Y-12 alpha 1 racetrack - Courtesy of the Department of Energy
February 1944
The first sample of slightly enriched Uranium (12% U-235) from the Y-12 electromagnetic separation plant arrives in Los Alamos.
Courtesy of Richard Rhodes
Y-12 beta racetrack - Courtesy of the Department of Energy
Alpha 1 Calutron Diagram
Alpha 1 Calutron - Courtesy of the Department of Energy
Magnet Cores - Courtesy of the Department of Energy
Y-12 Control Room - Courtesy of the National Archives
The electromagnetic separation buildings would eventually cover more area than 20 football fields. The entire Y-12 complex, when completed, would count 268 permanent buildings, large and small and have a price tag of close to $500 million.
Because copper was in short supply, the coils for the electromagnets were made from $300 million worth of silver borrowed from the U.S. Treasury. Uranium separation ceased at the Y-12 complex at the end of 1946 when the gaseous diffusion process came into full operation.
Y-12 Site - Courtesy of the Department of Energy
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