1900: A physics genius wandering around Europe

Chapter 519: Paper published! The academic community is shocked! Matter wave verification scheme! Where is the cat?

After receiving Professor Bruce's affirmation, Lang Zhiwan immediately arranged for de Broglie's doctoral defense.

At the same time, de Broglie also wrote his matter wave theory into a short paper and prepared to publish it.

The so-called small paper refers to a paper published in a regular academic journal, while the big paper refers to the graduation thesis used for master's and doctoral dissertations.

1923 3 Month 20 Day.

Doctoral thesis defense at the University of Paris.

Perrin, Fabbri and others formed the judging committee.

As de Broglie's mentor, Lang Zhiwan was responsible for presiding over the defense.

At the beginning of the meeting, de Broglie first elaborated in detail his thinking process when he proposed the matter wave.

“I had the opportunity to speak to Professor Bruce for more than half an hour during his visit to France last year.”

"In this talk, Professor Bruce first proposed the idea that electrons could be waves."

"He didn't analyze it from a theoretical perspective, but relied on pure physical intuition."

"Due to personal reasons, Professor Bruce cannot spare the time to conduct in-depth research in this area."

"At the time, I was studying wave-particle duality."

“I became very interested in this idea.”

"So, with Professor Bruce's encouragement, I devoted myself to studying the conjecture that electrons are waves."

"I reviewed a series of important results since the advent of quantum theory."

"Including the wave-particle duality of light, the photoelectric effect, the Wu-Compton effect, the Bohr-Lee model, etc."

"When I started thinking deeply about the wave-particle duality of light, two questions bothered me."

"First, I think the photon theory previously proposed by Professor Bruce is incomplete."

"Because he determined the energy of a particle of light by using E=hv, a formula that includes the frequency v."

"But pure particle theory does not include any factor that defines frequency."

"So, for photons, we must also introduce the concept of particles."

"Second, the movement of electrons in quantum theory involves the concept of integers."

"In wave mechanics, the only phenomena involving integers are interference and vibration."

"So, this made me think that when describing the motion of electrons, we need to give it the concept of periodicity."

"Based on the above two questions, I converted the conjecture proposed by Professor Bruce into a theoretical model for research."

"."

De Broglie's eloquent and fluent speech attracted all the review professors and participants.

Everyone deeply felt how difficult it is to turn a conjecture or idea into a practical theory.

What’s more, it is the most advanced theory such as matter wave.

During his doctoral studies, de Broglie systematically studied all new achievements in theoretical physics.

Therefore, after hearing Professor Bruce's amazing conjecture, he was able to quickly grasp the core and conduct research at a highly theoretical level.

Everyone asked themselves, if it were them, Professor Bruce's inspiration would probably be wasted.

After de Broglie finished his presentation, the question-and-answer session began.

The professors who were judging the case looked at each other and smiled bitterly.

This was probably the first time they encountered such an embarrassing situation.

The professor dared not question his doctoral student's thesis.

After all, this is an incredible doctoral thesis that was praised by Professor Bruce himself!

At this time, Perrin, as the boss, stood up.

He smiled and said:

"De Broglie, I'm not afraid of you laughing at me, but I can't say I can fully understand your paper."

"Because it involves too much physics knowledge: optics, statistics, dynamics, relativity, quantum theory"

“There are probably not many people in the physics community who understand all of these areas at the same time.”

Everyone was shocked when they heard this.

This is not about professors evaluating PhDs, but about PhDs screening professors.

Especially the masters and doctoral students who came to audit the lectures were so excited that they wished they were the ones standing on the stage.

Look down on the world!

Then Perrin said:

"But I still want to ask a question."

"How do you prove your theory of matter waves?"

"Even though Professor Bruce admits the existence of matter waves, I think it must be verified through experiments."

"Maxwell predicted the existence of electromagnetic waves, which were finally discovered by Hertz through experiments."

"Two and a half of Professor Bruce's five major predictions have also been proven."

"So, I hope your matter waves can also be confirmed by experiments."

Wow!
Lang Zhiwan, Fabbri and others were all startled.

They thought Professor Perrin's questions were necessary.

Upon hearing this, de Broglie smiled gently, as if everything was under control.

"Professor Perrin, you have a very good question."

"I have already thought of a way to test the wave nature of electrons."

"My method is similar to Professor Laue's original idea of ​​verifying X-rays."

"Since electrons are waves, when they pass through the lattice in a crystal, interference and diffraction may occur."

“电子的质量是0.91×10^-27g，经过200V的电势差加速后，它将获得E=Ue=3.2×10^-17J的动能。”

"According to the kinetic energy equation E=mv/2, we can calculate that the speed of the electron at this time is 8.4×10^6m/s."

