1900: A physics genius wandering around Europe

Chapter 229 Doctoral Graduation Requirements: Winning the Nobel Prize in Physics

After entering 1910, Li Qiwei could clearly feel that the pace was accelerating.

The pace is accelerating not just in the scientific community but in society as a whole.

He has the soul of future generations and knows the outcome in advance, so of course he can see clues from the recent arrangements of various countries.

With more and more demands from the military, orders for various military-industrial enterprises have skyrocketed, and they are all stepping up their efforts to produce various types of weapons.

Even universities and research institutions suddenly received various research and development requests from the military.

This also made his Pioneer Investment Group a lot of money.

Li Qiwei couldn't help but sigh that he had made a fortune from the war.

In war, scientists are as vulnerable as ordinary people and can easily lose their families.

In real history, Planck had two sons and two daughters. His eldest son died in the Battle of Verdun in World War I, and his second son died in World War II.

Both daughters died due to childbirth complications. In those turbulent times, a professor did not have many privileges.

Fortunately, in 1911, because his first wife Melke died of illness, he married again and gave birth to his third son.

In this life, with the existence of Li Qiwei, he naturally would not let his mentor experience such a tragic fate.

Li Qiwei doesn't care about the next battle. Fighting life or death has nothing to do with him anyway.

By then, he will definitely run to his old nest in Borneo to take advantage of the opportunity to develop himself.

By the way, all the European scientists were fooled.

Almost all scientists are extremely war-weary and want a paradise-like environment where they can concentrate on their research.

However, it is too early to think about these things for now.

His top priority now is to assign research topics to his doctoral students.

He had been thinking about this question since the last meeting.

Bohr didn't have to worry about it, because his path had already been paved. He only needed to follow the steps to study the atomic structure.

Li Qiwei will take Qian Wushi, Qian Huzhou, Deng Huaining and Yu Yin to Borneo to take on important tasks in the future.

However, the four could not be allowed to study atomic structure for the time being, because that could only be done after Bohr perfected the quantum orbit.

So after some thought, he decided to divide the superconductivity project among Qian Wushi, Qian Huzhou, and Deng Huaining.

As for Yu Yin, he arranged for him to study spectroscopy with Chris and Gregory.

Li Qiwei has also thought of a topic, which is about the splitting phenomenon of element spectra under electric fields.

This topic contains Li Qiwei's bad taste.

After the topic was determined, he called all seven people into his office.

Bohr and others walked in excitedly and looked at Li Qiwei with anticipation.

Three days ago, Li Qiwei informed them that their research direction would be determined soon.

The seven people were extremely excited.

They have been enrolled in the doctoral program for more than half a year, but Professor Bruce has not allowed them to conduct formal research, but instead let them continue learning.

My daily task is to read and interpret papers, and then familiarize myself with the various instruments in the laboratory.

However, no one complained, as the boss has his own reasons.

Moreover, the accumulation during this period made the seven people feel that they had gained a lot and laid a solid foundation for scientific research.

Therefore, they are very grateful to Professor Bruce.

Li Qiwei looked at everyone's expressions and nodded with satisfaction.

If anyone shows impatience, he will regret it for the rest of his life.

He smiled and asked, "What do you think is the purpose of studying for a doctorate?"

They were all stunned. Aren’t we assigning research topics today? Why are you asking about the purpose of studying for a doctorate?

However, they thought about it and said one by one:
“For my dream.”

"To study more advanced physics."

"In order to return home after completing my studies and serve the country."

"."

Li Qiwei shook his head and smiled softly, "Okay, stop kidding yourself. What you want most is to get a doctorate degree."

A few of them patted their heads and smiled, with cute expressions on their faces, like children who had been caught in a lie by an adult.

Li Qiwei thought, let’s see if you can laugh again soon.

“A PhD who doesn’t want to graduate is not a good PhD and will not create much results.”

“My doctoral students only have one graduation requirement.”

As he spoke, Li Qiwei stretched out a finger. Bohr and others were secretly delighted. That was great. Now it would be easy to graduate.

However, the next words were like a bucket of cold water, chilling the seven people from head to toe.

“That’s winning the Nobel Prize.”

"Considering that the Nobel Prize is awarded later, as long as your achievements are assessed by me to be Nobel Prize-level, you can graduate."

"Well, not too much to ask, right?"

"You won't fail to achieve it, will you?"

Faced with Li Qiwei's questions, several people's brains crashed and they were completely confused.

Their minds were fixed by the idea that a PhD graduate must win the Nobel Prize.

At this moment, several people looked hopeless and felt that the world had become dark.

What a joke! Who would require to win the Nobel Prize or publish Nobel Prize-level results after graduating with a PhD?

Murder! Murder!

Gregory: I just think it's noisy. I shouldn't have been tricked into studying for a doctorate.

Chris: Woohoo~ I have to rush to Philips overnight!
Bohr: I should have chosen to study for a doctorate with Professor Rutherford. He and I had the best rapport.

Qian Wushi and his four companions: Believe in the country, believe in Professor Li Qiwei, and believe in yourself.
Looking at the shocked expressions of the few people, Li Qiwei smiled shamelessly.

