1900: A physics genius wandering around Europe

Chapter 457 Why does matter have volume? The Pauli-Bruce Exclusion Principle! Shocking announcement!
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye it is 1921.

This year will be the most anticipated year for all physicists.

Because after nine years, the third Bruce Conference is finally back!
October 10th is destined to be the grandest carnival in the physics world, and also the most anticipated day in the entire scientific community.

However, spots at the Bruce Conference are limited.

In order to get a chance to participate, many physicists try their best to make breakthroughs in their research.

Not only the older generation of physicists, but also the new young men born in the 00s are getting ready to give it a try.

University of Munich.

The second Physics Olympiad made Pauli and Heisenberg famous figures in the school.

If before their genius depended on the evaluation of the big guys, now it depends on their own strength.

One silver medal and one bronze medal.

This means that the two of them are the second or third best among all their peers in the world.

What an honor!
Since winning the award, Heisenberg's personality has become much more cheerful and he is no longer so shy.

Because he could feel everyone's envy of him.

After all, at any time, people with strength will be respected.

Therefore, Heisenberg is very satisfied with his current study life.

However, his senior brother Pauli was not satisfied at all.

"That Dirac guy is so perverted."

"I even suspect that a perfect score is not his limit, but the limit of the test paper."

"When it comes to problem solving, there's no way I can beat him."

"Now the only way to surpass him is to publish papers."

"In the future, our battlefield will no longer be exams, but real physics research."

Heisenberg heard this and said with a smile:

"Brother, you can do it."

"Your strength is not in exams, but in real research and thinking."

"Even Professor Sommerfeld praised your doctoral thesis as being very well written."

Pauli heard this and waved his hands, not taking it seriously.

"Hey, it's nothing special."

"My doctoral thesis is about the application of quantum theory to complex particle systems."

"After studying it for a year or two, I finally found that quantum theory couldn't even explain the most basic hydrogen molecule."

“Not to mention other complex molecules.”

"No wonder Professor Bruce wants to set up a quantum research institute."

"Although quantum theory has made many achievements, there are still many problems."

"It is far less complete than the theory of relativity."

"This is our opportunity."

When he said this, a gleam of light flashed in Pauli's eyes.

In real history, Pauli graduated with a doctorate in 1921 when he was only 21 years old.

His research topic was quantum theory.

The quantum orbital model proposed by Bohr is entirely based on hydrogen atoms.

All the analysis is about the orbitals of the hydrogen atom.

This is because the structure of the hydrogen atom is the simplest and patterns can be easily discovered from it.

However, problems arise when Bohr's atomic model is applied to more complex atomic or molecular systems.

This is where quantum theory is imperfect.

At the same time, this also shows how powerful Pauli was.

He is not satisfied with the existing authority and has the spirit of getting to the bottom of things.

After listening to Pauli's ambitions, Heisenberg could not help but say with longing:

"I really hope I can attend a Bruce conference based on my achievements!"

In real history, Heisenberg's doctoral thesis was on fluid mechanics.

As we all know, this is a very difficult subfield of physics.

It requires extremely advanced mathematical knowledge.

Perhaps it was because of the rigorous training during his doctoral studies that Heisenberg was able to derive the obscure matrix mechanics in the future.

After listening to Heisenberg's words, Pauli also showed an envious look on his face.

As physics geniuses, their obsession with the Bruce Conference can be imagined.

That is the true pinnacle of wisdom!
Compared with the Physics Olympiad and the Bruce Conference, it is like a firefly competing with the bright moon.

Pauli had long regarded his Olympiad results as a thing of the past.

Now he has a bigger ambition, which is to get an invitation to the third Bruce Conference.

Pauli smiled crookedly in the way the Dragon King did, clearly showing great confidence.

Because he finally made a breakthrough in another research topic.

In February last year, Li Qiwei was invited by Einstein to visit Germany for study.

At the University of Berlin, he delivered the speech that shocked the world.

Not only did he use quantum theory to lay the foundation for modern chemistry, he even provided clues to the fourth quantum number.

