1900: A physics genius wandering around Europe

Chapter 651 A Feast of Nuclear Physics! All Sides Stir! The Youth League's Ambition! Theory Is Not Dead, Call My Name!
The discovery of the positron propelled the experimental physics boom to its peak!

And Li Qiwei's name once again resounded throughout the academic world.

The positron proves the correctness of relativistic quantum mechanics, namely the Bruce equation.

This is a major breakthrough for the theoretical physics community.

The perfect unification of special relativity and quantum mechanics seems to offer a glimmer of hope.

Then, a message from the French Radium Institute added another layer of legend to the story of anti-electrons.

It turns out that after publishing their paper on artificial radioactivity, Elena and Joliot had also conducted in-depth research on the nature of the rays emitted by aluminum foil.

They discovered that the orbits of rays in a magnetic field are shaped exactly like those of electrons, only reversed.

Like Qian Huzhou, Elena believed that it was an electron that might have changed direction in the magnetic field for some reason.

So, he stopped paying attention to it.

However, they were suddenly jolted awake when they saw Zhao Zhongyao's paper.

"That's not an electron, that's an anti-electron!"

Unfortunately, the Nobel Prize that was within his grasp slipped away again.

It is said that Elena locked herself in her room for a day and a night, feeling extremely depressed.

Li Qiwei even received a long letter from the other party, which was more than ten pages long, complaining about his situation.

"Uncle Bruce, if you were here, I would definitely ask for your opinion."

Li Qiwei touched his nose. Although he was far away, he still felt a little embarrassed, as if he had taken something from a little girl.

When news of Elena and her husband spread, the physics community was immediately filled with regret.

"Artificial radioactivity and positrons are both achievements that are bound to win the Nobel Prize."

"Irene almost won two Nobel Prizes like her mother, Marie Curie."

However, this is the norm in scientific research.

Moreover, this event allowed more scholars to see the charm of experimental physics.

Perhaps, without realizing it, you might miss out on the Nobel Prize.

Experimental physics, especially nuclear physics and fundamental particle physics, has become even more popular.

Within Asia, with the strong support of Nagaoka, Yoshio Nishina built the Sakura Clan's first nuclear physics laboratory within the Institute of Physical Chemistry.

The laboratory has gathered most of the well-known physicists of the current Sakura clan, including Ara Katsufumi and Kikuchi Masashi.

In real history, this laboratory was the precursor to the Sakura Clan's nuclear weapons development agency.

The team, led by Yoshio Nishina, received massive support from the Sakura Clan government, including everything from particle accelerators to element separation equipment.

But in the end, all their efforts were in vain!
In addition, Yoshio Nishina used his connections from his studies in Europe to invite top European physicists to visit the Sakura tribe and give lectures on cutting-edge physics, thus broadening the horizons of Sakura physicists.

Most people are happy to come, partly because they can get money, and partly because they can visit Professor Bruce along the way—killing two birds with one stone.

Furthermore, even theoretical physicists like Bohr couldn't sit still.

Although he himself had no intention of switching to experimental physicists, his Bohr Institute recruited many experimental physicists, such as Frisch.

Interestingly, Frisch is also Meitner's nephew.

At this time, Meitner, along with Hahn and Strassmann, became a well-known trio within the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute of Chemistry.

They collaborate and conduct joint research, and recently they have also turned their attention to nuclear physics.

Meitner was good at physics and could design bombardment experiments; while Harsch and his partner were good at chemistry and were adept at analyzing and measuring which chemical elements were produced after bombardment.

When both sides complement each other's strengths, they can create unexpected and wonderful effects.

As a result, the three gradually made a name for themselves in the nuclear physics community.

Fermi, who switched careers early on, was praised by many for having "keen insights into physics".

He was clearly a brilliant theoretical physicist who co-authored the Fermi-Dirac statistics with Dirac.

However, he resolutely switched to the experimental field, showing great courage.

University of Rome, Italy.

Fermi poured all his heart and soul into his work and finally reaped the rewards.

The physics lab officially began operating, and his team was assembled.

He set his sights high, determined to make the Physics Department of the University of Rome a world-class physics department.

Fermi's team members mainly include: Lasetti, Segre, D'Agostino, and Amaldi.

