What Li Yu wanted to see when he came to the University of Munich was naturally the famous winner of the first Nobel Prize in Physics, Roentgen, who discovered x-rays.
Roentgen is currently Professor of Physics and Director of the Institute of Physics at the University of Munich. Compared with universities in China and the United States, these ancient universities in Europe are quite ancient. There are no clear walls to encircle the campus. You may come across a building belonging to a certain university in the city.
After all, these universities are too old, often five or six hundred years old, and have grown into the city. Even many buildings, such as student dormitories and student cafeterias, do not belong to any university at all.
This is a bit convoluted. Another way to put it is that as long as you are in this city, any university can apply for a dormitory in a certain dormitory building, which means that the dormitory building will be occupied by students from different universities.
It can be understood that students from Lanxiang live in the same building as students from Shandong University. I teach you how to drive an excavator, and you teach me biomathematics. It’s quite picturesque when you think about it... The weather in Munich is better than that in northern Germany, which is basically the same in Europe. The closer to the Mediterranean Sea, the more suitable the climate is for human habitation.
It seems that the Germanic people belonged to Europe in the past.
"Barbarians" coveted the more comfortable lands in Europe and invaded southward. It feels a bit like China’s struggle with nomads for thousands of years.
But the results are different. The changes at the University of Munich don't seem that big, and Li Yu is still relatively familiar with it.
As soon as I entered the campus, I remembered that when I was an exchange student at the University of Munich, I ate sausages every day and had that weird...
"German dumpling" feel. Even if 10,000 people vote, everyone will definitely say without hesitation that the Peking University canteen is several levels higher than the Munich canteen.
There's no comparison, it's just the difference between ordinary people and chefs. Germans, like the British, really don't know how to cook.
Roentgen looked very familiar to Li Yu. After all, he was a person whose portrait could be hung on the wall of the university. Li Yu found the Department of Physics easily, but when he was about to enter, he was surrounded by several people.
It looked like they were students at the university. They discussed: "Look, they are from the East!"
"Japanese?"
"It doesn't look like it. Japanese people seem to wear kimonos that are very tacky and cumbersome, and they also have weird samurai hairstyles on their heads."
"It's not even like the Chinese. The Chinese have a pigtail on the back of their head, which is equally ugly." Several people laughed and continued to ridicule: "Whether the Japanese or the Chinese, backward countries are all the same."
"What are they doing here? They look very young. They can't be students?"
"Don't be ridiculous! Orientals can't even understand the four arithmetic operations, so they're still in college?"... Lu Bicheng didn't know German and couldn't understand what he was saying, but Li Yu understood it and said casually: "We come from China, a country of etiquette. "Li Yu's words are very touching.
Several students were surprised when they heard his fluent German: "Really a foreign student?" Before Li Yu could answer, a strong voice suddenly came from behind: "Even the humblest slave in Rome is talking about the glory of Rome. , there was no proud look on his face. At that moment, he seemed to have become the master of Rome!" Germany has always been known as the Holy Roman Empire, and considers itself the orthodox successor to the glorious Rome of that year.
Li Yu turned around and said,
"Mr. Roentgen!" Of course several students knew Roentgen and greeted him immediately. Roentgen snorted coldly and said to the students: "How shameful!" Hearing his reprimand, several students felt a little uncomfortable: "Mr. Professor, why did you reprimand us for no reason?" Roentgen was still angry: "Do you really think you are superior to others? In fact, you are nothing!" The students were frightened and asked: "Mr. Professor, you..." Roentgen pointed at Li Yu and said: "Do you know who he is? How dare you make fun of him! I am afraid that the combined knowledge of all of them cannot reach his heels!" The students were even more confused: "Who is he?" Röntgen said: "He is the most dazzling new star in today's scientific world, proficient in the most cutting-edge physics, mathematics, and astronomy. Li Yu!" The students looked at each other: "Oh my God, it's him!"
"This! I'm really sorry. We thought you were just a stupid... oh, just an ordinary Oriental." Li Yu didn't want to get involved with them too much and ignored them. He directly said to Röntgen: "Mr. Professor, I'm sorry to bother you. ." Roentgen turned sideways and said: "Please come in." Roentgen is currently a person with high prestige in the entire European scientific community. His attitude is in sharp contrast to several ignorant students.
