Slotins

Slotins is a surname. The name is most widely associated with Louis Slotin (1910–1946), a Canadian‑American physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos during World War II. In May 1946, during a criticality experiment with a plutonium core nicknamed the demon core, Slotin inadvertently created a supercritical configuration, exposing himself to a lethal dose of radiation. He died nine days later. The accident, along with a prior incident involving the same core, prompted significant changes in nuclear safety procedures, training, and handling practices for plutonium experiments, reinforcing the importance of remote operation and robust criticality safety culture.

Beyond Louis Slotin, the surname Slotin is relatively uncommon and appears in genealogical and public records in North America and Europe. There are no other individuals with the name who have achieved comparable historical prominence on the same scale as Slotin’s role in the Manhattan Project. The precise origin and meaning of the surname Slotin are not well documented in widely available reference works, and the name may have multiple regional or linguistic origins.

In summary, Slotins typically refers to people bearing the surname, with Louis Slotin being the most notable figure due to his involvement in the Manhattan Project and his role in the historical development of nuclear safety practices.