Part 5/10:
With time running short, Oppenheimer enlisted the expertise of John von Neumann, a brilliant mathematician who had the foresight to analyze and redefine the implosion bomb's explosive setup. He proposed a method inspired by optical lens design, creating an arrangement of high and low-velocity explosives. This ingenious configuration ensured that the detonation waves converged uniformly on the plutonium core, enabling efficient compression for achieving critical mass.
While von Neumann's design was theoretically sound, practical implementation posed significant engineering challenges. The need for precision ignitions and synchronization demanded an overhaul of existing testing methodologies, which Oppenheimer addressed by reorganizing labs and resources in Los Alamos.