It can be said that that speech brought the popularity of quantum theory to a new level.

Countless physicists have joined the study of quantum theory.

Pauli made a splash in public speaking.

Not only did he ask sharp questions, but he also received praise from Professor Bruce.

It was later proved that Professor Bruce's vision was correct.

Pauli proved his talent by winning a bronze medal in the second Physics Olympiad.

He is a bona fide physics genius.

Ever since that lecture, Pauli became fascinated by one of these questions.

“Why is there a 2-fold relationship between energy states and the number of electrons?”

To this end, Pauli squeezed out almost all of his extracurricular time to deal with this issue.

Compared with his doctoral thesis, this issue is more urgent.

And he finally achieved results.

1921 1 Month 15 Day.

University of Munich, inside the physics laboratory.

Everyone who had just celebrated the New Year returned to their respective research posts.

As a professor of theoretical physics, Sommerfeld also had the responsibility of managing the laboratory.

As his doctoral student, Pauli naturally came here often.

Usually after class, Pauli would come to the laboratory for a walk.

In the past, I would be what others called a "second-rate physics expert".

In real history, Pauli was even more bohemian when he worked as an assistant to Born at the University of Göttingen.

He even had Born send two maids to wake him up every day.

But now, people's attitude towards him has changed significantly.

It’s all because of the Physics Olympiad.

But today, Pauli's expression was unusually serious and solemn.

Coincidentally, he met Heisenberg who came to the laboratory with him.

Pauli looked excited and he quickly shared his latest research results with Heisenberg.

"Heisenberg, do you still remember Professor Bruce's lecture in Germany?"

"Professor Bruce used the rules of electron configuration outside the nucleus to explain the nature of the diversity of chemical elements' properties."

“And he also proposed that the maximum number of electrons that can be contained in each shell is twice the number of energy states in the shell.”

Heisenberg nodded and said:
"Yes, that's where the binary nature of electrons comes from."

Pauli clapped his hands and laughed:
"Correct."

“Although I don’t know what electronic binary is.”

"But I came up with a theory, or a hypothesis."

"According to my theory, I can even explain why everything in the world has volume."

Wow!
Heisenberg was shocked when he heard this!
If true, this is a shocking result!
Professor Bruce explained why chemical elements have different chemical properties.

And now, this unruly senior of his had to explain why chemical elements had volume.

Heisenberg was shocked. How did the other party spend the New Year?

Years ago, everyone was discussing Olympiad questions, but after the new year, you actually started studying the binary nature of electrons.

"We are obviously brothers, but I didn't expect you to drag me down!"

He quickly asked:
"Brother Pauli, please tell me now."

"I can't wait to hear your theory."

Pauli said arrogantly at this moment:

"Heisenberg, you will have to lend me a hand when the time comes."

"My theory is still lacking some mathematical proof. Please help me improve it."

Heisenberg nodded quickly.

At this point, Pauli explained:

"Based on the concept of electron binary, I proposed such a principle."

“That is, in an atom, there are no two or more electrons with the same energy state.”

"I call this principle the Electron Exclusion Principle."

"This theory can explain why there is a limit to the number of electrons that can be in an energy level and why the electrons are not all crowded into the lowest energy state."

"And, precisely because electrons in one energy state cannot be in the same position."

“That’s why atoms have the concept of volume.”

"Heisenberg, can you help me check if there is any problem?"

After that, Pauli handed over the first draft of his paper.

Heisenberg quickly took the paper and read it carefully.

The more I looked at his expression, the more shocked I became.

I was full of admiration for Pauli.

Although the electron exclusion principle proposed by the other party seems similar to Professor Bruce's electron binary nature.

It seems like just a small step forward.

But the meaning it contains is of great significance.

"Brother Pauli, you are too strong."

"What Professor Bruce mentioned in the lecture was just a conclusion."

"He used his unrivaled intuition to spot the 2x relationship at a glance."

"However, he did not provide a specific mathematical proof."