"Oh, you young people have so little confidence."

"I thought you would be full of fighting spirit after hearing this request. Why do you feel like the sky is falling?"

"It's just the Nobel Prize. It's not a big deal."

"If I, Li Qiwei's student, do not have a Nobel Prize and are recognized by others in the future, please do not mention my name."

After hearing what Li Qiwei said, Bohr and others seemed to suddenly think of something. Their eyes became brighter and brighter, and they were no longer as despairing as before.

Could it be that Professor Bruce was already sure? They imagined in their hearts that this must be the case.

Professor Bruce already has a Nobel Prize-level topic and is now preparing to share it with them.

For a moment, the hearts of several people were like a cold winter encountering the scorching sun, with great ups and downs.

At this time, Li Qiwei paused and said, "Yes, it is what you think."

“I personally think these topics are all Nobel Prize-worthy.”

"As long as you take it seriously and study it with concentration, you will be able to produce remarkable results."

"But if you are often lazy and mess up in experiments, you can only blame yourself."

A few people nodded obediently like chicks pecking at rice.

"Okay, next, I will divide you into three groups."

"Bohr, in a separate group, the topic is the study of atomic structure."

"Master Qian Wu, Qian Huzhou, and Deng Huaining, you will form a team of three to study the properties of low-temperature materials."

"Chris, Gregory, Yu Yin, you will form a team of three. The topic is the study of the effect of electric field on elemental spectra."

After listening to it, the seven people were very excited.

The topics that Professor Bruce gave them were all cutting-edge research directions.

Needless to say, atomic structure and spectrum were the directions of modern physics designated by the first Bruce Conference.

The research on the properties of low-temperature materials was a sudden idea of ​​Professor Bruce, and it is sure to have great potential.

Several people were very satisfied with their topics.

The next step is to reallocate each person’s small tasks under the big task.

Ridgway first asked Bohr to stay alone and the others to go out first.

"Bohr, the reason I asked you to work in a group by yourself is because the atomic structure is still in its early stages."

“There aren’t a lot of foreseeable research directions, so there’s no need for multiple people to get involved.”

"I believe that with your wisdom, one person is enough."

Bohr nodded shyly.

"I can give you a direction to start."

"I recently revisited my planetary model and found two problems it couldn't explain."

"First, it is the stability of the atoms."

"According to the planetary model, the movement of electrons around the nucleus is a circular motion, which is an accelerated motion."

"And according to Maxwell's electromagnetic theory, acceleration must radiate energy."

"So the electron should eventually fall into the nucleus, causing the atom to collapse."

"But the reality is that atoms always exist normally and there is no collapse."

"Second, it is the problem of the arrangement of electrons outside the nucleus."

"The planetary model cannot explain how many electrons there are inside an atom and how they are arranged."

"Based on the above two questions, I want to introduce quantum concepts into atomic structure."

"I have an idea that you can think about."

“I thought maybe the orbits of electrons outside the nucleus are also quantum.”

"Some orbits are stable, and some are unstable. As long as the electron is in a stable orbit, it will not radiate energy."

"That explains the first problem."

"Also, each orbital is of a fixed size, so the number of electrons it can hold is also fixed, which explains the second question."

"These are just my crude thoughts, of course."

“It requires detailed mathematical and logical proof, and then experimental verification.”

"However, I think it can serve as a reference for you."

"You can try to approach the study of atomic structure from this direction and see if you can find anything."

After listening to Ridgway's analysis, Bohr was so shocked that he was speechless.

Horrible, really terrible.

Professor Bruce's intuition and talent in physics are so dazzling that it is impossible to look directly at him. He is as dazzling as the sun.

In fact, Bohr had thought of similar situations before regarding the two problems of the planetary model.

But he couldn't come up with any new solutions.

And now, Ridgway's concept of quantum orbits astonished Bohr.

This is too bold!

Orbit, the concept of classical physics, is obviously continuous.

Professor Bruce actually thinks it is quantized.

Bohr had nothing but admiration.

He had wanted to surpass his teacher before, but now he felt that the other party was like a peak that could never be climbed.

The higher you stand, the more you realize how insignificant you are.

Bohr said excitedly: "Professor, this is a great idea."

"Perhaps you should do your own research. I'm worried I might ruin your idea."

Li Qiwei smiled and said, "Bohr, this is not your personality when you were a child."

"Where is Bohr, the fearless man who pointed his finger at Bruce Lee?"

"I'm still waiting for you to surpass me."

"If one day you really prove that my planetary model is wrong, I will personally promote it for you, hahahaha."

After listening to this, Bohr also laughed. He was infected by Li Qiwei's open-mindedness.

After studying physics, Bohr realized how young and frivolous he was.

But what's wrong with that? Professor Bruce was much crazier than me at the beginning.

I will definitely not let him down!
Li Qiwei looked at Bohr, whose confidence had greatly increased, and was very satisfied. He smiled and said, "Okay, Bohr, go back to your research."

"By the way, let Chris and the other two in."

(End of this chapter)