1900: A physics genius wandering around Europe

Chapter 602: Shocking predictions! Quantum field theory! And reversals! Dark clouds on the edifice of quantum mechanics?
1924 11 Month 3 Day.

The last day of the 4th Bruce Conference.

Inside the Hotel Metropole Brussels.

Before the meeting began, Li Qiwei stood by the window of the luxury suite, overlooking the bustling scene outside.

The sun had just risen and a cool breeze had blown away the clouds.

Everything is so beautiful!
Li Qiwei's heart was as calm as water, but his thoughts were surging.

He had two important things to do in today's meeting.

First, summarize the development achievements of quantum mechanics and predict the future of quantum mechanics and even physics.

In real history, the development of quantum mechanics can be said to be the result of the hard work of several generations.

In the first generation, Planck proposed the concept of "quantum", which officially opened up modern physics, and classical physicists joined the tide of the times.

In the second generation, Bohr proposed the quantum orbital model of atoms based on the concept of quantum and established the quantum theory, which was later called the old quantum theory.

The third generation, a new generation of geniuses headed by Heisenberg and Schrödinger, buried the old quantum theory, created quantum mechanics, and reached the true peak of quantum.

The fourth generation, after Dirac proposed the quantum field theory, in the following decades, many peerless geniuses in physics worked hard to perfect the connotation of quantum field theory and launched an attack on the ultimate theory of physics!

Quantum → Old Quantum Theory → Quantum Mechanics → Quantum Field Theory

This is a magnificent heroic epic!

In this life, Li Qiwei, with his own strength, leads the development of four generations, running through the past, present and future.

His traces can be found everywhere in quantum mechanics.

He is the highest mountain and the longest river in quantum mechanics!
He is the well-deserved father of quantum mechanics!

Today's conference is considered a watershed in quantum mechanics and quantum field theory.

After Ridgwell proposed the principle of complementarity and quantum entanglement, classical quantum mechanics came to an end.

The era of quantum field theory is approaching.

If quantum mechanics is the pinnacle of quantum, then quantum field theory is the pinnacle above the pinnacle!

Quantum field theory is closer to the nature of the world than quantum mechanics.

In particular, the standard model of particle physics has already occupied the absolute C position in physics and represents the future of physics!
Li Qiwei had already made sufficient preparations.

Perhaps at the fifth Bruce Conference, quantum field theory will be officially launched.

However, as Lord Kelvin once said, there are two dark clouds hanging over classical physics.

This statement may also apply to quantum mechanics.

There is a dark cloud over quantum mechanics, which is already perfect enough.

This dark cloud is Li Qiwei's second thing.

The fourth mythical beast in physics: “Schrödinger’s cat” thought experiment!

Schrödinger's cat is so famous that even liberal arts students in later generations know this term.

Things like "breaking the taboo of life and death", "consciousness and existence" and so on.

But few people really understand what this thought experiment says and what it denies.

If you truly understand Schrödinger's cat, you will find that it is more important than you think.

In real history, Einstein and Bohr fought several times, and each time ended in failure.

Feeling disheartened, his younger brother Schrödinger gave him a great surprise.

In November 1935, at the invitation of Einstein, Schrödinger proposed the "Schrödinger's cat" conjecture in his published paper.

This thought experiment is a deliberate attack on the interpretation of measurement in quantum mechanics.

It introduced consciousness into the measurement of quantum mechanics for the first time, from an extremely special and tricky angle, bringing science infinitely close to metaphysics.

The Copenhagen interpretation cannot perfectly explain this problem!

Many marketing accounts in later generations like to say that the double-slit experiment is related to consciousness, probably because they confused the double-slit experiment with Schrödinger's cat.

Although the Copenhagen School could not solve Schrödinger's cat, its attitude remained tough.

"Believe it if you want, forget it if you don't want!"

But there are many great people in the field of physics, and some people just don't believe it.

As a result, many schools and theories of quantum mechanics were born that were completely different from the Copenhagen interpretation.

The bigwigs used their wild imagination to try to explain Schrödinger's cat.

Several of them became famous in later generations and are known to countless people.

It is also a frequent guest in various science fiction movies and novels.

For example, the famous "parallel universe theory", "quantum decoherence" and "consciousness collapse theory".