"He didn't go on to discuss why it couldn't be a three- or four-fold relationship."

"And you proved theoretically that atoms can only exist stably if electrons satisfy the exclusion principle."

"The 2-fold relation becomes a consequence of the exclusion principle, not an axiom."

"This is amazing!"

"This paper will definitely cause a sensation in the physics community!"

Pauli tried his best to appear calm.

But he couldn't do it.

Heisenberg praised him to his heart's content.

Because this achievement is so important.

And it is the most difficult kind of breakthrough in theoretical physics.

It can be said that there are not many outstanding theoretical physicists in the world today.

It’s just that Professor Bruce is too amazing, and he has raised the standard of theoretical physicists by himself.

This gives people the illusion that theoretical physics is very simple.

But after really studying it, I realized that no one said a word when asked.

At this time, Pauli was unusually modest and said:
“It is also thanks to Professor Bruce’s concept of electron duality.”

"It was based on his work that I was able to develop the electron exclusion principle."

Pauli meant what he said.

No matter how crazy he was, he dared not ignore the role of Professor Bruce.

Without the other party's foundation, it would have been impossible for him to come up with the electron exclusion principle.

And Pauli was very glad for one thing.

That's because Professor Bruce is too busy.

With speeches and meetings everywhere, there is very little time left for real research.

Otherwise, Pauli felt that with the other party's incredible strength, it would not be his turn to propose the exclusion principle.

After all, when it comes to mathematical ability, no physicist in the world can compare to Professor Bruce.

However, Pauli was still very proud.

"I'm not as good as Professor Bruce, but how can I be worse than you little Karamis?"

Heisenberg said enviously:

"That also proves your talent, Brother Pauli."

“The speech was public, but no one else thought of it, only you did.”

"Hey, after this paper is published, you and I will no longer be on the same level."

Heisenberg knew how important this paper was to the world of physics.

It proves Professor Bruce's theory on the arrangement of electrons outside the nucleus.

It is also a huge supplement and improvement to quantum theory.

It is no exaggeration to say that Pauli became a physicist based on this paper alone.

He will be the second Olympiad athlete after Wu Youxun to complete the transition from student to scholar by ranking in the top three.

This step is of great importance!

It can also be said to be a step to heaven!
Even a genius like Heisenberg was envious.

Because from now on, when we refer to Pauli, we can no longer call him the genius Pauli, but the physicist Pauli.

However, he was truly happy for his brother.

The friendship between them is the purest relationship.

Pauli chuckled and said:

"Let's take this paper to Professor Sommerfeld and ask for his advice."

After that, the two of them walked towards the office together.

Sommerfeld, 53 years old this year, has gradually retreated to the second line of research.

He puts more energy into training students.

Pauli and Heisenberg were his hope and pride.

He did not dare to hope that all his doctoral students would win the Nobel Prize like Professor Bruce.

It's just like a fairy tale!
Just one or two of them would make Sommerfeld laugh from ear to ear.

What’s dramatic is that in real history, the number of Nobel Prize winners he produced is exactly the same as that of Li Qiwei today.

At this moment, when he finished reading Pauli's paper, his mouth opened in shock.

"Oh my God! This paper is beyond my imagination!"

"Pauli, you are amazing!"

"I feel like I'm about to see a sensation in the world of physics!"

Sommerfeld had never imagined that Pauli could be so talented.

It is amazing that he was able to publish such a profound theoretical physics paper while still a student.

A super star is rising.

Most importantly, this was Sommerfeld's student.

Pauli and Heisenberg smiled at each other when they heard this.

It seems that there is no problem with the paper, even Professor Sommerfeld was conquered.

Pauli was already looking forward to the day when his paper would be published.

What he didn't know was that his paper would herald the rise of the younger generation.

The future of physics belongs to the young!
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1921 2 Month 10 Day.

Pauli's paper was published on the cover of Nature journal.

The electron exclusion principle came into being!

Suddenly, the physics community was in an uproar!

(End of this chapter)