"Finally, according to λ=h/p, the wavelength of the electron is calculated to be 8.7×10^-11m."

"This wavelength is already roughly equivalent to that of X-rays."

"Even though it's small, the electron is also small enough to diffract."

"So, it is entirely possible to observe the diffraction phenomenon of electrons by using crystals as diffraction gratings."

“This is my plan.”

Wow!
Perrin was shocked when he heard this.

He didn't expect that de Broglie had already planned a verification plan.

And it's well-founded.

Most importantly, this scheme is familiar to physicists.

Diffraction from crystals is becoming a routine technique in physics.

At this time, Lang Zhiwan suddenly said:

"I think this method may be much more difficult than X-ray verification."

"Because according to matter wave theory, electrons also have the properties of matter, and the collision between them and matter will affect the diffraction phenomenon."

Everyone nodded after hearing this.

What Lang Zhiwan said makes a lot of sense.

De Broglie smiled and said:

"Professor, your analysis is correct."

"I've already had my brother do an experiment once before."

"Unfortunately, he failed."

"But I firmly believe that this is due to his lack of ability, not a problem with my experimental protocol."

"According to theoretical calculations, the diffraction phenomenon of electrons is very obvious."

In real history, de Broglie proposed this experimental suggestion to his brother's friend, astrophysicist Dovier.

But Dovier simply did it and failed.

Then, he gave up the verification of matter waves because he was busy with other experiments.

Dauvier did not believe in the existence of matter waves from the bottom of his heart, which was also the mentality of many physicists at the time.

So they lost an opportunity to win the Nobel Prize.

After de Broglie finished speaking, everyone smiled knowingly.

He was probably the only one in this room who dared to tease a duke like this.

However, Dr. Morris's level is really not satisfactory.

Research results on X-rays have won four or five Nobel Prizes.

But the Duke Doctor is still fighting hard.

In the end, there was no doubt that de Broglie passed the defense successfully.

He will become the most legendary doctoral student in the history of the University of Paris, France.
-
1923 4 Month 15 Day.

De Broglie's matter wave paper was published on the cover of Nature journal.

As soon as the article came out, the whole world was shocked!

The content of this paper overturns everyone's basic understanding of the material world.

Everything is in flux?

Are you sure this isn't bullshit?

"Oh my God! Am I dreaming?"

“This is too shocking!”

"How can matter be a wave?"

"Then why am I not floating around like a wave?"

After some calm calculation, someone said:

"According to the matter wave formula λ=h/p, suppose a person weighs 70kg and moves at a speed of 1m/s."

"Then the wavelength of his matter is only 9×10^-39 meters."

“This number is so small that the volatility of people can be completely ignored.”

"So, the matter in the real world only shows materiality, but not wave properties."

"But for extremely small microscopic particles like electrons, their wave nature is very obvious."

Everyone was stunned.

Despite this, for a time, not many physicists could accept this view.

Because what they have been exposed to since childhood are material things, real material things.

There is really no way to connect them with waves.

However, de Broglie became famous all over the world because of this paper.

Judging from its innovation alone, the only theories in modern physics that can compare with this paper are probably relativity and quantum theory.

At the same time, as the details of de Broglie's defense were revealed, everyone suddenly discovered:

"Oh my god!"

“De Broglie’s inspiration actually came from Professor Bruce!”

"I was just saying that I seemed to see the shadow of Professor Bruce's wild ideas in this paper."

"I see."

Because of Ridgway, many physicists have changed their attitudes towards matter wave theory.

After all, from Professor Bruce's perspective, the theories he approves of must have their merits.

However, there are still not many physics experts who are willing to believe in the existence of matter waves.

Even so, matter waves have become the biggest research hotspot in the field of physics, even surpassing matrix mechanics.

Because compared to shocking and subversive effects, matter waves are obviously superior.

"What if it's true?"

University of Munich.

Heisenberg was invited to give a lecture on matrix mechanics here.

He had just finished his speech when he saw de Broglie's paper.

My heart was extremely shocked.

"Oh, God!"

"Has Professor Bruce's prediction come true again?"

"How is this possible?"

"An electron is an electron, a real particle. How can it be a wave?"

"How can we imagine that matter is both a wave and a particle?"

Heisenberg was stunned.

He was even a little scared.

Because his matrix mechanics leaves no room for waves.

The underlying architecture of matrix mechanics is based on the fact that electrons are microscopic particles.

And now, de Broglie's matter wave theory is undoubtedly a shock to matrix mechanics.

