1900: A physics genius wandering around Europe

Chapter 673 Particle Physics! The Foundation of Quantum Field Theory! A Shocking Debut! The Bugle Call to Charge Towards the Ultimate!

Yu Yin's powerful report brought the meeting to its climax.

The bigwigs looked excited and full of hope for the future.

However, Professor Bruce's plans are too ambitious and are unlikely to be realized in the short term.

It will take at least ten years.

Therefore, during this period, they still need to continue exploring the boundaries of physics.

Then, many more people came forward to give speeches.

Compton systematically reported his findings on cosmic rays.

Although it was a pity that no new particles were discovered, he gained a comprehensive understanding of the nature of cosmic rays.

"All the evidence now fully demonstrates that cosmic rays are high-speed particle streams."

"The highest energy particle stream I have ever discovered is even many times greater than the energy accelerated by an accelerator."

"Therefore, the universe itself is a natural accelerator."

"The magnetic field and gravity of stars can accelerate particles."

"In terms of energy level, I think it is cosmic rays > accelerators > natural radioactivity."

"Of course, the downside of cosmic rays is that they are not easy to control, which is not as good as accelerators."

Everyone nodded slightly.

Although cosmic rays are difficult to control, their high energy is their greatest advantage.

In real history, the 1930s and 1940s were the peak period for cosmic rays!

Because cosmic rays have energies far higher than those of accelerators, this indicates that they were born in an extremely high-energy environment.

Therefore, some new particles will be born.

It can be said that cosmic rays played a crucial role in the early development of particle physics. (To be discussed shortly)

Although Compton's work was not particularly innovative, it was systematic and comprehensive, laying the foundation for the subsequent rapid development of cosmic rays.

Next, Elena explained her research findings in the field of artificial radioactivity.

Finally, she also shared a very interesting technological concept that is based on artificial radioactivity.

Irena said:
“During the previous war, my mother was dedicated to the application of radioactivity in medicine.”

"But the method she used was simply to take X-rays of the human body or to treat cancer with gamma rays."

"Now, with the artificial radioactivity of various elements, the applications are even more diverse."

"Everyone, please take a look."

“We can mix stable elements with their radioactive isotopes.”

"When these mixed elements enter the human body, they can participate in various movements and changes in the body."

“Those doped radioactive isotopes can emit radiation, and by measuring these rays, the location and quantity of the isotope can be determined.”

"And because these isotopes are mixed with stable isotopes, we can also obtain the distribution and movement of these stable elements."

"This allows us to determine the mechanism by which elements function in the human body."

"I call this method the 'tracer method'."

Wow!
Everyone was shocked!
With the wisdom of these experts, they immediately understood the technology and were instantly amazed!

On the one hand, Elena, like her mother, is a woman, and any achievement she makes amplifies her influence a hundredfold.

On the other hand, this technology is closely related to medicine, so it naturally attracts attention.

Pauli immediately flattered:
"Wow!"

"Sister Na, your idea is brilliant!"

Pauli's exaggerated expression made everyone burst into laughter.

Planck laughed and said, "Meetings with more young people are better!"

Irene was both amused and exasperated.

However, Pauli then asked:

"But radioactive elements are toxic, what if they get into the body?"

Irena explained:

"This is not a problem."

"Natural radioactive elements certainly cannot enter the human body."

"Not only because they are radioactive, but also because the elements themselves are toxic."

"However, some of the artificial radioactive elements discovered so far are not toxic and can easily enter the human body."

"The human body can tolerate a certain level of radiation."

"This has been proven by many medical research results."

"Therefore, we can control the intensity of artificial radioactivity and then detect its radioactivity using highly sensitive instruments."

"This can effectively avoid the damage of radiation to the human body."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

This method is absolutely correct.

The advent of artificial radioactivity indeed spurred technological advancements.

