1900: A physics genius wandering around Europe

Chapter 537 Conference news announced! The physics community is shocked! The quantum world has arrived! Proof of matter waves!

Just as Li Qiwei and others left the Netherlands and returned to their respective places.

A piece of news shocked the physics community!

1923 10 Month 28 Day.

Nobel Prize announced!

This time the Nobel Prize was announced a few days later than before.

It almost made everyone think that it would be postponed to November.

The winner of this year's Nobel Prize in Physics is Millikan from the California Institute of Technology.

He was awarded for his work on elementary electric charge and the photoelectric effect.

Millikan also became the second American Nobel Prize winner in physics after Michelson.

As soon as the news came out, the entire American physics community was extremely excited.

As a contemporary of Professor Bruce.

Millikan's famous battle was to prove the photoelectric effect.

After more than 20 years of waiting, he finally won the Nobel Prize!
At this time, someone suddenly discovered a pattern.

"Why do the recent Nobel Prizes in Physics seem to be related to Professor Bruce?"

After careful checking, everyone found that it was true.

Countless people talked about it with relish.

However, the shock of Millikan winning the Nobel Prize had not yet subsided.

An even more shocking news spread throughout the physics community.

The Quantum Mechanics Conference ended perfectly and the content was announced!

Compared to the Nobel Prize, everyone cares more about this conference.

Because the Nobel Prize belongs to Millikan, but the content of the quantum mechanics conference belongs to all physicists.

Maybe someone will get inspiration from it and aim for the next Nobel Prize.

This kind of thing has happened more than once!

When everyone in the physics community saw the meeting minutes, they were shocked.

"hiss!"

"It's incredible!"

"Professor Bruce actually proved that wave mechanics and matrix mechanics are equivalent!"

"There are two versions of the orthodoxy of quantum mechanics!"

However, soon, countless people fell into a daze, shocked and terrified!

"Oh, God!"

"How can this be!"

"There is a third kind of wave in nature, the probability wave?"

“How can probability be a wave?”

"Is this still the wave equation I know?"

Until the end, God's question made everyone completely crazy!
"God plays dice!"

"The nature of the world is random!"

boom!
Sensation in the physics world!

Everyone was shocked by the content of the quantum mechanics conference.

It was the emergence of probability waves that overturned everyone's three views.

In the end, physics even violated the law of causality.

This is too incredible!

For a time, the entire physics community was discussing quantum mechanics and probability waves.

The level of heat is unimaginable!
University of Cambridge, UK.

After reading the minutes of the conference, Wilson was shocked at first, and then he couldn't stop laughing.

"Hahaha!"

"Thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west, don't underestimate the lecturer!"

“In the end, the verification of the core results of quantum mechanics still depends on the cloud chamber I invented!”

With the development of quantum mechanics and atomic science, the Wilson cloud chamber finally ushered in its spring.

It has become an indispensable instrument in all high-end physics laboratories.

Particle bombardment experiments, cosmic ray research.
It can be found in every field of physics.

Especially the Wu-Compton effect makes it shine.

Coupled with the current matrix mechanics, Wilson felt that the Nobel Prize in Physics was beckoning him.

Wei was very happy.

"It seems I need to study quantum mechanics carefully."

"I'll have to explain particle trajectories at the 50th anniversary."

On the other side, the University of Aberdeen.

Inside the physics laboratory.

Young Thomson is guiding students in their final experiment.

The information from the quantum mechanics conference had an unparalleled impact on him.

A certain desire in his heart has reached its peak!
"Probability wave?"

“What an incredible concept!”

"One word can change the world of physics."

"That's the realm that physicists should pursue!"

"Brother Bruce"

As the son of the famous Professor Thomson, young Thomson is a true second-generation scholar.

He received the best scientific education since childhood, and was guided by famous teachers when he grew up.

He even witnessed the rise of the legendary Professor Bruce.

However, his achievements in the field of physics were few and far between.

Although he is now a professor, he is not a physicist in the true sense.

Because he has no original results that will shock the academic world!

So what if I’m a second-generation student?

Faraday had never even been to school, yet he still became a great scientist famous all over the world.

In the field of scientific research, wealth, status, and power are not the main factors for success.

