Many people have always felt that the Chinese did not have a few Nobel Prizes in the field of natural sciences, and seemed to be really weak in the field of science and technology. In fact, they should have won it very early on.
And it is a very important Nobel Prize.
One is the discovery of antimatter! This is a very remarkable result.
Yes, antimatter was actually first discovered by the Chinese Zhao Zhongyao. However, some people were biased against him at the time and kept criticizing him. In the end, it was discovered that the person who was criticizing was wrong, but the Nobel Prize had already been awarded to Anderson by then.
Anderson himself admitted that he was inspired by Zhao Zhongyao.
The other is Wu Youxun. The Nobel Prize for the Compton Effect should be awarded to him, at least jointly.
The two elders later became the first academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in New China, but their honors went far beyond that - the importance of the Nobel Prize in the field of natural sciences goes without saying.
Although the two of them did not say much because of the lack of Nobel Prize, the older generation of scientific researchers do not care much about money and status, and their characters are so noble that it is unbelievable.
But Li Yu is not as noble as them, and he really can't swallow this breath.
Why! ?
What's ours must be taken back!
But this matter is not urgent yet, because one of the two bosses has just been weaned and the other has just entered elementary school. Li Yu can't help at the moment, but he will definitely contribute a lot in the future.
At least these two heavyweight Nobel Prizes will not be lost again!
——
As for the liquid helium Onnes is working on, it is just liquid helium itself, and the water inside is also very deep.
Anyway, after all, there are many interesting phenomena in low-temperature physics, and superconductivity is just one of them.
But if you want to realize these discoveries, it will definitely not be possible without liquid helium.
Therefore, based on the achievement of liquid helium alone, Onnes is fully qualified to win the Nobel Prize.
Li Yu also laid out Einstein's paper and discussed it with Lorenz.
Lorenz had never heard of Einstein before, but after reading the paper, he immediately discovered that his theory was used in it.
Lorenz was greatly surprised: "I only used these mathematical transformations to prove the relationship between the movement of the earth and the stillness of the ether. How could I use it in the discussion of time and space?"
Li Yu said: "Professor Lorenz, is there a possibility that ether does not exist at all?"
"No, no, no!" Lorenz said three times in a row, "I know you will definitely mention the Michelson-Morley experiment again, but at most this experiment can only prove that the earth is stationary relative to the ether."
Li Yu laughed and said, "Isn't this still relative?"
Lorenz shook his head again: "I want to reiterate my point. I still believe that the ether is absolutely static."
Li Yu spread his hands: "Then how do you explain the Michelson-Morley experiment?"
Lorenz thought for a while and said: "The movement of the earth in the ether is just like the resistance encountered by a person swimming in water. This resistance will deform the ether near the earth, similar to the shock wave generated when a person swims."
Li Yu's mind was spinning rapidly: "You are saying that the deformation causes the ether in front of the earth to compress, and the optical path becomes shorter, just like the ripples of water, so light becomes faster in front of the earth; similarly, behind the earth Slowing down?”
Lorenz nodded and said: "The experimental instruments cannot measure the changes in the ether. Therefore, no matter whether we are in front or behind, what we observe is that the light has traveled the same distance in the same time, so we cannot see it. Any situation in which the earth moves relative to the ether"
Li Yu touched his chin. Although Lorenz's words were a bit unreasonable, this explanation did make sense.
Li Yu said: "But in this case, the mathematical processing will become very complicated, unimaginably complicated, because there will be many high-order terms that are difficult to reduce, and the listed differential equations of motion cannot be solved at all."
Just like using the geocentric theory to forcefully explain the motion of the solar system, a problem that could have been solved with just a few simple quadratic equations suddenly turned into a complex system of higher-order equations.
It feels like when you are about to enter a critical battle with a girl. You only need to take off your pants, but suddenly you find that there is a combination lock on your underwear, and you need to solve a second-order partial differential equation!
Not only was he unable to pick up girls, but he was also ridiculed for his intelligence. It was so uncomfortable.
Lorenz's starting point is still the absolute space-time view in classical physics. He looked at Einstein's paper and said: "But I still have to admit that the treatment method in the paper is very simple. From the perspective of relativity, it can even be Obtaining the exact same motion formula as that of a stationary system is very ingenious, whether it is physical thinking or mathematical argumentation.”
Li Yu pointed to the Lorentz transformation mathematical formulas and said: "When the professor used these mathematical techniques before, didn't he find that they can directly get the conclusion that the speed of light in the ether system is equal to the speed of light in the earth system, without using ether at all?" to explain the contraction and expansion of
Lorenz said: "But in this case, relativity must be recognized; and once relativity is recognized, what ether is needed?"
