the war, however the first attempts to construct a reactor failed16. The attempt was finally abandoned in favour of the development of the V1 and
16 The graphite employed was not sufficiently pure and Germany had no heavy water.
Chapter 1 - Pre-history
Fig. 1.6: Erwin Felix LEVY- BERTAUT
14