James H. Coon

James H. Coon (9 November 1914 – 10 March 1996) physicist at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, made significant contributions to the science and study of neutron interactions. He worked on the Vera satellite project.

James Coon Los Alamos badge

Life and Times

James Huntington Coon was born on 9 November 1914 and died on 10 March 1996. He was interred at the Guaje Pines Cemetery, burial plot of Section 5, Lot 146C in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Education

Coon attended Indiana University at Bloomington, Indiana and graduated in 1937 with a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry. Outside of studies, he had membership in the Chemistry Dolphin Club, Der Deutsche Verein (The German Club) and the Varsity Swimming team.[1]

In 1942, Coon received a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Chicago.[2]

Los Alamos

In 1944, scientists at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory designed field experiments to measure the air blast and ground shock effects from the Trinity device. In March 1945, an exploration geophysicist Herbert M. Houghton, from Geophysical Research Corporation (GRC) and Tidewater Oil, was hired to work with Coon. The team of Coon and Houghton was tasked to make ready the earth shock instrumentation for the 7 May 1945 calibration rehearsal shot of a 100-ton TNT device and the Trinity test in July 1945.[3]

In March 1954, Coon resided in New Mexico according to the 1954 National Register of Scientific and Technical Personnel.[4]

In 1954, Coon was P-4 group leader along with P-6 group leader Elizabeth Riddle Graves at Los Alamos. The Coon and Graves groups utilized a 250 kV Cockcroft-Walton generator to accelerate Deuterons to bombard Tritium (H-3) inside a Zirconium target with Tritium to produce 14 MeV neutrons. The scientists at Los Alamos were interested in how neutrons interacted with assorted thermonuclear fuels, tamper materials, and fissile materials. The 14 MeV neutrons were used to perform studies that included: elastic and inelastic scattering; interaction cross sections for the (n, 2n) reactions; interaction cross sections for Lithium and the production of undesirable particles; interaction cross sections of elements; bombardment of several substances and the resultant gamma radiation yield; neutron production and yield from fission; and neutron multiplication factors. Coon's group, Group P-4, used a graphite pile to calibrate neutron sources. A new 600 kV Cockcroft-Walton generator was under construction.[5]

Vela Satellite

In 1967 Coon was a project scientist on the Vela HOTEL satellite project at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory.[6][7]

NRC-NAS Physics Survey

In 1972, Coon served on the Physic Survey Committee in the Impact on National Security subpanel for the NRC-NAS Physics Survey.[8]

Swimming

In 1978, Coon at the age of 63, achieved top results in the Men's 60-64 SCY (Short Course Yards) in the 500 Freestyle and 1650 Freestyle events according to U.S. Masters Swimming records.[9]

James H. Coon Sciences Prize

At Indiana University, the James H. Coon Sciences Prize was established by Coon and $1,500 is awarded annually to a "student who shows promise in one of the sciences".[10]

Publications
  • Capture Cross Section of Si for Thermal Neutrons, 1942. Coon.[11]
  • Angular distribution of 2.5 MeV neutrons scattered by deuterium. Coon & Henry H. Barschall[12]
  • Elastic Backscattering of (d, d) Neutrons. Manley, J. H., Harold M. Agnew, H. H. Barschall, W. C. Bright, J. H. Coon, Elizabeth Riddle Graves, T. Jorgensen, and Bernard Waldman.[13]
  • Angular distribution of (n, d) scattering for 2.5-Mev neutrons. Coon.[14]
  • Disintegrations of Neon and Argon by (d, d) Neutrons. Graves, Elizabeth R., & Coon.[15]
  • Cross Section of D (d, n) He-3 Reaction. Coon & Graves.[16]
  • Hydrogen Recoil Proportional Counter for Neutron Detection.[17]
  • The Reaction He-3 (n, p) H-3 Induced by Thermal Neutrons.[18]
  • He-3 Isotopic Abundance Measurement by Counter Technique.[19]
  • He-3 Isotopic Abundance.[20]
  • Disintegration of He-3 and N-14 by Thermal Neutrons.[21]
  • Interaction of 14 MeV Neutrons with Deuterons.[22]
  • Angular Distribution of 14 MeV Neutrons Scattered by Tritons. Coon, Bockelman, C. K.,& Barschall, H. H.[23]
  • Disintegration of He-3 by Fast Neutrons.[24]
  • Neutron-Proton Scattering at 27 MeV.[25]
  • Angular Distribution of 14 MeV Neutrons Scattered by Tritons.[26]
  • Neutron-Proton Scattering at 27 MeV.[27]
  • Total Cross Sections of Tritium, Hydrogen, and Helium for Fast Neutrons.[28]
  • Total Cross Sections for 14 MeV Neutrons.[29]
  • Elastic Scattering of 14 MeV Neutrons.[30]
  • Scattering of 14.5 MeV Neutrons by Complex Nuclei.[31]
  • Some Recent Results on Fast Neutron Cross Sections.[32]
  • Total neutron cross sections of the hydrogen and helium isotopes.[33]
  • Fast neutron physics.[34]
  • Targets for the Production of Neutrons.[35]
  • Vela Satellite Measurements.[36]
  • Vela satellite measurements of particles in the solar wind and the distant geomagnetosphere.[37]
  • Radiation Trapped in the Earth's Magnetic Field.[38]
  • Earth's Particles and Fields.[39]
  • Solar Wind Observations.[40]