(Note that parallel universe and multiverse are not the same concept, which will be explained later)
Even in later generations, the Copenhagen School has always occupied the orthodox position in quantum mechanics.

However, on the issue of Schrödinger's cat, the bigwigs have been arguing endlessly and have not reached a consensus.

Each theory has its merits.

Li Qiwei smiled lightly.

In this life, Schrödinger's cat is going to become Bruce's cat.

Moreover, he was also prepared to propose various interpretations and let these top bosses of the time accompany him in the exploration!
Just as Li Qiwei was thinking about the content of today's meeting.

Wu Youxun and Yu Yin came together with smiles on their faces.

"Professor, the meeting time is almost up."

"Professor Lorenz asked us to inform you."

"He said if you haven't rested enough, you can come back later."

Lorentz was very considerate. He knew that Bruce was exhausted from the quantum entanglement experiment and needed a good rest.

Li Qiwei was in high spirits and didn't look tired at all.

"Let's go."

He asked again:

"You two look very happy, is there anything going on?"

Yu Yin said:

"Xiao Wu said he will be able to return to China next year and will take the Alpha experiment with him. I was very excited."

Li Qiwei smiled slightly.

He was equally excited.
-
9 o'clock in the morning.

The last day of the meeting started on time.

The experts first summarized the current problems in quantum mechanics.

Although the foundations of quantum mechanics have been perfected, there will be no errors in the general direction.

However, there are still many unclear points in the specific details.

Even Li Qiwei couldn't give a definite answer for the time being.

For example, Schrödinger asked:
“Is the wave function collapse process completed instantaneously or in a very short time?”

These two processes are completely different and must be made clear.

The former represents some kind of infinite phenomenon.

In mathematics, there is nothing strange about infinity and infinitesimal. They are both very clear mathematical concepts and can even be involved in calculations.

But in physics, infinity and infinitesimal are more troublesome.

Because infinity cannot be described by real physical pictures.

For example, what is infinitely small space? Is it a particle? Is it a point mass?
It's totally unclear and I can't imagine it.

Therefore, if the collapse of the wave function is an instantaneous process, it represents a process that occurs in an infinitesimal amount of time and cannot be explained.

In later generations, the latest experimental studies have shown that the collapse of the wave function takes time, on the order of microseconds.

However, this conclusion has not yet been recognized by the physics community.

Therefore, Li Qiwei couldn't give an answer rashly.

There are many more details like this.

The big guys summarized carefully and discussed cautiously.

There are countless eyes outside watching the content of Bruce's meeting, and no mistakes can be made.

Soon, the discussion was over, and Bohr closed his notes with satisfaction.

The densely packed content above seems to be encrypted, and I guess only he can understand it.

This notebook bears witness to the development of quantum mechanics and even physics.

Bohr suddenly had an idea, as if a memory from a certain life flashed through his mind, and he sighed inwardly:
“The most glorious era of physics may be coming to an end.”

However, he was wrong.

The future is unimaginably wonderful!

At this time, Lorenz said with full energy:
"The Fourth Bruce Conference is drawing to a close."

"Objectively speaking, this is probably the most shocking meeting I have ever attended in my decades of career!"

“No other theory has ever given me such an incredible experience as quantum mechanics.”

“In terms of mystery, even the theory of relativity cannot compare to quantum mechanics.”

"I am not trying to compare the importance of the two theories, but to express my true feelings about quantum mechanics."

“It subverts human’s understanding of the nature of the world.”

"But we can't help but ask, has quantum mechanics come to an end?"

"The two main pillars of modern physics have been perfected. What will the future of physics look like?"

"Now, please invite Professor Bruce to come to the stage and give us the final speech of the conference!"

"Predict the future!"

Wow!
There was immediate warm applause in the venue!

The power of Professor Bruce's predictions is known to the world.

Everyone is looking forward to it.

Li Qiwei stood up and walked to the front of the stage.

His deep eyes swept over everyone, he smiled slightly, and said:
"Twenty-four years ago, Lord Kelvin concluded that the edifice of classical physics was complete, with only two small dark clouds hanging over it."

"Who would have thought that 24 years later, these two small dark clouds would become two buildings of modern physics."

Planck and other older generations were all deeply moved when they heard this.

More than 20 years have passed in the blink of an eye, and it seems as if it is still vivid in my mind.

