Training the Heavens

Chapter 320 Photoelectric Effect
Abolishing the imperial examination system did not just mean canceling examinations at all levels, such as county examinations, provincial examinations, and metropolitan examinations. It also meant finding another way to select talent. Therefore, after abolishing the imperial examination system, the court issued an edict ordering the entire country to switch to new studies, combining educating people and selecting talent into one path.

This inevitably led to a surge in the number of new-style schools and an improvement in social status. Since studying the Four Books and Five Classics was no longer a promising path, how many people would still be willing to learn? Were they really pursuing knowledge simply because they studied so hard?
Since the new-style schools can bring new opportunities for promotion, there will definitely be no shortage of applicants. Aurora University has now made a name for itself, and most of its previous graduates have found good jobs. Those who work in factories can get high salaries, and those who work in government offices can get official positions.

When the imperial court officially abolishes the imperial examination system in the future, there will definitely be a large number of young students and even middle-aged scholars who are unwilling to give up their official careers coming to apply for the exam. Therefore, Aurora University must make preparations in advance to cope with this wave of applications.

Zhang Xingjiu followed up Yan Fu's topic and brought up this matter, suggesting, "MSG is selling well now, and the school's finances are gradually improving. Shouldn't we continue to purchase land, build school buildings, and hire teachers, so that we can take this opportunity to expand the school?"

"Zhou Ping is right. There are already quite a few applicants this year. Next year, when the imperial edict is issued, the number of applicants will probably increase several times. It would be a pity if we meet the right talent but cannot admit him." Yan Fu nodded repeatedly, agreeing with Zhang Xingjiu's assessment of the situation.

"More and more students are applying to Aurora University. This is definitely a good thing, but we cannot be careless because of this. Not only must the entrance examination be strictly controlled, but the school's teachers must also be carefully selected and trained. We cannot ruin the school's reputation because of a momentary impulse." Ma Xiangbo was not dazzled by the good situation.

"What Ma Gong said is very true. If students come in but teachers cannot keep up, then the gain will not make up for the loss." Cai Yuanpei also agreed.

"So this year we should continue to adjust the departmental structure, separate each department, refine each major, and then use the summer vacation to bring teachers together to discuss and study. In this way, when the imperial edict is issued next year, we will have the ability to expand enrollment." Zhang Xingjiu suggested.

"It seems that the school will be busy for a while this summer." Ma Xiangbo said with a smile. Despite this, he did not feel it was hard at all. The school has such a good development opportunity. What does it matter if everyone works hard?

Therefore, the teachers of Aurora University had almost no vacation during the entire summer vacation. They gathered together to attend study classes, discuss academic matters with each other, and cooperate with the school to carry out departmental adjustments. Although they were busy, they were extremely excited.

Compared with ordinary teachers, Zhang Xingjiu is busier. Not only does he have to teach teachers in science and engineering and foreign language departments, but he is also responsible for the adjustment planning of science and engineering departments. He has now been promoted to vice president in charge of engineering departments.

In addition to these, he cannot delay his important work. He also has to keep an eye on the latest developments in the European and American scientific communities and publish papers ahead of certain important goals. In the second half of this year, he plans to work hard and produce many heavyweight results.

The first thing to write is a paper on the photoelectric effect. When light shines on a metal, it causes the electrical properties of the material to change. This type of light-to-electricity phenomenon is collectively known as the photoelectric effect.

In 1839, Alexandre Becquerel, who was only 19 years old, discovered the photovoltaic effect while assisting his father in studying the effects of irradiating light waves into an electrolytic cell. Although this is not an optical effect, it plays a great role in revealing the close relationship between the electrical properties of matter and light waves.

In 1873, while conducting a mission related to underwater cables, Willeby-Smith discovered that selenium cylinders exhibited photoconductivity, meaning that shining a light beam on them increased their electrical conductivity. In 1887, German physicist Heinrich Hertz observed the photoelectric effect and the transmission and reception of electromagnetic waves. Hertz's transmitter consisted of a spark gap, which generated and emitted electromagnetic waves by creating sparks. The receiver consisted of a coil and a spark gap. Whenever the coil detected an electromagnetic wave, a spark appeared across the spark gap.

Hertz used a quartz prism to decompose light waves according to their wavelengths and carefully analyzed the shielding behavior of each wavelength of light waves. He found that ultraviolet rays caused the photoelectric effect. He then published these experimental results in the "Annals of Physics", but did not conduct further research on the effect.

Many physicists, including Thomson, Leonard and others, have shown great interest in this effect. They have conducted a series of experiments to try to uncover the secret of the photoelectric effect. They have achieved some success, but have never touched upon the final answer.

It also caused great trouble to scientists, because when they were doing experiments, they found that when they shone a blue light beam with very weak irradiance on the surface of potassium metal, as long as the frequency was greater than its limit frequency, it could cause it to emit photoelectrons. However, no matter how strong the irradiance of the red light beam was, once the frequency was less than the limit frequency of potassium metal, it could not induce the emission of photoelectrons.

According to the wave theory of light, the irradiance or amplitude of a light wave corresponds to the energy it carries. Therefore, a light beam with very strong irradiance must be able to provide more energy to expel electrons. However, the facts are exactly the opposite of what is expected by classical theory.

Zhang Xingjiu wrote a paper giving a new explanation. He described the light beam as a group of discrete quanta, now called photons, rather than continuous fluctuations. Based on Zhang Xingjiu's blackbody radiation law (which is Planck's law in the original history), he deduced that the energy possessed by each photon that makes up the light beam is equal to the frequency multiplied by a constant, namely the Zhang Xingjiu constant.

He also proposed the "photoelectric effect equation," which states that the energy of a photon with a frequency of f is E = hf, where the h factor is Zhang Xingjiu's constant. If the photon's frequency is greater than a certain limit frequency, it has enough energy to cause an electron to escape, resulting in the photoelectric effect. Therefore, the energy of a photoelectron depends only on the frequency, not the irradiance.

This was the only achievement that won Einstein the Nobel Prize in the future. According to calculations, he would publish this paper next year. Considering the communication distance between Asia and Europe, Zhang Xingjiu published it in advance.

He submitted the paper to Nature magazine and sent several copies to friends such as Lippmann, the Curies, Lang Zhiwan, and some familiar scientists in Europe and the United States.

After a long journey of more than a month, the paper finally arrived at Nature magazine. The reviewers were very conflicted when they saw the article, but finally, considering Zhang Xingjiu's achievements, they decided to publish it.

Soon, the article caused an uproar in the scientific community.

(End of this chapter)