Hans Bethe enjoys the reputation of being one of the most important and most revered of physicists of the 20th century. A refugee from Hitler's Germany, Bethe moved to Cornell University where he played a major role in the development of quantum theory and its application to the structure of atoms, molecules and solids during the '30s. He was also one of the principal contributors to the elucidation of the content of relativistic quantum mechanics and quantum electrodynamics until the late 50's. He also made major contributions to solid state physics. During World War II, before receiving clearance for the Manhattan project, Bethe made significant contributions to aerodynamics, penetration of armor by projectiles, and radar. Upon joining the Manhattan Project, he worked under Oppenheimer on the theoretical design of an atomic bomb and eventually was named the head of the theoretical physics division at the Los Alamos Laboratory. After the war, he continued playing a significant science policy role dealing with issues as divergent as the cold war, the hydrogen bomb, the McCarthy era, the Korean War, the Oppenheimer affair, Sputnik, the nuclear test ban, Vietnam, the armament reduction negotiations, SDI, environmental issues, science education, nuclear energy, etc. In all of these issues, Bethe was the voice of the concerned scientist who wished to use science for achieving peace, not perpetuating war. Under this grant, Professor Schweber is writing, at Bethe's invitation, an intellectual biography of this great scientist. The biography is dealing not only with Bethe's contributions to theoretical and applied physics, but also is addressing Bethe's activities in the field of science policy, disarmament and international affairs.
