1900: A physics genius wandering around Europe

Chapter 413: Shocking Questions! BKS Theory! Are the Laws of Conservation of Energy and Momentum Wrong?

The photoelectric effect and the Wu-Compton effect have strongly demonstrated the wave-particle duality of light.

At this point, even the most stubborn physicists began to gradually accept this incredible concept.

Anyway, modern physics is already heading towards an outrageous direction, so adding the wave-particle duality doesn't seem to be a big deal.

And Ridgwell once again shocked the physics community because of the wave-particle duality of light.

Everyone understood that the man who spent four or five years building the City of Science was not far away from cutting-edge research in physics.

He still retains the keenest intuition about physics.

With just one move, it can stir up the storm and add an important concept to physics.

This state of maintaining the peak all the time makes physicists extremely envious.

"Does Professor Bruce have no limits?"

However, just when everyone thought that the nature of light had been determined, an accident occurred.

Institute for Theoretical Physics, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Bohr has been committed to the development of the institute over the years.

He rejected the olive branches extended to him by universities in the United States, Britain, Germany and other countries.

Instead, he resolutely returned to his homeland Denmark to develop physics and build an international research center.

Bohr had an orthodox background in physics and was taught by Professor Bruce.

In addition, he is the originator of the Bohr-Lee model, so his status in the field of physics is self-evident.

Bohr's status in Denmark is equivalent to Ridgway's status in China.

In addition, Bohr attached great importance to equal, free discussion, and a cooperative academic research atmosphere.

As a result, the institute he built in Copenhagen attracted outstanding physicists from all over the world.

At this moment, inside the research institute.

A discussion is ongoing.

Bohr, Slater, Kramers and Kronig sat in a circle.

Slater was an American physicist who was traveling in Europe during this period and happened to visit Bohr's institute.

Kramers is from the Netherlands and is currently Bohr's doctoral student.

In real history, Kramers would succeed Ehrenfest at Leiden University.

What the four discussed was the Wu-Compton effect.

Bohr always followed his mentor's example and emphasized equal debate for all in academic exchanges.

He believes that only through debate can we jointly explore the true meaning of science.

A physicist who cannot debate means that he cannot stick to his own views, and even if he happens to publish a paper, he will not become a great physicist.

But the result of the debate was that Bohr won every time.

No wonder he loves to debate.

And now, Bohr was ready to turn his attention to his mentor, Professor Bruce.

“I read the Wu and Compton papers carefully.”

"There was a fatal problem in their experiment."

"The Wu-Compton effect simply means that the wavelength of X-rays changes after they are scattered by matter."

"But this change is most likely not caused by X-rays, but by atomic radiation."

"Electrons hit by X-rays emit radiation due to quantum transitions, which also produce X-rays."

"Those are where the longer wavelength X-rays are coming from."

Slater, Kramos and Kronig were all a little shocked after hearing what Bohr said.

My goodness, this is going to be a fallout between master and disciple.

But they admired Bohr's courage and strength immensely.

Because what the other party said makes a lot of sense.

Slater was very interested in this question. He said:

"Professor Bohr, your perspective is very strange."

"I just happen to have an idea."

“I think there might be a [virtual radiation field] between atoms.”

"Atoms communicate with other atoms through this radiation field."

"In this way, a large number of X-rays with the same wavelength can be generated."

Although Kramos is only a doctor, he seems more lively than the taciturn Kronig.

He spoke enthusiastically:
"Teacher, if your idea is right, I think we should establish a new mechanism."

"Abandoning the concept of light quanta as a causal relation between the absorption and emission of radiation by atoms."

This statement is a bit vague, but it means to simply abandon the concept of light quanta.

Koronig was terrified when he heard this.

"Good fellow, you are going to challenge Professor Bruce."

"Even Professor Bohr did not directly deny the photon."

Kronig was worried about Kramos.

At the same time, he was a little envious of the other person.