Only human wisdom is the key to the birth of amazing academic achievements.

So young Thomson was once very frustrated.

But now, everything is different.

At this time, the student interrupted Thomson's thoughts and said excitedly:

"Professor, your guess is correct. We cannot use traditional crystals as diffraction gratings."

“You have to use very thin metal foil!”

Little Thomson was overjoyed and shouted "Good" excitedly.

Since de Broglie published the matter wave theory, many physicists have devoted themselves to verifying it.

Among them are some top experimental masters.

The verification principle of matter waves is very simple, which is to discover the diffraction phenomenon of electrons.

But so far, no one has succeeded.

This is a bit strange.

Young Thomson was also caught in this dilemma.

His method was to use an electron beam emitted by cathode rays as a source of diffraction "light", pass it through a crystal, and then display the diffraction results on a photographic plate.

The principle of this method is feasible.

But after many attempts, all ended in failure.

There is no diffraction pattern on the bottom plate, not even a single hair.

This made little Thompson very confused.

"There's nothing wrong with the method."

Later, he had no choice but to ask his father Thompson for help.

As a result, the latter directly said: "Looking for your senior brother Bruce."

Little Thompson understood what his father meant.

So he wrote to Professor Bruce, describing his experimental process in detail and asking for the reason for the failure.

After seeing the message, Li Qiwei smiled and replied:
"George, I think there are two reasons."

"First, the electrons emitted by cathode rays have low energy, so their penetrating power is weak."

“Second, traditional crystals cannot be made into thin sheets, making it easier for electrons to penetrate.”

"Laue was able to succeed with traditional crystals because X-rays are essentially electromagnetic waves with extremely strong penetrating power."

After receiving the letter, little Thomson was suddenly enlightened and felt like he had found a treasure!
"Oh my god! Why didn't I think of that!"

He was not stupid, and he immediately thought of using extremely thin precious metal foil as diffraction crystal.

With the continuous development of quantum mechanics, the field of chemistry has also made rapid progress.

Chemists have a deeper understanding of crystals. Metals are also classified into crystal categories due to their regular atomic arrangement, commonly known as metal crystals.

This also verifies the prediction made by Li Qiwei when he gave a speech in Germany.

So, the scene where little Thompson had a conversation with his students just now happened.

When young Thomson saw the experimental results, he felt light as if he was about to ascend to heaven.

On the photographic plate, many circular rings formed by the diffraction beams were clearly shown.

This strongly demonstrates that electrons can diffract, that is, electrons have wave properties!
He verified the matter wave theory!
This is definitely a major event that shocked the physics community!
Especially since the quantum mechanics conference had just ended, Professor Bruce also proposed the incredible theory of probability waves.

Because matter wave theory is the basis of all of the above.

You can imagine how important it is!

Little Thompson was so excited that he couldn't help shaking.

He was extremely grateful to Brother Bruce.

"I will definitely thank my senior brother in person at the celebration party next February!"

Then, he became full of vigor and said with great enthusiasm:
"Let me offer an early gift to the Cavendish Laboratory on its 50th anniversary."

Across the ocean, the United States.

Alpha Labs.

Davidson came to the laboratory early to start his day's work.

As Richardson's doctor and brother-in-law, he also received an invitation from the Cavendish Laboratory.

This made Davidson very happy.

But at the same time, he was a little worried about whether he would embarrass his tutor.

Look at Professor Bruce’s doctors, each of them is now a well-known figure in the physics world.

But he is mediocre and has no outstanding academic achievements.

Most importantly, he is 42 years old this year, only one year younger than Professor Bruce.

However, Davidson was in a good mood, and he even laughed at himself:

"No one should laugh at an old man like me."

Then, he wondered why the laboratory president Wu Youxun wanted to discuss the results of the electron reflection experiment with him today.

Although the other party is young, his academic status is not low at all, and Davidson dare not take advantage of his seniority.

Before coming to Alpha Labs, his research direction was in the field of thermal electrons, which was inherited from his mentor Richardson.

After arriving, thanks to the relaxed environment of the laboratory, Davidson could choose research topics at will.

However, he still chose the field he was best at, hoping to produce some results as soon as possible to prove himself.

