atomic pile

• Früher gebräuchlicher Begriff für einen Kernreaktor, also eine Anlage, die eine kontrollierte, sich selbst erhaltende Kettenreaktion einleitet und steuert. Der Ausdruck war Mitte des 20. Jahrhunderts verbreitet und wurde später durch „Kernreaktor“ ersetzt.

An early term for a nuclear reactor, referring to a device that initiates and controls a sustained nuclear chain reaction. The term was commonly used in the mid-20th century but has since been replaced by 'nuclear reactor'.

1. Early nuclear reactorC1formal

   An early type of nuclear reactor, consisting of a pile of graphite blocks and uranium, used to produce a controlled nuclear chain reaction.

   Früher Kernreaktor

   • The first atomic pile was built under the stands of a football stadium.
   • Enrico Fermi's atomic pile achieved the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction.
   • The atomic pile was a crucial step in the development of nuclear energy.