Isn’t this what Professor Bruce said: “Dare to draw the sword against authority.”

But he just couldn't do it himself.

When Bohr heard this, his eyes lit up instantly.

"Cramos, your idea is very bold, but also very good."

“That’s what debates are for.”

“Also, I think of the Wu-Compton effect again.”

"That is, it is impossible to observe the interaction between a single photon and an electron."

"So we can only prove the concept of light quantum in an average sense."

"So, I even think that for a single quantum, the laws of conservation of energy and momentum may no longer be correct."

Wow!
Bohr's words shocked the three people.

The two major conservation laws were actually abandoned by Professor Bohr!

This is even more outrageous than abandoning the concept of light quanta.

It's outrageous fucking open the door to outrageous, outrageous home.

Slater objected on the spot.

"Professor, I think your idea needs to be discussed."

Bohr replied eloquently: "No, I have my reasons."

"In Wu Youxun and Compton's paper, they used a single photon and an electron to explain it."

"But if we weaken it into a statistical effect, we can actually achieve the same effect."

"That is, for a single quantum, it is not necessary to obey the conservation of momentum and energy."

"As long as they are statistically and macroscopically conserved."

It has to be said that Bohr's powerful speaking and debating skills impressed the three people.

Slater's eyes widened. The more he listened, the more it made sense.

But isn’t this a bit too unbelievable?

Kramos looked at his mentor with admiration on his face, and couldn't help being shocked.

"Professor Bohr is indeed a peerless figure in the field of physics."

"This idea of ​​abandoning the single quantum conservation law is simply shocking."

Only Kronig was dazed. He could no longer keep up with the pace of the three people.

Bohr said encouragingly: "Kronig, tell me what you think."

"This is an equal academic discussion, and any opinions can be expressed."

Koronig ultimately declined to comment.

"Professor, I've been studying the fourth quantum number recently, and I haven't studied the wave-particle duality of light."

Bohr was not angry, he smiled and said with emotion:
"Kronig, your inability to debate may cause you to suffer in the future."

Kronig smiled innocently and scratched the back of his head.

He thought that Professor Bohr was exaggerating. However, he did not know that he would soon miss out on an achievement that he would regret for the rest of his life because of his own character.

At this time, Slater suddenly asked worriedly:
"Professor Bohr, our paper should not cause any misunderstanding to Professor Bruce after it is published."

"We are just questioning the Wu-Compton effect."

Bohr laughed.

"Haha, don't worry."

"Professor Bruce always welcomes challenges."

“The truth becomes clearer the more it is debated, not because it is forbidden to discuss.”

"There is an old Chinese saying: A disciple need not be inferior to his teacher, and a teacher need not be better than his disciple."

The three of them immediately showed great respect for Professor Bruce's broad-mindedness and were convinced by Bohr.

However, that night, Bohr hurriedly sent an urgent letter to the Quantum Institute.

"My dear teacher, this is what happened."
-
When Gregory received Bohr's paper, he could hardly believe his eyes.

"Oh my God, this Bohr paper is so exaggerated."

"It seems that he is the only one who has inherited Professor Bruce's true teachings."

“Either don’t publish a paper, or publish an earth-shattering paper.”

"He actually doubts the law of conservation of energy and momentum?"

“Although it is only questioned at the single quantum level, it is shocking enough.”

At this moment, Gregory hesitated.

Even though Bohr was his younger brother, he did not dare to put this paper in the main journal, or even on the cover.

After much deliberation, he finally gritted his teeth and decided to publish it through a sub-journal.

1919 8 Month 30 Day.

The physics journal Nature published a paper by Bohr and his two colleagues.

Bohr named their theory "BKS theory".

They are taken from the initials of the three people.

Since Koronig did not participate in the discussion, he naturally could not sign his name on the paper.

Bohr was very strict about this.

He often told his students: "Everyone is responsible for their own research."

"Any paper with your name on it must mean that you have made your own contribution to it."