Two months ago, he had studied the reflection phenomenon when electrons bombarded a metal nickel target in a vacuum tube.

By chance, the vacuum tube suddenly broke, causing an oxide film to form on the surface of the nickel target, making it unusable.

Davidson was more frugal, and instead of making a new nickel target, he chose to remove the oxide film.

So he heated the nickel target for a while.

However, after heat treatment, not only the oxide film is removed, but even the electron reflection performance of the nickel target is greatly improved.

This aroused Davidson's great interest.

After careful research and thinking, he finally found the reason.

It turns out that before the metal nickel target is heated, there are many tiny crystal faces inside, but after heating, they become large crystal faces.

Therefore, the performance of the nickel target in reflecting electrons will be improved.

It's like if a mirror is broken, then when it reflects light, it will definitely be very scattered, far worse than a complete mirror.

Davidson was overjoyed. This was a very good result!

He went further and even used this method to produce a single crystal of nickel.

Finally, he organized these results and submitted them.

He was confident that this original discovery was worthy of Wu Youxun's recognition and the salary from the laboratory.

Just as Davidson was recalling the content of his experiment.

Wu Youxun walked over with an extremely excited look on his face.

He didn't even have time to say hello, and said excitedly:

"Old Dai, you are going to be famous in the physics world!"

ha?
Davidson was confused.

Although changing the reflective properties of nickel targets through heat treatment is a good result, it is still a long way from becoming famous in the physics community.

He even suspected that Wu Youxun had taken someone else's achievements by mistake.

"Um, President Wu, did you make a mistake?"

Wu Youxun smiled even more, and he quickly took out Davidson's experimental data.

"This is the electron reflection experiment you did using a single crystal nickel target, right?"

Davidson took it and looked at it, then nodded.

"Yes."

“But it’s just regular reflectance data, what’s the big deal?”

Wu Youxun smiled and guided:
"Take a closer look. Is there anything else here besides the reflection phenomenon?"

Davidson was even more confused.

What I'm doing is an electron reflection experiment. Could there be any other phenomena?

However, when facing a big boss, basic respect is still required.

"Let me see."

Soon, something seemed to be wrong with Davidson's expression.

"Hey, what is this pattern?"

"Although the mark is very faint, I can confirm that it is not a reflection."

"This"

"hiss!"

"Why does this look a bit like... a diffraction pattern?"

"How can electrons diffract?"

Davidson couldn't help but exclaim!

This is too strange.

At this time, Wu Youxun patted his shoulder and said with a smile:

"Old Dai, I just attended a conference on quantum mechanics."

"Matter waves are the core of that conference!"

“Even Professor Bruce’s probability wave theory is based on the wave-particle duality.”

"Don't you understand yet?"

boom!
It was as if thunder exploded in Davidson's mind.

"This is the wave-particle duality of electrons!"

"Oh my God! I actually proved the theory of matter waves!"

At this moment, Davidson even had the urge to cry.

He was so excited, so thrilled!

Although he knew about matter wave theory, he never thought about studying it.

Are you kidding? Is that an area that ordinary people can access?

Davidson knows that he is not a genius and that nothing will come easy.

But today, he was hit by a pie.

Unknowingly, he accidentally proved de Broglie's matter wave theory.

This is such a pleasant surprise.

Suddenly, Davidson said solemnly:
"President Wu, thank you."

“Without you, I would have missed this important achievement.”

Wu Youxun smiled and said:

"Old Dai, give me a lecture."

"We'll talk about thanking you later."

"The most urgent task now is to publish the paper as soon as possible."

"This is not only about your honor, but also about the honor of Alpha Labs!"

Davidson nodded heavily, and the two smiled at each other.

1923 12 Month 20 Day.

The American Journal of Physics published Davidson's experimental results.

As soon as the paper was published, it caused a sensation in the physics community.

However, only three days passed.

12 month 23 day.

The journal Nature published another paper by Thomson Jr.

Causing a sensation again!

Davisson and Thomson Jr. actually used two different methods to simultaneously verify the wave nature of electrons.

For a time, the entire physics community was amazed and countless people were envious.

The quantum era has arrived, and things are surging!
(End of this chapter)