Li Yu walked directly into the research room without looking back. Several students stood there, dumbfounded. After sitting down, Röntgen was still a little apologetic and said: "When I first arrived at the University of Munich, I embarrassed my husband. It really makes me and the entire university full of apologies." Li Yu smiled and said: "Professor, you don't have to be like this. I don't take it to heart." ." If he had a glass heart, he probably wouldn't have survived at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Roentgen said: "Sir, you are indeed young and promising, and you have a broad mind. Only a scholar like you can overcome obstacles in science." Li Yu said, "Professor is overrated. I forgot to ask you, how did you recognize me at once?" Roentgen said. Said: "I don't like to go out, but that doesn't mean I don't know the world. And I often look at photos and I can always see people's faces very accurately. Although your hair has changed a lot, there is no difference between your eyebrows and the previous images in newspapers." , I can recognize it at a glance.”
"So that's it," Li Yu said,
"Professor has good eyesight." Röntgen asked again: "Why did you come to Munich so quickly?" Li Yu told Röntgen about participating in the rally.
Röntgen smiled and said: "Young people are indeed energetic." Li Yu saw Röntgen's office filled with experimental equipment, so he also asked: "Professor is still doing experiments?"
"Yes," said Roentgen,
"X-rays are a very interesting and unknown thing. I still have a lot of related research to do. I have read your paper and it is very insightful." Li Yu came to this world and published his first article The paper was about x-rays, which attracted widespread attention.
Li Yu said: "Professor is an expert in this. I am really flattered by what you said."
"The method you proposed is very good and goes straight to the essence," Roentgen said.
"But I'm curious, why didn't you continue this very promising research? Could it be that it was limited by the experimental equipment?" Li Yu said: "This was indeed the case before." Roentgen said: "If so, you can use my I am willing to share the laboratory with you for free." Li Yu said quickly: "Thank you, Professor. In fact, Mr. Siemens also set up a laboratory for me in Berlin, and there is no shortage of equipment." Röntgen said: "In this case , I think you can continue to publish greater papers." Röntgen inspired Li Yu, and he almost forgot that he could conduct some in-depth exploration of x-rays.
In any case, X-ray related research is currently a hot topic, and Li Yu happened to have a good idea, which was to use experiments to confirm his original conclusion in that paper, that X-rays are a kind of electromagnetic wave.
I know the method very well. I mentioned it in my paper at the beginning, which is to use the neatly arranged atoms in the crystal to conduct diffraction experiments.
Diffraction is a unique property of waves. If we can make experimental images, it will be a sure thing in an instant. ——It is definitely a Nobel Prize-level experiment.
Li Yu said: "I will carefully consider your words and conduct relevant experiments." Anyway, the single-photon experiment has been done, and the x-ray diffraction experiment of electromagnetic waves is not a problem for Li Yu.
Moreover, Li Yu knew more about the Bragg equation that was key to this experiment, that is, the important equation about wavelength and atomic spacing in the crystal.
Roentgen saw that Li Yu was deep in thought. He paused for a while and then said: "It seems that it won't be long before I can see an amazing result in the newspaper." Li Yu said, "The professor has too much confidence in me." Roentgen said Said: "I have carefully studied your paper. Although I cannot fully understand some of the mathematical content, I have always had a physical intuition and can feel that you seem to be suppressing yourself. I can't be sure why, but I think you can Let it go, I like to see shocking things in science." Germans are generally conservative and rigorous, but they are very exploratory when doing scientific research.
Li Yu cupped his fists and said, "Thank you Professor for your teaching." Roentgen was stunned for a moment: "Is this Chinese etiquette?" Li Yu smiled and said, "Yes, it is an expression of high respect." Roentgen actually learned to cup his fists. : "I also express my respect." When leaving Roentgen's office, Li Yu happened to bump into those students again. They had just finished class, and when they saw Li Yu, they immediately stepped aside and cast respectful glances.
Li Yu didn't feel very good, but just took it indifferently. Dignity is sometimes very worthless, but sometimes it is also the hardest to earn.
Lu Bicheng asked: "Are we going back to Berlin now?" Li Yu said: "Don't worry, we have already arrived in Munich, why not stop by Bern."
"Bern?" Lu Bicheng had never heard of this place name. Li Yu said: "I want to go to the patent office there to register a patent." Lu Bicheng wondered: "Why should I go there?" Li Yu said: "Because the most 'powerful' patent officer in the world is in Bern."
"So powerful, he must be someone like the Professor Roentgen we met today, right?" Lu Bicheng asked.