Some of them were both his teachers and friends.

Because none of the team members are over 30 years old, they are known in the Italian physics community as the "Panisperna Youth Team".

Via Panisperna is home to the Physics Department of the University of Rome.

The team members are very close, as evidenced by the nicknames they give each other.

Fermi was known as the "Pope of Physics" because of his exceptional intelligence and infallibility.

Of course, Fermi dared not be arrogant; he always said with a smile:

"We can call each other that when it's just the few of us together."

"If outsiders heard this, they would probably laugh their heads off."

"Only Professor Bruce is probably worthy of the title of Pope of Physics."

Everyone laughed and didn't take it seriously.

Lassetti was Fermi's assistant, hence he was called "Cardinal".

He was also Fermi's high school classmate, majoring in engineering, and played a very important role in the construction of the laboratory.

Segre was the best laboratory physicist besides Fermi.

In real history, he used particle collider experiments to discover the antiproton for the first time, thus winning the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1959.

D'Agostino is the only chemist on the team.

Nuclear physics experiments inevitably involve new elements, so high-level teams need to be equipped with a chemist.

This is true of the Meitner trio, Cavendish, and the Radium Institute, for example.

After all, chemical separation technology in that era was still quite cumbersome and complex, requiring hard work, unlike the one-click process of later generations.

Amaldi, on the other hand, is the most cheerful and outgoing person. He is the glue that holds the team together, and everyone often gathers at his home.

In real history, as the atmosphere of authoritarianism in Italy grew stronger, Amaldi was the last person to remain by Fermi's side.

Furthermore, the powerful figure behind the boy group, the Italian Minister of Education Corbino who provides them with administrative support, is referred to as "the Holy Father."

Colbino has a science and engineering background, and he understands the latest developments in physics, especially focusing on cutting-edge disciplines such as quantum mechanics and nuclear physics.

Therefore, he fully understood Fermi's immense value.

Despite opposition, he granted Fermi considerable authority in education, such as establishing laboratories.

Fermi has always regarded Colbino as his mentor.

At this moment, the team that Fermi has assembled is absolutely the top team in Italy.

His goal was clear: to enter the field of nuclear physics and enhance the international reputation of the Italian scientific community.

Inside the meeting room, the youth group was having a brainstorming session.

This is also an experience that Fermi learned from top experts.

Everyone sat casually, speaking freely, puffing on cigarettes, without any restraint, letting their thoughts roam freely.

Perhaps a flash of inspiration can spark novel and creative ideas.

At this moment, everyone is thinking about the team's main development direction.

A top-notch laboratory must have special expertise.

If you try to study everything, you'll only end up being mediocre.

Although Fermi had determined that the general direction was nuclear physics, nuclear physics also has more specific branches.

For example, artificial nuclear fission, artificial radioactivity, and radiation research.

Therefore, finding a specific research direction that is both promising and feasible is extremely important. As chemist D'Agostino stated:

"The discovery of anti-electrons proves that cosmic rays may also be a promising area of ​​research."

"In a broad sense, cosmic rays also fall under the category of nuclear physics; protons and gamma rays both originate from the nucleus."

Amaldi countered:
"But studying cosmic rays is really dependent on luck."

"If you're unlucky, you might work for nothing all year."

"Moreover, we are a newly formed team and don't have any advantages."

The group engaged in a lively discussion, each contributing their own thoughts.

Today, the experimental physics community generally recognizes four major centers.

These are: Cavendish Laboratory in the UK, Radium Institute in France, German Institute, and Borneo Institute (representing all research institutes).

The four centers stand at the very top, looking down on all others.

The goal of the boy group has always been to reach the very top.

At this moment, Fermi stood up, walked to the window, opened it, and let the smoke in the room dissipate.

Then he said:
"I do have an idea."

Everyone immediately looked at him, full of anticipation.

"The ability of neutrons to bombard paraffin to produce protons demonstrates the powerful impact of neutrons."

What would happen if all bombardment experiments were changed to use neutrons as the bombardment source?

As soon as he finished speaking, the others were all taken aback!
Then their eyes grew brighter and brighter.

This is a very innovative idea, and most importantly, no one has tried it yet.

Existing bombardment experiments mainly use alpha rays and protons, which has almost become the norm.