“If you didn’t contribute to a paper, you shouldn’t be named on it.”

"Even if I didn't guide you, you don't have to mention my name."

This is Bohr, a physicist with great charisma, who is deeply loved by his students.

When the BKS theory was published, the sensation it caused was even greater than that of the Wu-Compton effect.

Everyone was shocked by Bohr's courage.

"Oh my God, Bohr is firing at his teacher again."

“The last time Bohr opposed the planetary model of the atom, the Bohr-Lee model was born.”

"So what new theory will be born this time when Bohr opposes the wave-particle duality of light?"

"Sure enough, once Professor Bruce came back, the physics world became exciting."

"But the BKS theory does make sense, and Wu Youxun and Compton's experiments seem a bit crude."

However, for the big names in physics, they could not accept Bohr's denial of the law of conservation.

Einstein wrote to Born:
"If the BKS theory is correct, I would rather be a shoemaker than a physicist."

When Born accidentally leaked Einstein's words, it caused another sensation.

The vast majority of physicists support Einstein.

Because Bohr's views were so appalling.

The law of conservation of energy and the law of conservation of momentum have been verified by countless physicists and are countless ironclad facts.

No one will believe that they are wrong.

Of course, if Professor Bruce openly questioned the law of conservation.

That's hard to say.

The big guys dare not imagine that scene.

When Bohr heard Einstein's complaints, he just smiled.

He knew the temper of his mentor's good friend.

He also had a deep friendship with Einstein and knew each other's temper very well. It was so direct.

University of Chicago.

Wu Youxun looked at Bohr's paper, and at this moment he finally felt the charm of academic confrontation.

At the same time, he also understood why Europe was ahead of Asia in science.

Because open academic debate is very popular here.

Everyone explains and defends their own views through rigorous logic and accurate experiments.

It is still difficult to create such an atmosphere in China today.

Bohr's BKS theory can be said to have pointed out the problems between him and Compton.

In front of such a big shot, any flaws in the experiment will be magnified.

"Compton, it looks like we'll have to get busy again."

Compton laughed a little and said, “In order to publish the paper as quickly as possible, we did it a bit crudely.”

"I didn't expect that Professor Bohr would find the problem right away."

"I now understand the gap between me and those big guys."

A month later, Wu Youxun and Compton published more sophisticated research results.

The data show that in the Wu-Compton effect, there is obvious simultaneity and angular correlation between the appearance of recoil electrons and scattered light.

This shows that the X-rays with longer wavelengths are not caused by electron transition radiation, but by the collision between X-rays and electrons.

There is nothing wrong with the wave-particle duality of light.

Soon after, two German physicists used more sophisticated instruments to confirm that energy and momentum are still conserved in single electron collisions.

They used a very clever method.

Because it is not possible to emit a single photon in this era.

In this case, the BKS theory can only be declared a failure.

However, no one looked down on or ridiculed Bohr for this.

Because Bohr's behavior set an example for everyone.

That was when modern physics was far from mature.

Anyone who is careful and has the courage to question can come up with important points.

This top-level academic debate has fascinated countless people.

Bohr's bold hypothesis makes people exclaim:
"He is the next Professor Bruce."

During this debate, Li Qiwei never made any public statement from beginning to end.

Only after the result was determined did he say:

“Bohr is great.”

From then on, no one questioned the wave-particle duality of light.

Newton and others could finally shake hands and make peace in the afterlife.

But now physicists have a headache.

They need to come up with a new theory to explain this bizarre phenomenon.

How should we understand the duality of light?

At the same time, it is commonly accepted to abbreviate light quanta as photons.

This is to emphasize the particle nature of light.

Those who study quantum theory now need to begin to consider how to incorporate photons into quantum theory.

Just when the physics community was troubled by the wave-particle duality of light.

Ridgwell is about to attend the founding meeting of the International Astronomical Union.

(End of this chapter)