1900: A physics genius wandering around Europe

Chapter 672 Electron-Positron Collision! A Shocking Experiment! The Ultimate Test! It Creates a Universe! It Shocks the Entire Audience!

After explaining the process from transuranic elements to uranium nuclear fission, Li Qiwei couldn't help but smile.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, the Borneo Atomic Institute will be the first experimental institution with the capability to accelerate neutrons.

Transuranium will inevitably be acquired.

Li Qiwei was already secretly thinking about what to name element 93 or 94.

By this time, the discussion about the Fermi Report was nearing its end.

The bigwigs almost reached a consensus:

"Transuranium will become one of the most important topics in experimental physics!"

Clearly, given the caution of the bigwigs present, they would not immediately acknowledge its existence.

After the meeting, Elena, Rutherford, and the others will definitely go back and verify it carefully.

Another storm is about to sweep through the experimental physics community.

Among the crowd, Yu Yin looked excited.

He never imagined that neutrons would be so important.

"The dean is so farsighted!"

"The radon-beryllium neutron source and water moderator used by Fermi can only qualitatively control the speed of neutrons, either increasing or decreasing it."

"This makes the experiment full of uncertainty and unreproducible flaws."

"But if breakthroughs are achieved in accelerating neutrons, then the bombardment speed of neutrons can be controlled at will, and new phenomena may emerge."

As a master of experiments, Yu Yin was well aware that the most important core of experiments was "control".

Out of control, all experiments were just pure luck.

He is very likely the first person to control neutrons.

Soon, the Q&A session for Fermi's report ended, and he returned to his seat with a sigh of relief.

Elena secretly gave him a thumbs up.

Fermi ushered in a new era!

At this point, the host, Langevin, said:
"Thank you, Professor Fermi, for your excellent presentation."

"Both theoretical physics and experimental physics have entered a brand new stage!"

Many people in the audience slightly pursed their lips.

My first day missing Professor Lorenz.

Professor Langevin's summary and transitions as the host were too abrupt.

Lang Zhiwan blushed and gave an awkward laugh; he wasn't yet proficient in his work.

Ensuring the smooth running of the meeting is still the most important thing.

"Next, please welcome Professor Yu Yin from the Borneo Atomic Institute."

Wow!
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Yu Yin stepped forward and confidently walked ahead.

His invention of the cyclotron and discovery of the neutron propelled him to become one of the world's top experimental physicists.

All the big shots were very interested in what made the cyclotron so different.

Fermi, Elena, Compton, and others, in particular, were burning with desire.

They had even made prior arrangements to visit the Institute of Atomic Energy after the meeting.

This research institute, personally built by Professor Bruce, is gradually demonstrating its strength.

Snapped!
Yu Yin opened the prepared documents and said:
"Last July, my team successfully built the cyclotron accelerator concept proposed by Professor Bruce."

"As shown in the figure: its diameter is only 15cm and its accelerating voltage is 2kV."

"I tested the maximum acceleration capabilities of the following particles."

"Alpha particles, electrons, protons, deuterium nuclei, tritium nuclei."

"The experimental data has been basically accumulated, and the paper is expected to be published this year."

"I've included a portion of the results; please take a look."

"My students have replicated many classic experiments in the fields of atomic and nuclear physics."

"There haven't been any particularly significant results so far."

"But they were able to precisely control the speed of the bombarding particles, thereby achieving the goal of controlling the experiment."

"I think this is absolutely necessary."

Wow!
Everyone was shocked!

The cyclotron is incredibly helpful for experimental physicists.

Rutherford's story was the most shocking.

Cavendish has a linear accelerator.

Compared to linear accelerators, cyclotrons are far more efficient for experiments.

Now, Cockraf and Walton are tinkering with the instruments every day, and they're almost causing problems.

Then, Yu Yin added:

"Our team's next goal is to achieve the ability to accelerate the atomic nuclei of all elements in the periodic table."

"This requires detailed design and adjustments to the accelerator."

Wow!
The audience was stunned once again!

This is too awesome!
Compton couldn't help but ask:

"Professor Yu Yin, is this theoretically possible?"

Yu Yin smiled slightly; the dean had already considered these things.

After speaking, he explained in detail the iterative principle of the accelerator, which made the bigwigs present nod frequently.