Although it cannot shake the status of matrix mechanics for the time being, who can predict what will happen in the future?
In an instant, Heisenberg thought a lot.

He planned to study the matter wave theory carefully to see if he could find some problems in it.

"No one can shake my matrix mechanics!"

"Whatever the waves are, they are all illusory things."

Heisenberg once again showed his paranoid and extreme side.

Sommerfeld sighed:

“Is physics about to enter another golden age?” “This time, it’s the age of quantum mechanics.”

University of Chicago, USA.

Compton, 31, has just been promoted to professor in the Department of Physics.

At the same time, he also served as the director of the school's metallurgical laboratory.

This is all attributed to the Wu-Compton effect he and Wu Youxun jointly published.

This effect not only proves the wave-particle duality of light, but also plays an important theoretical guiding role in the study of various rays.

After being promoted to professor, Compton was full of energy and ambition.

However, he did not stop moving forward and remained active at the forefront of research.

When he saw de Broglie's paper, he was immediately upset and slapped his thigh in anger.

"Oh! What a pity!"

"Wu, if only we had thought a little more at the beginning."

"Then this paper that shocked the physics world is ours."

Wu Youxun came to the University of Chicago today to inspect and seek cooperation.

He is now gradually replacing Tesla and taking over the management of Alpha Labs.

His first goal was to personally go to various universities to recruit outstanding research talents to supplement the laboratory's foundation.

Facing Compton's "daydreaming", Wu Youxun said with a smile:

"Brother Kang, you think too much."

"With our abilities at that time, do you think you could prove matter waves theoretically like Dr. de Broglie did?"

Compton chuckled when he heard this, and his underwear was exposed.

He is very self-aware that the theoretical derivation of matter waves is not something that anyone can do.

Besides, he has always been good at experimental physics.

“I’m just envious!”

"I thought we had put an end to all issues with wave-particle duality."

“I didn’t expect it to just begin.”

“Modern physics is so exciting!”

Suddenly, Compton's ambition exploded and he asked:
"Wu, are you interested in us working together again to prove the existence of matter waves through experiments?"

Wu Youxun was stunned for a moment when he heard this.

But soon, his complexion returned to normal.

He smiled and said:

"I'm afraid not."

"Professor Bruce asked me to take charge of Alpha Labs."

"It's hard for me to spare the energy to study matter waves."

Compton shrugged, looking regretful.

However, he and Wu Youxun had a very close relationship, so there was no need for them to be polite and explain.

"Wu, sometimes, I really envy you."

"I am only somewhat famous in the physics academic community."

"And the sodium lamp you invented is world-renowned."

"You are much more famous than I am."

"If one day I can't make it, I'll go to your Alpha Lab to look for a job, and you have to help me."

Wu Youxun joked:

"Brother Kang, if you are willing to come, I will definitely welcome you."

"I'll give you the highest salary possible."

The two laughed.

At this time, Compton asked casually:

"By the way, you have been promoting Alpha Labs everywhere recently. How is the effect?"

Wu Youxun said:
“Few physics professors are willing to go to the lab.”

"They prefer to stay in colleges and universities to do basic academic research."

“Although Alpha Labs has made a breakthrough in sodium lamps, it is still a little lacking in appeal to these physics giants.”

Compton nodded.

As a professor himself, he can understand everyone's concerns.

Suddenly, Wu Youxun added:

"However, I did manage to recruit a technical expert from the Carnegie Institute of Technology."

Compton asked hurriedly, "Who is it?"

Wu Youxun said: "You should know him, Dr. Davidson."

Compton's eyes lit up, "It turned out to be him."

Davidson received his undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago.

He was highly regarded by Millikan and was recommended to study for a doctorate under Professor Richardson at Princeton University.

Moreover, he married Richardson's sister, and the two of them went from being a teacher and a student to being brother-in-law and elder brother-in-law.

Richardson is now the head of the Department of Physics at King's College London, which is the position that Ridgway held back then.

Richardson, as Thomson's doctor, was also a big shot who came out of the Cavendish Laboratory.

Therefore, he had very good personal relationships with Ridgway, Rutherford and others.

With this relationship, Davidson agreed to Wu Youxun's invitation almost without hesitation.

Just kidding, entering Alpha Lab is equivalent to boarding Professor Bruce's ship.

Any fool knows how to choose.

In real history, Davisson and Thomson Jr. independently verified the wave nature of electrons, and both won the Nobel Prize in Physics.

Little Thomson is Thomson's son.

Compton encouraged:

“That’s a good sign.”

“I believe that Alpha Lab will shine in the academic field in the future.”