"Well, he's still a temporary worker now..." Although it's not as close as going to Zurich from Munich to Bern, it's not that much further.
Switzerland is a country where neutrality and decentralization prevail, even within its own country. Therefore, half a century ago, the capital was set in the small town of Bern. Firstly, it is located close to the center of the country. Secondly, it can balance other major cities and French-speaking and German-speaking areas.
It's almost a choice made after compromise and game. However, in later generations, many people mentioned that Switzerland did not know much about Bern, and its reputation was far less than that of Zurich and Geneva.
Bern is generally a German-speaking area. If everyone spoke French, Li Yu would be mute when he arrived here.
Bern is a small city. Li Yu asked around and quickly found the patent office. Through the glass window, Li Yu recognized the iconic afro at a glance—young Einstein.
Li Yu is basically the same age as him, but Einstein's hairstyle is really trendy. Li Yu swaggered in and came to Einstein's side. He found that he was fishing during working hours: he was secretly calculating with a pen, and a lot of content was about
"Light Quantum", next to it is a single photon experiment paper published by Li Yu some time ago.
"Ahem!" Li Yu pretended to cough. Einstein was so focused that he realized there was someone standing next to him. He hurriedly stuffed the manuscript paper into the drawer, stood up and said, "Sir, do you want to apply for a patent?" Li Yu suppressed a smile and said, "That's right." Instein said: "May I ask what kind of patent it is, and whether there are relevant design documents and results demonstration. This will be very helpful for the rapid approval of the patent."
"Yes." Li Yu took out a suitcase, took out the design documents and the key connection part of the drive shaft differential, which is the section where the drive shaft connects to a pair of planetary gears.
Naturally, it was impossible for him to directly bring a car site over. This site could fully explain the operating principle of the differential.
Li Yu explained: "It is about a patent for a transmission shaft differential used in cars." Einstein knew that it was easy to pass when he saw a sample, and then looked at the neatly organized design documents, which made it even more reasonable: "Mr. provided The information is very detailed, and we will be able to complete the patent review soon. Please sit next to me for a while, and I will look at the design documents carefully first." Li Yu said, "Mr. Einstein, please." Li Yu sat aside at leisure.
Not long after, Einstein suddenly stood up from his seat and said loudly: "Yu Li?! No, Li Yu! Which Li Yu are you?" Li Yu asked: "Which one do you mean?" Einstein He looked at Li Yu and said, "With yellow skin and dark eyes, you have the characteristics of an Oriental. Could it be that you are that Li Yu?" Li Yu couldn't help it, and laughed and said, "That's the Li Yu."
"Oh! I never thought it was you who applied for the patent!" Einstein said ecstatically. Li Yu said: "Why, if you can be a patent officer, I can't apply for a patent?" Einstein said: "Of course you can! Your patent is very beautiful, and it was approved soon after I submitted it to the leader."
"Thank you, Mr. Einstein." Li Yu said.
"Let's not mention this matter for now. Please take a look at my calculation script." Einstein did not bother to make too many introductions and immediately pulled Li Yu to his seat.
He took out a stack of calculation scripts and said: "I have made initial progress, but I still have some confusion." Although in terms of calligraphy of alphabetic characters, Einstein's level is not as good as that of Li Yu, a Chinese, let alone Those are the real calligraphers.
But in 2021, a 54-page manuscript of Einstein was auctioned with a starting price of 1.5 million euros and a transaction price of 11.6 million euros. It is true that every word is as expensive as gold!
Li Yu quickly saw the clues. He was using light quanta to interpret the photoelectric effect. It was definitely the right way to go.
Li Yu said: "It's very complete, but some mathematical derivation is not concise enough, so there are some twists and turns." Einstein said: "That's it. You are so accurate! I really regret that I always skipped math classes when I was in college." "Li Yu quickly completed the correct mathematical derivation. This was his strength, and it was also something that could be learned in normal courses in the physics department in later generations.
"You saved me a lot of effort!" Einstein felt that it was easy to talk to Li Yu, a person of his age.
Although Li Yu's status is actually not low now, Einstein has never paid attention to power or authority. He was like that when he was in school, otherwise he would not have angered many professors at the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. Give him one There was no one to write a job recommendation letter, so after being unemployed for a long time, I ended up working as a temporary patent clerk.
But Li Yu doesn't have any airs, so getting along with him is naturally easy.