At this moment, Li Qiwei suddenly smiled and said:

"Elena, when you get back, quickly write this idea into a patent, and I'll fund the purchase of it."

"I think this technology is very useful in medical research."

"It is of unimaginable importance to drug development."

"I plan to have Alpha Labs develop this technology to benefit humanity!"

Wow!
The whole place was shocked!

Professor Bruce, the billionaire, has struck again!

This time, they want to directly buy Elena's technology.

Elena, still rather naive, quickly replied:
"Professor, you don't need to buy it, I'll just give it to you."

"And this was just an idea that came to me unintentionally; I didn't pay any price for it."

Li Qiwei waved his hand and laughed:
"Scientists are not saints; they also need to eat."

"This is a new technology that you came up with using your own wisdom, which can benefit mankind. You don't need to feel any pressure."

"Otherwise, how am I supposed to sell to those pharmaceutical companies in the future?"

"But if you ever publish a unified theory, I definitely won't be able to afford it; I'll just snatch it from you."

Everyone burst into laughter after hearing this.

Elena chuckled as well.

She looked at her mother, who smiled and nodded.

Irene didn't understand, but how could Madame Curie not understand?

This is Bruce taking care of the mother and her two children in the way they can accept best.

Otherwise, why would a Borneo laboratory need a French patent? They could just conduct the research directly.

Next, Dirac, de Broglie, and others shared their theoretical research findings.

So far at this conference, the theoretical and experimental schools have been evenly matched.

Both sides have achieved many significant results.

Soon, the meetings of the previous two days passed quietly amidst heated discussions.

Instead of feeling tired, everyone was even more energetic.

Because Professor Bruce has another speech to give!
11 month 1 day.

Today is the third day of the meeting.

As planned, Ridgeway will deliver a speech this afternoon.

His topic has also generated great anticipation among the industry leaders:

"The foundation of quantum field theory: particle physics!"

The meeting resumed at 2 p.m.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Li Qiwei stepped forward.

The bigwigs in the audience were thinking to themselves:
"The Fifth Bruce Conference was probably Professor Bruce's most low-key one."

"He only gave one speech."

Compared to the fourth conference, Li Qiwei was indeed more low-key. At his current level, his every move is on the minds of countless people in the scientific community.

Now that quantum field theory has been published, the rest are minor details that can be left to others.

He doesn't need to waste time on trivial details.

Now, what he needs to do is fill the last gap in the true history of physics.

"Back at the third meeting, I had Bohr mention it."

"As more and more new particles are discovered in the future, particles themselves may become a research field."

"I named it 'Particle Physics'."

"It now appears that my prediction is coming true."

"The fundamental particles we have discovered so far include: electron, proton, neutron, anti-electron, photon, and the newly predicted neutrino."

"Relativity and quantum mechanics, as the two pillars of modern physics, each have their own basis for existence."

"The foundation of relativity is spacetime, while the foundation of quantum mechanics is the atom, or rather, the electron."

"Both matrix mechanics and wave mechanics were born from the study of electron behavior."

"And now, several more fundamental particles similar to electrons have emerged, and even more may appear in the future."

"Then we need a theory that can fit all particles."

"I think quantum field theory would be a very good choice."

"Its goal is to connect all particles and fields."

"Therefore, the foundation of quantum field theory is particle physics."

Wow!
The bigwigs looked shocked!
Although this passage sounds ordinary, the logic and ideas it contains are truly remarkable.

Particle physics is an advancement of atomic physics; and quantum field theory is an advancement of quantum mechanics.

This symmetrical aesthetic is a condition that physicists can easily accept.

In some ways, the ethereal beauty is even more convincing than real experiments.

Of course, the elementary particles that Li Qiwei is talking about at this moment are not the truly elementary particles.

True elementary particles are indivisible, while protons and neutrons are divisible.

However, for the bigwigs present, these were just the most basic particles.

However, everyone has some questions:

How should particle physics be studied?

