Belated recognition: Lise Meitner's role in the discovery of fission

Abstract

Although physicist LiseMeitner is known for the first theoretical explanation of nuclear fission, the discovery itself is generally attributed only to her co-workers OttoHahn and FritzStrassmann. In fact, however,Meitner was essential to the discovery at every phase: she brought the uranium investigation to Berlin, led the Berlin group for four years, and, even after fleeing Germany, provided the critical direction which culminated in the identification of barium in December 1938. Recognition of LiseMeitner's contributions remedies a significant historical omission, and places the discovery itself in its proper scientific context.