"As Professor Lorentz just said, quantum mechanics has undergone a more tortuous development than the theory of relativity."

"It condensed the efforts of several generations and went through several iterations before it finally formed today's quantum mechanics."

"Planck, Einstein, Bohr, de Broglie, Schrödinger, Heisenberg, Pauli."

"I can name many similar names."

"Whether you are attending the meeting today or not."

“There may be objective differences in the size of each of their achievements, but their contributions to quantum mechanics are the same.”

"I am very lucky to live in this era, the era of the pinnacle of physics!"

Everyone was moved when they heard this!
Professor Bruce's humility and broad-mindedness are admirable.

"However, the music ends and the people disperse, and the glory will eventually pass."

“Some people say that quantum mechanics has been perfected and the feast of theoretical physics is over.”

“I have a slightly different opinion on this.”

“I wonder if you still remember the several remaining problems in classical physics that I mentioned at the first Bruce Conference.”

"One of them is [Field]."

Everyone was surprised and didn't understand what was going on.

What do fields have to do with the future of quantum mechanics?
Only Bohr knew the details and looked excited, "Here it comes!"

Li Qiwei said faintly:

"Quantum mechanics quantizes all matter and energy in the universe."

"Field is also a kind of matter, why is it not quantized?"

“Take the electromagnetic field, for example.”

"As early as one hundred years ago, the electromagnetic pioneer Faraday proposed the concept of field and described it with lines of force."

"He used experiments to prove that field is a real substance, but its form is different from the particles we are familiar with."

"Electrons and electromagnetic fields are two completely different entities, but they can interact with each other."

"I haven't seen any theory that attempts to account for this obvious phenomenon."

"And the electrons are quantized, but the field is continuous."

“Isn’t this a violation?”

"So, I think the next step in quantum mechanics should be to try to quantize the field as well!"

“Only in this way can we incorporate the field, the last piece of the puzzle of classical physics, into the framework of modern physics!”

Wow!
Everyone opened their eyes wide, all shocked.

They never thought about it.

Even Heisenberg, Dirac and other young geniuses, who were quick-witted, had not thought of this.

"Yes, the physical structure of electrons and electromagnetic fields is obviously contradictory."

"One is continuous and the other is discontinuous, so is the interaction between them continuous or discontinuous?"

"Professor Bruce sees the big picture from the small, and discovers the extraordinary from the ordinary."

At this moment, Dirac and others looked excited, believing that quantum mechanics still had great potential.

Although the outcome is unknown, this makes it more challenging.

At this moment, no one present could have imagined what earth-shaking changes would occur after quantum mechanics was combined with the field!

It directly laid the foundation for physics for the next hundred years.

Ridgeway continued:

"As for the future of physics that Professor Lorentz talked about, it has not changed at all. There is nothing to predict."

"I firmly believe that it must be a unified theory!"

"Unify quantum mechanics and relativity, and unify the four fundamental forces."

"The universe will no longer have any secrets from humans!"

"Humanity faces the Creator!"

Wow!
Everyone was excited.

They have heard about the unified theory more than once, but they get excited every time they hear it.

What a great theory that would be!

At this moment, Lorenz and everyone else suddenly noticed that Professor Bruce seemed to be hesitant to speak, as if he was struggling with something.

Lorenz asked:
"Bruce, what's wrong with you?"

In his opinion, although the content of this prophecy was brief, it was reasonable.

If the fourth Bruce Conference produced as many predictions as the first, wouldn't that mean that there has been no progress in physics over the years?

Therefore, Lorenz thought that Ridgway was dissatisfied with the small number of predictions.

However, Li Qiwei shook his head slightly and said:

"I was wondering if I should add one last point about quantum mechanics."

Huh?
Everyone became extremely curious.

I have never seen Professor Bruce struggle.

Lorenz smiled and said:
"Bruce, just tell me, are you still worried about overturning quantum mechanics?"

Everyone looked at Einstein and smiled knowingly.

Einstein quipped:
"The only one who can defeat Bruce is Bruce himself."

At this time, Li Qiwei smiled slightly and said:

"Yesterday, I suddenly discovered that there seemed to be a dark cloud above the building of quantum mechanics."

Wow!
The whole audience was stunned!
(End of this chapter)