At this point, Li Qiwei continued:

"There are currently two methods for discovering new particles."

"Cosmic rays and bombardment."

"The former seeks new particles by observing the universe as a natural experimental site."

"For example, the antielectron discovered by Zhao Zhongyao is this kind of one."

"As Compton said, although the natural environment on Earth cannot give birth to new particles, the environment of the universe can."

"The latter seeks new particles through collisions and interactions between particles."

"For example, Professor Rutherford discovered the proton by bombarding the atomic nucleus with alpha particles."

"I believe that with technological advancements, there will definitely be more and more new particles."

"There might be dozens or even hundreds of them by then."

“But problems also arise.”

"Quantum field theory is the theory that studies elementary particles."

"Currently, quantum electrodynamics can only describe the interaction between photons and electrons, but not neutrons."

"This is because neutrons and electrons are fundamentally different; they are different particles."

"Therefore, we need to classify the elementary particles first."

"In this process, we will continue to study the corresponding theories."

"This is similar to classifying species in biology."

"Only through classification can we find the similarities and differences between particles, and then process them separately." (This is very important!)

"To illustrate my ideas, I'll start by proposing a classification method."

"For example, particles can be classified according to their mass."

"Protons and neutrons have relatively large masses and can be called baryons, while electrons and neutrinos have relatively small masses and can be called leptons."

"If new particles are discovered in the future, they can be classified according to their mass."

"Of course, this is just a rough division, and it will be adjusted and changed at any time in the future."

"But no matter what the specific classification is, the underlying idea will not change."

"This is my thinking on the research methods of particle physics."

Wow!
The bigwigs suddenly felt as if the clouds had parted and the light had appeared.

They understood what Professor Bruce was up to.

"That means bringing all particles into a standard framework!"

"Professor Bruce's quantum field theory has brought an end to the four fundamental forces."

"And now his proposed particle physics aims to end all fundamental particles."

"My God! He is sounding the charge toward the ultimate theory!"

"Quantum field theory is the drum, and particle physics is the mallet, together playing the triumphant song of physics!"

Everyone was utterly shocked.

At this moment, the figure of Batian Juedi reappeared behind that man!

Rule the heavens!

If the recent collision of positive and negative electrons, which created a universe, was the ultimate experiment...

So, particle physics today is the path towards the ultimate visible world.

Professor Bruce's pragmatic side was once again demonstrated.

Others put forward wild and imaginative conjectures, but these are just conjectures; there's no way to realize them.

But Professor Bruce is different.

All of his conjectures have a solid theoretical basis.

Even when simulating the Big Bang, there are clues to be found.

Clearly, mastering the secrets of all fundamental particles is tantamount to mastering the secrets of the universe.

If we compare elementary particles to building blocks, then the universe is a house built from these building blocks.

Then, Li Qiwei continued:

"Based on logical deduction, the future of particle physics should look like this:"

"There is a specific number of fundamental particles in the universe."

"These particles are what the ancient Greek sages imagined as the origin of the universe."

"Each elementary particle is indivisible and is the basic unit that makes up everything in the world."

"Just like the cell is the basic unit of life."

"How these fundamental particles make up matter and how they interact with each other requires explanation from quantum field theory."

"One quantum electrodynamics is certainly not enough, so more theories are needed."

"These theories are all within the framework of quantum field theory, so there is a possibility that they can be unified."

Wow!
The whole audience was shocked!

Everyone sensed Professor Bruce's immense ambition.

Einstein silently thought to himself:
"Bruce, I'm really not as good as you!"

"Your path to unification is firm and solid, based on particles, using interactions as a means, and encompassing everything."

"It pointed everyone in the right direction."

"Although I can see the future clearly, I know that you will definitely be in the future!"

Looking at the expressions of the bigwigs, Li Qiwei felt a surge of emotion.

In real history, the development of particle physics is also a magnificent and inspiring story.

(End of this chapter)