Q: Mr. Poirier, Dr. Edward Teller is a household name in nuclear physics. What is he primarily known for?
A: Dr. Edward Teller was a Hungarian-American nuclear physicist who was instrumental in the production of the first atomic bomb and the world's first thermonuclear weapon, the hydrogen bomb. He is also known for his extraordinary contributions to nuclear and molecular physics (Figures 1 and 2).
Q: How did you end up working with Dr. Teller?
A: I first met Dr. Teller in a Thermo Electron Corp. Board meeting. At that time, I was focused on developing nuclear-fueled power sources for deep space probes. I was very impressed with his knowledge and considered it a privilege to being able to speak with him.
Q: Can you tell us a few words about the Thermo Electon Corp?
A: Thermo Electron was formed in 1956 as a spin off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The initial work of this newly formed company was to develop technology to convert heat directly to electricity. This concept required a heat source which could increase a metallic member to a sufficient temperature to boil off electrons. These electrons could be collected on a lower-temperature metallic plate. There was a great deal of excitement in this technology as it could be used to form electrical power sources for deep space probes. These probes would be used to study our universe. Prior to this, probes were limited as they could not use solar energy far from the sun.
Q: What was Dr. Teller's involvement in this, and how did he get involved in developing artificial heart technology?
A: Dr. Teller was brought in to establish potential heat sources that could utilize nuclear energy. I joined Thermo Electron in 1961 to work on the development of these nuclear-powered electrical systems. A key event that occurred was the receipt of a Request for Proposal (RFP) from the NHLBI, a proposal for the development of a mechanical heart, in 1966. We formed Thermedics Inc., as a subsidiary of Thermo Electron, to concentrate on the artificial heart work. I was the president and CEO of this new company. We essentially took the nuclear-fueled power source technology for deep space probes and applied it to artificial heart systems. Several meetings followed and I asked Dr. Teller to join my advisory panel of Thermedics Inc., which he did. The team consisted of Dr. Teller, Cardiac surgeons, Cardiologists, and Engineers. The team was successful in putting together a proposal to develop a nuclear-powered artificial heart capable of supporting the circulation in humans.
Q: What was Dr. Teller's specific contribution to this proposal?
A: Dr. Teller provided the information that we needed and was instrumental in recommending that a Plutonium 238 capsule be used.
Q: Why did he recommend Pu238, as op