References
  1. Editor. (1937). Class of 1937. Arbutus Yearbook. Indiana University. Bloomington, Indiana.
  2. Coon, James Huntington. (1942). Capture Cross Section of Si for Thermal Neutrons (No. AECD-3375; C-107). University of Chicago.
  3. Lawyer, Lee C., Bates, Charles Carpenter, & Rice, Robert B. (2001). Geophysics in the Affairs of Mankind: A Personalized History of Exploration Geophysics. Society of Exploration Geophysicists Books.
  4. United States National Register of Scientific and Technical Personnel Files, 1954-1970. Database, James H Coon, New Mexico, United States, Mar 1954. 1954 National Register of Scientific and Technical Personnel, 622629, National Archives. College Park, Maryland.
  5. Glasstone, Samuel. (January 1954). Weapons Activities of Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory of the University of California. LA-1632.
  6. Coon, J. H. (1965). Vela Satellite Measurements (No. LA-DC-7365; CONF-650816-2). Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. University of California, New Mexico.
  7. Coon, J. H. (1966). Vela satellite measurements of particles in the solar wind and the distant geomagnetosphere. In Radiation Trapped in the Earth's Magnetic Field (pp. 231-255). Springer, Netherlands.
  8. NRC-NAS. (1972). Physics in Perspective. The Core Subfields of Physics. Impact on National Security, Subpanel of the Nuclear Physics Panel, Nuclear Physics. Physics Survey Committee. National Research Council. National Academy of Sciences.
  9. Windrath, M.B. (2015). USMS Top 10. 1978 USMS Top 10 Short Course Yards for New Mexico Local Master Swimming Committee. U.S. Masters Swimming. Sarasota, Florida.
  10. Editor. (2015). James H. Coon Sciences Prize. Endowments in the College. Indiana University. Bloomington, Indiana.
  11. Coon, James Huntington. (1942). Capture Cross Section of Si for Thermal Neutrons (No. AECD-3375; C-107). University of Chicago.
  12. Coon, J. H., & Barschall, H. H. (1946). Angular distribution of 2.5 MeV neutrons scattered by deuterium. Physical Review. 70(9-10): 592.
  13. Manley, J. H., Harold M. Agnew, H. H. Barschall, W. C. Bright, J. H. Coon, Elizabeth Riddle Graves, T. Jorgensen, and Bernard Waldman. (1946). Elastic Backscattering of (d, d) Neutrons. Physical Review. 70(9-10): 602.
  14. Coon, J. H. (1946). Angular distribution of (n, d) scattering for 2.5-Mev neutrons. Atomic Energy Commission.
  15. Graves, Elizabeth R., & Coon, J. H. (January 1946). Disintegrations of Neon and Argon by (d, d) Neutrons. PHYSICAL REVIEW. 70(1-2): 101.
  16. Manley, J. H., Coon, J. H., & Graves, Elizabeth R. (January 1946). Cross Section of D (D, N) He-3 Reaction. PHYSICAL REVIEW. 70(1-2): 101.
  17. Coon, J. H., & Nobles, R. A. (1947). Hydrogen Recoil Proportional Counter for Neutron Detection. Review of Scientific Instruments. 18(1): 44-47.
  18. Coon, J. H., Goldblatt, M., Nobles, R., & Robinson, C. F. (1948). The Reaction He-3 (n, p) H-3 Induced by Thermal Neutrons (No. AECD-2190;(LADC-462)).