Lorenz's mathematical intuition was indeed excellent. He actually saw this clearly, but he just didn't want to admit it. Maybe it’s because I’m afraid that years of study and research will turn out to be all wrong, which makes it feel even more painful.
Li Yu said: "Professor does not need to worry about the damage that relativity will cause to the physics building. At least your theory is used in it; just like Mr. Maxwell's formula, it can be separated from the ether to prove the constant speed of light."
Lorenz sighed: "I can't predict how this theory will develop. It's better to wait until it is published and see how the entire physics community treats it."
There is nothing wrong with Lorenz saying this. After all, he and Planck are essentially the same type of people. In this turbulent era, classical physical concepts cannot be easily put aside.
Planck came up with quantum and Lorentz used new mathematical techniques for the same reason: out of necessity.
But this step they took out of necessity is crucial to future scientific development.
The coercion of the times!
After closing Einstein's paper, Onness said: "These theoretical things sound drowsy. You should go and see my laboratory. You are also interested in low-temperature physics." "
Li Yu readily agreed: “This is an important purpose of my coming to Leiden University.”
Arriving at the famous cryogenic laboratory of Leiden University, Li Yu was a little surprised when he entered. He opened his mouth but did not say anything.
Van der Waals immediately said: "Don't hold back, I know what you want to say, do you think this place looks like a brewery?"
Li Yu said frankly: "Yes, they are so similar!"
Van der Waals laughed loudly, then stretched out his hand to Onnes: "You lost!"
Onnes then gave him a 10-guilder note.
Li Yu was surprised: "What are you two doing?"
Van der Waals collected the money with satisfaction and said with a smile: "I made a bet with Professor Onnes before that you would regard this place as a brewery at first sight. He still doesn't believe it."
"That's right," Li Yu said sheepishly, "I didn't mean it, but it's so similar."
Van der Waals and Onnes had a good relationship and collaborated for decades.
Onness's creation of low temperature is inseparable from van der Waals' equation.
Although physics does not pursue the rigor of perfection as much as mathematics, it is not a joke either.
It was van der Waals' doctoral thesis that extended the rational gas equation of state to liquid theory thirty years ago that gave gas liquefaction theoretical support.
Van der Waals' equation has a great influence on the industrial world, because the isotherm of almost any gas can be obtained by it, and it is also known under what conditions these gases can be liquefied.
Since the principle of multi-stage refrigeration is used, there are many tanks in the laboratory, which makes it very vivid to say that it is a brewery.
"There's nothing to be embarrassed about. Look," Onnes raised his finger and pointed at some cans. "There are some cans of the right size that I just went to Mr. Heineken to get."
Li Yu almost forgot that Heineken beer is in Amsterdam. Anyone who has watched the Champions League is no stranger to Heineken advertisements.
Li Yu smiled and said, "No wonder I smell some hops."
Lorenz pointed to another corner: "You have a very good nose. There is an unopened can of Heineken beer, which was given by Mr. Heineken. I always come to this laboratory for these beers."
Onnes explained in a dumbfounded way: "Actually, I told Mr. Heineken a long time ago that I no longer lack cans, and he still delivers many regularly every week."
Lorenz waved his hand: "Let him continue to deliver."
Li Yu saw some more customs lists and asked curiously: "Isn't all the helium used in the laboratory imported from the United States?"
Onnes said: "It was shipped from the United States. It is said that Americans discovered an oil and gas field rich in helium in Kansas last year."
The United States was indeed very lucky. At that time, the natural gas in this oil and gas field could not be ignited, and scientists discovered that there was helium in it.
Laos and the United States have taken advantage of this trend and basically control the global helium supply.
However, this fashion does not have superconductors, rocket thrusters, or high-end chip manufacturing. The main use of helium is military, that is, helium airships.
Li Yu said: "Aren't you afraid that the Americans will be close enough to facilitate experiments and liquefy helium in advance?"
Onness said: "They have no such ability!"
Van der Waals also said confidently: "Don't talk about helium, they can't even liquefy hydrogen!"
Onnes added: "What we are worried about is the Germans."
Li Yu said: "Is it because I am afraid that they will build airships and purchase helium like crazy?"
Onnes said: "That's it. Last month we had a batch of helium shipped over, and we were almost intercepted by people from Zeppelin Company. Of course it wasn't an open robbery. They wanted to pay 20% more for the purchase. Don't tell me. I won’t accept 20% or 100%!”
Li Yu said with a smile: "You are treating the United States directly as a supplier of raw materials!"
Onness blinked: "Isn't it?"
Li Yu sweated furiously: "Yes..."
The Europeans were really confident at this time and did not take the Americans seriously at all.
