THE HUNGARIAN CENTRAL PHYSICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700200239-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 31, 2011
• Sequence Number: 239
• Publication Date: November 30, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700200239-3
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700200239-3
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700200239-3
STAT
THE HUNGARIAN CENTRAL PHYSICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Szabad Neo
Budapest, 5 Oct 54
In the Central Physical Research Institute, located in a quiet section
of Szabadsaghegy [a residential hill in Budapest), a large number of young
physicists are engaged in atomic research under the supervision of experienced
professors. The institute. has been in existence only a few years, but it has
already producea important scientific and practical results.
In outside ajpesran ce,, the institute resembles any other research institute.
The various departmeucs are houred in separate large buildings, and the surround-
ing area has been converted into a park. However, on entering any of the labo-
ratories, a diffe rent picture presents itself. The doors of the laboratories
of the atom physics department, for example, are painted white and can hardly
be opened by hand because they are lines with lead. The instruments are of
gigantic proportions. They are the electrostatic generators which are used
for nuclear transformation. These installations are the latest acquisition of
the institute; they were placed in operation only a few days ago.
The institute has various departments and laboratories which are engaged
in cracking the hard shell of the atom. The organizational arrangement of the
departments corresponds to the structure of the atom. The cosmic ray depart-
ment is engaged in proton, electron, and cosmic ray research. The.nuclear
physics department conducts research in nuclear transformation. The spectrc-
scopic laboratory investigates the atom as a whole and the electron shell
which surrounds the nucleus.
The cosmic ray laboratory, under the direction of Prof Lajos Janossy,
is equipped with an apparatus which intercepts cosmic ray particles. The
laboratory, the walls of which are painted black, utilizes only the fastest
particles for observation. It reproduces the cosmic showers which are produced
when cosmic ray particles score hits on and explode some atoms in the earth's
atmosphere. These explosions are produced in a chamber equipped with a glass
window which permits visual observation of the hits. The path and dispersion
of the particles are photographed with automatic cameras, and the pictures are
then examined by researchers.
The work of the men who operate the spectroscope is also very interesting.
The underground laboratory is equipped with spectrographic instruments, of which
only a few exist in Europe. The ordinary spectroscope, for example, produces
only 10-centime+..r bands. w fil1le the spectroscope of the institute produces 3-
meter bands. The spectro graph hasa great future in industry -- for example,
in determining the cmflos~t.Lon of molten steel in the casting ladle without lab-
oratory analysis.
Another group of researchers is engaged in the analysis of spectroscopic
absorption. This method was employed in analyzing the solution of 'white
mistletoe" (feher fagyongy), a medicine used for reducing high blood pressure.
Spectroscopic absorption analysis made the production of the white mistletoe
solution possible in Hungary.
In the cosmic ray department, artificial missiles (for example, the positive
ions of hydrogen atoms) are used for bombarding the atom. These missiles will
be produced in three generators, one of which is a cascade generator [see picture
below). A Van de Graaf generator and a so-called tank generator are currently
under construction. The Hungarian physicists proudly state that they are con-
structing the largest generator in competition with a similar installation in
tim Paris laboratory of Frederic Joliot-Curie.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700200239-3
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700200239-3
The walls of the laboratory which houses the generators are entirely smooth,
and the metal parts of the generators have been smoothed and polished to avoid
discharges resembling lightning. One of the porcelain legs is the cannon tube,
through which the missiles pass at a speed of tens of thousands of kilometers
per second. The missiles will be used for bombarding the atoms of gold, among
other things. Under the eftct C the bombardment the gold emits radioactive parti-
cles which leave a trace on the photographic plate. Other substances, too, can
be made radioactive. Consequently, if a radioactive substance enters the human
body its exact location can be determined by the camera.
The physicists and engineers of the institute designed their own instru-
ments. These instruments, which had previously been procured abroad, are now
being made in the workshop of the institute.
The High-Capacity Cascade Generator of the Central Physical Research
Institutes
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000700200239-3