Yu Yin shared all sorts of details about the accelerator without reservation.

He knew very well that currently only a few laboratories in the world were capable of building cyclotrons.

Don't let its small size fool you; it's quite expensive to build.

If the dean hadn't been wealthy and able to withstand failure, he wouldn't have been able to complete it so quickly.

As for the large and super-large accelerators that follow, those are things that most scholars can't even dream of.

In real history, Berkeley National Laboratory in the United States built a cyclotron with a diameter of 4.2 meters in 1942 at a cost of $250 million.

This is only 4.2 meters tall, and it's already this exaggerated. Which laboratory could handle it?

Some people may have the following questions:

"It's just a charged particle accelerator, why is it so expensive?"

for example.

The 4.2-meter cyclotron has a core component: a magnet.

It is used to generate precisely controllable magnetic fields.

This magnet is not the kind of magnet that ordinary people usually play with or use; it is a specially made magnet.

Manufacturing a magnet the size of a palm requires 4000 tons of special steel.

For example, in order to manufacture the atomic bomb, the United States built an electromagnetic separation cyclotron specifically for uranium purification.

This requires modifications to the traditional cyclotron.

As a result, modifying the copper coils alone consumed 1.5 tons of silver! (It can be recycled)
Approximately 50 kilograms of uranium-235 were eventually extracted.

In addition, there are other core components such as vacuum chambers and cooling chambers that require extremely high precision.

So now you understand why cyclotrons are so expensive.

What Yu Yin is currently building is the simplest, most basic, and smallest cyclotron.

In total, it cost around $50.

It's a complete money-devouring behemoth.

Many bigwigs suddenly felt bitter.

Compared to Professor Bruce, they were the poorest of the poor.

They don't even have the money to build an accelerator.

The bigwigs present were well aware that the accelerator Yu Yin was currently using, in terms of bombardment capability alone, did not have an absolute advantage over traditional methods.

But the future it represents is extremely brilliant!

Currently, it has a 15-centimeter diameter, but in ten years it may be possible to build a 15-meter diameter, and even a 150-meter diameter in the future.

Such a massive accelerator would undoubtedly be able to raise particle speeds to an unimaginable level.

That's truly a game where the rich and scientists are left far behind!

Just as everyone was immersed in the future of the accelerator, Li Qiwei suddenly spoke up.

"Yu Yin, tell the big shots about that plan too."

Wow!
Everyone was instantly shocked! Professor Bruce had actually spoken.

Could Yu Yin have some top-secret plan?

Anything that Professor Bruce cares about so much must be extraordinary.

Upon hearing this, Yu Yin said:
"Okay, Professor."

Then, he looked at everyone and said:
"After creating the cyclotron, the professor proposed a concept."

"That is to collide positrons and positrons in an accelerator and detect the photons produced by their annihilation."

"Because electrons and positrons carry different charges, their directions of motion are exactly opposite."

"Therefore, theoretically speaking, it is possible for them to accelerate in the same accelerator and then collide."

"The professor means that by studying electron-positron collisions, we can simulate the high-energy phenomena that occurred during the birth of the universe."

"The photons they produce may be the primordial light of the universe."

"Such a cyclotron can no longer be called an accelerator; it would be more appropriate to call it a 'positron-electron collider'."

"This is also one of the most important projects in our institute."

"It is currently in the theoretical research stage."

hiss!
quiet!
Deathly silence!

Everyone was utterly astonished by this mind-blowing experimental idea!

This is too exaggerated!
A few dozen seconds later, a deafening scream erupted in the room!
"Oh my God!"

"Professor Bruce's imagination is simply unparalleled!"

"He's actually going to simulate the Big Bang in an experiment! That's terrifying!"

"So experimental physics can be done this way?"

Rutherford, Fermi, Elena, Compton and other experimental giants were stunned.

They knew all too well what this experiment meant; it could even be called the ultimate experiment!
Simulate the origin of the universe on Earth!

Horror!
Fermi suddenly felt that his transuranium element was no longer appealing.

Compared to Professor Bruce, his experiments were like children playing house.

"Is this Professor Bruce's ability after entering the field of experimentation?"

"That's truly beyond our reach!"