  19. Coon, J. H. (1948). He-3 Isotopic Abundance Measurement by Counter Technique (No. AECD-2207). TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERVICE (AEC) OAK RIDGE TN.
  20. Coon, J. H. (1949). He-3 Isotopic Abundance. Physical Review. 75(9): 1355.
  21. Coon, J. H., & Nobles, R. A. (1949). Disintegration of He-3 and N-14 by Thermal Neutrons. Physical Review. 75(9): 1358.
  22. Coon, J. H., & Taschek, R. F. (1949). Interaction of 14 MeV Neutrons with Deuterons. Physical Review. 76(6): 710.
  23. Coon, J. H., Bockelman, C. K., & Barschall, H. H. (1951). Angular Distribution of 14 MeV Neutrons Scattered by Tritons. Physical Review. 81(1): 33.
  24. Coon, J. H. (1950). Disintegration of He-3 by Fast Neutrons. Physical Review. 80(3): 488.
  25. Brolley Jr, J. E., Coon, J. H., & Fowler, J. L. (1950). Neutron-Proton Scattering at 27 MeV (No. AECU-628).
  26. Coon, J. H., Bockelman, C. K., & Barschall, H. H. (1951). Angular Distribution of 14 MeV Neutrons Scattered by Tritons. Physical Review. 81(1): 33.
  27. Brolley Jr, J. E., Coon, J. H., & Fowler, J. L. (1951). Neutron-Proton Scattering at 27 MeV. Physical Review. 82(2): 190.
  28. Coon, J. H., Bondelid, R. O., & Phillips, D. D. (1952). Total Cross Sections of Tritium, Hydrogen, and Helium for Fast Neutrons (No. AECD-4284). Los Alamos Scientific Lab. New Mexico.
  29. Coon, J. H., Graves, Elizabeth R., & Barschall, H. H. (1952). Total Cross Sections for 14 MeV Neutrons. Physical Review. 88(3): 562.
  30. Coon, J. H., & Davis, R. W. (January 1954). Elastic Scattering of 14 MeV Neutrons. PHYSICAL REVIEW. 94(3):785.
  31. Coon, J. H., Davis, R. W., Felthauser, H. E., & Nicodemus, D. B. (1958). Scattering of 14.5 MeV Neutrons by Complex Nuclei. Physical Review. 111(1): 250.
  32. Coon, J. H. (1958). Some Recent Results on Fast Neutron Cross Sections (No. A/CONF. 15/P/666). Los Alamos Scientific Lab. New Mexico.
  33. Coon, J. H. (1959). Total neutron cross sections of the hydrogen and helium isotopes. Nuclear Phys. 12.
  34. Coon, J. H., Marion, J. B., & Fowler, J. L. (1960). Fast neutron physics. Interscience Publ. New York.
  35. Coon, J. H. (1960). Targets for the Production of Neutrons. Fast Neutron Physics. Marion and Fowler, Eds. Interscience. New York.
  36. Coon, J. H. (1965). Vela Satellite Measurements (No. LA-DC-7365; CONF-650816-2). Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. University of California, New Mexico.
  37. Coon, J. H. (1966). Vela satellite measurements of particles in the solar wind and the distant geomagnetosphere. In Radiation Trapped in the Earth's Magnetic Field (pp. 231-255). Springer. Netherlands.
  38. Coon, J. H. (1966). Radiation Trapped in the Earth's Magnetic Field. D. Reindel Publishing Co. Dordrecht, Holland. 23(1).
  39. Coon, J. H. (1968). Earth's Particles and Fields. Reinhold. New York. 359.
  40. Coon, J. H. (1968). Solar Wind Observations (No. LA-DC--8944; CONF-670825--1). Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. New Mexico.
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