Neutrons as a bombardment source? No one had ever thought of that.

Lasetti immediately said with delight:

"Fermi, it has to be you again!"

"Others discovered the neutron and then left it at that, but you thought of using the neutron to conduct experiments."

Amaldi asked:
"But neutrons are uncharged and cannot be accelerated by an accelerator. Can they obtain enough energy to bombard the target?"

Fermi said:

"In the experiments conducted by Bot, neutrons were produced by natural radiation, but they still had a strong bombardment effect."

"Therefore, I believe that the bombardment capability of neutrons themselves is comparable to that of particles accelerated by an accelerator."

Several people nodded.

Fermina's confident and composed aura makes people willing to trust him without even realizing it.

Using neutrons as a bombardment source is logically sound and worth trying.

However, Segre, who was second in physics, asked a sharp question:

"There are too few neutrons."

"Based on current experimental results, it takes approximately one neutron to be produced for every 1 alpha particle collisions."

"Can such a low yield really serve as a reliable bombardment source?"

Wow!
The group frowned slightly.

Segre's doubts are quite valid.

Neutrons are indeed powerful bombardments, but their numbers are too small.

No matter how powerful a general is, he can't defeat 10 soldiers.

Quantity over quality is no joke.

Fermi smiled slightly at this.

Brainstorming is indeed a wonderful thing; only by exploring others' unique perspectives can one truly unleash their own talents.

“I think there are two points that can convince Segrei of his concerns.”

"First, although neutrons are few in number, they are uncharged."

"This means that it is easier for it to get close to the atomic nucleus and collide with it compared to other bombardment sources."

"Therefore, the proportion of effective collisions produced by neutrons is actually higher, which can make up for the lack of quantity."

Everyone suddenly understood.

Although only one neutron is produced from 1 alpha particles.

But perhaps only one out of a million alpha particles will collide with the atomic nucleus.

Of 100 neutrons, 50 may collide with the atomic nucleus.

In comparison, quantity becomes less important.

"Secondly, we can try to find stronger neutron sources."

"The neutron has only been discovered recently, and many of its properties are not yet fully understood."

"Perhaps we can find neutron sources that are different from existing methods."

Then, Fermi said with great enthusiasm:

"I believe this direction will bring us surprises!"

Wow!
At this moment, even the composed Segre was persuaded.

Fermi is so infectious.

Although his ideas were not groundbreaking or imaginative, they had endless possibilities.

Finally, the members of the boy group reached a consensus to first verify Fermi's idea.

Let's switch to using neutrons for the bombardment experiment!
Fermi studied books and literature on radioactivity to find a way to generate stronger neutron sources.

Others started with small-scale trials using existing methods.

With specific goals in mind, the youth group worked with even more enthusiasm.

The laboratory was bustling with activity.

No one could have imagined the tremendous impact this newly formed young team would have on the world in the future!

In real history, Fermi's initial experiments did not go very smoothly.

The reason is the problem Segre mentioned: the number of neutrons is too small, resulting in an unsatisfactory bombardment effect.

Later, Fermi finally found what was then the world's most powerful neutron source: a radon-beryllium hybrid source.

From then on, he embarked on an unstoppable path of experimental triumph.

He fulfilled his grand ambition: to restore the glory of Italian science.
-
Looking at the global scientific community, researchers from all countries and individuals are participating in this grand event in the field of nuclear physics.

This is not only about personal achievements and honors, but also represents the image and status of the country.

Some people follow the rules and improve upon the work of their predecessors step by step.

Some people have taken a different approach, attempting to lead a new trend with great courage.

Regardless, this is the age of experimentation, the age of particles.

Those who are unknown today may very well be famous in the future.

Quantum is dead, particle is here!
Many theoretical physicists seem to have entered the end times.

However, no matter how advanced nuclear physics is, it can only discover phenomena, not explain the underlying principles of those phenomena.

Ultimately, the interpretation and understanding of this world still depends on theoretical physicists!
Although they are few in number, they are the true pillars of physics.

Just when they were about to despair, Professor Bruce, like a god of science, finally intervened once again.

The physics community is in shock!
"The theory is not dead; it shines even brighter!"

(End of this chapter)