Wu Youxun is also full of confidence.
-
Cavendish Laboratory, UK.

It was here that Professor Thomson discovered the existence of electrons.

He also roughly measured the mass and charge of electrons, proving that electrons are tiny particles inside atoms.

But now, the matter wave theory has emerged, breaking the common sense that electrons are particles.

Therefore, Rutherford attached great importance to this theory and could not help but exclaim:

"De Broglie's paper may require us to start over again with all our knowledge of atoms."

Although he could not accept matter waves from the bottom of his heart, Rutherford would not easily express his opinion because of the existence of Professor Bruce.

He trusted the man's instincts!

Chadwick enviously said:
"I originally thought that it was unlikely that there would be any new breakthroughs in theoretical physics."

“The future will definitely be dominated by experimental physics.”

"But Heisenberg's matrix mechanics and de Broglie's matter waves broke the shackles."

"I think quantum mechanics will have further development in the future."

Rutherford nodded.

Chadwick was very satisfied that he could look at the problem from such a high perspective.

He suddenly sighed:

“Bruce’s inspiration is just endless.”

“It is really hard for me to imagine that matrix mechanics and matter wave theory were both completed under his guidance.”

"Doesn't that guy have a research bottleneck?"

Chadwick and the others were all filled with admiration and respect.

"In the field of theoretical physics, Professor Bruce has reached the pinnacle!"

At this time, Rutherford asked the person next to him:
"George, is the professor okay?"

Thomson Jr. said:
"My father is in good health."

Thomson Jr. is now a professor of physics at the University of Aberdeen in northern England.

Because he was far away from home, he would go home to see his father every time he returned to England.

Besides, the place he frequented most was, of course, Cavendish.

Then he said helplessly:

"However, he severely criticized the matter-wave theory, calling it the work of speculators."

"And he said the French just like romantic fantasies."

"He questioned, if electrons are waves, how can they have mass?"

Rutherford and others all smiled knowingly when they heard this.

But the question raised by Professor Thomson is indeed very interesting.

Waves do not have mass, such as electromagnetic waves, mechanical waves, etc., have no mass.

So what about the mass of an electron?

No one can figure it out for the time being.

But this is normal. The matter wave theory has just been published and there is still a lot to be studied in its future.

At this time, young Thompson said:

"However, I am personally very optimistic about the matter wave theory."

"And the verification method that de Broglie mentioned is very interesting. I plan to give it a try."

Rutherford immediately encouraged:

"George, I believe you can do it."

"If you succeed, it will become another great story in the field of physics."

"The father proved that the electron is a particle, and the son proved that the electron is a wave."

Everyone laughed.

Little Thompson scratched his head in embarrassment.

I don’t know if his father will be so angry that he will beat him up.
-
Quantum Research Institute.

When de Broglie's paper was published, everyone looked at Li Qiwei as if he were a god.

Worship!

Five-body cast!

"Professor Bruce is so terrifying!"

"He just pointed his finger and came up with this incredible theory of matter waves."

"I really envy de Broglie's good luck!"

Pauli said even more wildly:
"This de Broglie is a stroke of genius!"

"Although I feel like he's talking nonsense, but when I think about it carefully, he does make some sense."

Even someone as powerful as Pauli could not find any angle to question matter waves.

The only thing he could think of was that this theory had not yet been verified experimentally.

This will be a major event in the field of experimental physics.

Pauli was a little worried about his junior brother Xiao Hai.

Although he stood firmly on Heisenberg's side, his strong intuition told him:

Matter wave theory is likely to have an impact on matrix mechanics!

Because Professor Bruce said it very clearly.

"There is no place for waves in matrix mechanics."

But now the electron has wave properties.

This shows that there must be something overlooked in matrix mechanics.

But Pauli had no idea about it and couldn't help Heisenberg.

In the director's office.

Li Qiwei looked at the paper in his hand and couldn't help but feel emotional.

Under his influence, matrix mechanics and matter wave theory were all published ahead of schedule.

Even physicists have a much higher level of recognition.

In real history, after the theory of matter waves was published, basically no one paid any attention to it.

Li Qiwei smiled slightly.

Next, we need to wait for Schrödinger, who is a late bloomer.

This thrilling drama of quantum mechanics is about to begin!
There was just one thing that Li Qiwei couldn't figure out:
"Schrödinger, you don't have a cat, so why did you come up with Schrödinger's cat?"

"Could it be that this cat is not that cat?"

Quantum mechanics requires a lot of preparation.

The only one left is Schrödinger.

There is nothing much to discuss about a single theory.

We must wait until all the information is gathered before we can sit down and discuss it.



(End of this chapter)