At that moment, everyone present, whether they were theoretical experts or experimental experts, was completely convinced.

The collision of positive and negative electrons simulates the origin of the universe, a process that has transcended the boundaries of theory and experiment.

It is a perfect fusion of the two.

Suddenly, Wilson asked a question:
"Professor Yu Yin, the energy density at the time of the Big Bang must have been very high, right?"

"Can this condition be achieved using an accelerator?"

Yu Yin knew Wilson and knew that he was a close friend of the dean, so he respectfully said:

“Yes, Professor Wilson.”

"Through rigorous calculations, I have concluded that as long as the diameter of the cyclotron exceeds 5 kilometers, the energy density of electron-positron collisions will reach 100 billion times that of the core of the sun."

"It could even go higher."

"Moreover, to simulate the Big Bang scenario, only one point needs to reach the corresponding energy density."

"Therefore, theoretically speaking, it is entirely feasible."

hiss!
Everyone gasped!
Yu Yin really dares to speak her mind!

A cyclotron with a diameter of 5 kilometers?

Are you kidding me?
How could it possibly be manufactured?
How much will it cost?
However, Yu Yin immediately followed up with:

"These are all experimental plans that Professor Li has already finalized."

“A super-large cyclotron will be built in Borneo in the future.”

"If you're interested, you're welcome to join!"

boom!
The venue erupted in chaos!

Everyone stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with disbelief!

While they were still excited about the renewed neutron craze in experimental physics.

That man standing at the pinnacle of physics has a vision that encompasses the entire universe.

He wants to use a human body to simulate the birth of the universe!
Just thinking about this kind of experiment is enough to get my blood pumping!

If I could participate in it personally, I would be willing to live a few years less.

And now, they have that opportunity.

This is truly a joyous occasion.

"I feel that Borneo will become the world's science center in the future!"

"I heard that the world's largest astronomical telescope is being built here."

"Professor Bruce has planned the largest cyclotron ever."

"Goodness, I can already see Professor Bruce's ambition."

"He's about to embark on the ultimate space exploration!"

"So scary!"

Everyone was talking about it.

Rutherford was sitting next to Ridgway. He grabbed the latter's hand and asked excitedly:

"Bruce, you're not lying to us, are you?"

"You really want to build this kind of accelerator?"

"Wouldn't that cost billions of dollars?"

Li Qiwei nodded.

"Yes, that's my plan."

"As for money, to be honest, I have no interest in money."

"All the money I earn will be invested in scientific research."

"Several billion dollars is not a small matter for me, but it is at least a moderate amount."

"It's not a big problem."

Wow!
Rutherford wanted to hit someone after hearing this.

This kind of pretentious behavior is ridiculous; it makes it impossible for anyone else to live.

As for the others, they were all stunned by Professor Bruce's amazing move!

Science can be used in this way?
However, Professor Bruce is the only person in the world who can do this.

He is a miracle of wealth and wisdom combined!
At this point, Rutherford asked with a sigh:
"Bruce, do you think physics is about to enter deep waters?"

"The further we go, the more massive the resources will be required for even the smallest breakthrough."

The cost of the cyclotron terrified this legendary figure in experimental physics.

The experiments now are completely different from those of the past.

In Faraday's time, an uneducated boy could create the great field of electromagnetism by tinkering with a few coils and batteries.

Now, such a miracle is no longer possible.

Everyone sensed a sense of a hero's decline in his prime from Rutherford's words.

Li Qiwei held his old friend's hand and said:

"Don't be afraid."

"No matter how many resources are needed, I can handle it!"

"Exploring the ultimate truth of physics is not just my own dream, but the dream of everyone here."

"It was my intention to invite everyone."

After saying that, he looked around and gave everyone a firm look.

It's as if it's saying: Anyone else have a dream? Coach Bruce will make your dream come true online!

Wow!
Everyone was shocked!

Irene, Compton, Fermi, and the others' eyes gleamed.

Fermi has made up his mind that he will definitely come to Borneo in the future.

This ultimate experiment held an irresistible attraction for an experimental genius like him.

This is the real bombardment experiment!

While others bombard the creation of a new particle, Professor Bruce directly bombards the creation of a universe!
This is the most romantic thing in human history!
(End of this chapter)