Hahn Otto

Born March 8, 1879 in Frankfurt. He studied at Marburg and Munich University. In 1901, he received his Ph.D.. In 1905, working in London in B. Ramsay, discovered the radioactive isotope of thorium, and in 1907 together with E. Rezerfodom - one of the radioactive isotope of actinium. Returning to Germany in 1907, continued research in the field of radiochemistry at the University of Berlin from E. Fisher. Opened mesothorium, used for some time instead of radium in medicine. From 1912 he worked in the Chemistry of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute in Berlin, a professor in 1928 became director of the Institute. With L. Meitner discovered a new radioactive element - protactinium. In 1921, first discovered the phenomenon of nuclear isomerism from the natural radioactive elements.
In 1935, together with L. Meitner and F. Gan Shtrasmanom began investigating the bombing of uranium with neutrons and in 1938 discovered nuclear fission of uranium, which was the first step towards the practical use of nuclear energy. For this work, was awarded the 1944 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. In April 1945, Gan, together with other German atomic physicists was evacuated to England, in 1946 he returned to Germany, worked in the University of GцTttingen. Hahn was also engaged in determining the geological age of rocks by radioactive methods, studying the processes of crystal formation. In 1946-1960 was president of the Max Planck Society in GцTttingen, from 1960 - its honorary president of the. Hahn died in Gottingen July 28, 1968.