Von Neumann came to Cambridge University without notifying anyone in the school in advance.
Of course he didn't have to do this.
In his previous life, Chen Muwu clearly remembered that every summer, there would always be educational and training institutions from all over the country, working together with local travel agencies, to launch study tours to Beijing.
The scenic schedules of these study tour groups are also very strange. You don’t need to go to popular scenic spots such as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, but the two most famous institutions of higher learning in China, Tsinghua University and Beizhou University, are indispensable.
If everyone in each such visiting tour group had to contact the two schools in advance to report in advance.
It is estimated that Tsinghua University and Beida University will allocate more than a hundred people every summer to be responsible for registration and reporting.
The qualifications of these study tour groups also vary. The better ones may spend money to find a few graduate students, and let them take the children who are not familiar with the world to walk around the school in the name of school students. Look and listen to their bragging.
The worse ones may not even be willing to spend hundreds of dollars to invite students, but just take the group to the gates of the two schools and take a group photo and that's it.
The same is true now at Cambridge University.
It is the best university in the UK and even the world. It is not too far from London and attracts many tourists to visit here every day.
Like Tsinghua University and Beida University, if everyone who comes to Cambridge has to register, Cambridge University will also be overwhelmed.
The various colleges of the University of Cambridge are all located in Cambridge County with the Cam River as the center. There are no walls and there is no need to report. You can come and go freely.
Some of the people who come to Cambridge come to visit the school to pay their respects, but most of them are academic workers who want to come here to chat with the most powerful colleagues in the world and learn from them.
Among these people are political practitioners, some study literature, some study philosophy, some study mathematics, and some study astronomy.
Naturally, there will be people who study physics.
Besides the Cavendish Laboratory, the most famous physics laboratory in the world, where else could their destination be?
During this trip, Von Neumann also brought Hilbert's letter of introduction to Fowler. This move on his part had already exceeded the expectations of more than 90% of the visitors.
In the past few years, Chen Muwu has received compatriots who visited the Cavendish Laboratory twice.
Among those two people, one was Yan Renguang, the dean of the physics department of Bei University, who had been suspended for a year to study education abroad, and the other was Ye Qisun, who had completed a doctorate from Harvard University in the United States and visited Europe while returning to China.
They all know that there is a compatriot like Chen Muwu in the laboratory, so it is much more convenient to visit. They have never encountered anyone deliberately making things difficult and blocking them.
But before Chen Muwu came to the Cavendish Laboratory, Chinese physicists also visited here, and they also encountered no difficulty.
Whether it is the current director Rutherford or the former senior Thomson, they are even more tolerant to their physics colleagues who come to Cambridge. They always arrange people to accompany them to introduce various situations in the laboratory.
If I happen to be not very busy, I will also invite people to the office and chat together.
Von Neumann, a young man who had just obtained a doctorate in chemistry from the Federal University of Technology in Zurich, was not very impressive or exposed. No one in the academic circle knew that there was such a big figure as him.
But the person who wrote him a letter of introduction was different. Hilbert was the most accomplished and famous mathematician in the world.
After seeing Hilbert's letter saying that von Neumann was his assistant and was sent to visit Cambridge University for a month or two, Fowler, who was sitting in his office, would definitely not dare to neglect him.
He had received numerous letters of recommendation like this before and was familiar with the relevant process, so he asked in a more formal manner: "Mr. von Neumann, is there anything you want to visit after you arrive at Cambridge University?" ? If not, I can recommend Trinity College, where Sir Isaac Newton worked hundreds of years ago..."
"Thank you for your kindness, Professor Fowler. I don't want to go to Trinity College yet, but I want to ask you about someone. I would like to ask Dr. Chen from the Cavendish Laboratory. Do you know where he is? Professor Hilbert sent me A large part of the reason I came to Cambridge was because of him.”
After all, Von Neumann was still a young man in his twenties. He was also a genius who was proud of his talents, so his speech and behavior were more or less arrogant.
Chen Muwu’s paper pointed out teacher Hilbert’s mistake. What happened?
What happened if his friend's paper on the same topic was published before his own?
We all have one head and two hands, how can anyone be smarter than anyone else?
It’s just good luck!
It was originally a normal sentence to explain the purpose of his trip, and every word he said was true, but after it came out of von Neumann's mouth, he suddenly felt like he was inciting an accusation.
Fowler not only noticed von Neumann's tone, but also the two people mentioned in his words.
Hilbert sent his assistant to Cambridge University, and the first thing he did after arriving was to find Chen Muwu.
Then could the purpose of his trip be any more obvious?
Due to work reasons, Fowler traveled to Europe many times. In his impression, Hilbert should be an elegant and easy-going mathematics senior.
But why is he so angry this time? Is it possible that I was really angered by one of Chen Muwu's papers?
While Fowler was thinking, he glanced at the German opposite him from the corner of his eye.
Although this von Neumann is young, looking at his physique, it is completely impossible to beat Chen Muwu.
Hilbert sent such a person here, probably not to do harm to his father-in-law's confidant, right?
But there was another thing that also gave Fowler a headache.
That is, although he is a professor in the Department of Mathematics, his office is in the Cavendish Laboratory.
But he hasn't seen Chen Muwu in this laboratory for a long time recently.
His newspaper articles during the strike caused quite a stir at Cambridge University.
But even so, Chen Muwu still failed to show up in the laboratory.
His father-in-law, Rutherford, who had always disliked his students and staff being involved in politics, was very angry, but it was rare that he did not call Chen Muwu into his office and scold him.
Fowler was certain that Chen Muwu should have been at Cambridge University recently, but not at the Cavendish Laboratory.
He didn't know what he was busy with recently, let alone where the others were.
Even if the person standing in front of him today and saying that he was looking for Chen Muwu was not von Neumann but Hilbert, Fowler would have to say sorry to the visitor.
"Sorry, Dr. von Neumann, I don't know much about Dr. Chen's whereabouts. How about you find a place to live in Cambridge County first and visit the school environment, and I'll go find someone else to find out. , how about I contact you after I know his whereabouts?"
Von Neumann was a little disappointed not to be able to see Chen Muwu for the first time.
Isn't this the Cavendish Laboratory?
As one of them, Chen Muwu, why don't he just stay in the laboratory and run around every day?
Although there was resentment in his heart, he had just arrived and was unfamiliar with the place, so he could only do as he pleased.
After leaving Fowler's office, von Neumann, who was unwilling to give up, found a few people in the open laboratory on the first floor and asked, and the answers he gave were similar to Fowler's: They also didn't know. The elusive Chen Muwu, where is he recently and what is he doing.
After getting home from get off work in the evening, after dinner, Fowler and his old Tarzan sat on the sofa together, listening to the radio in the living room and chatting about various things that had happened recently at school and at home and abroad.
While chatting, Fowler thought of the guest who visited during the day. He was also curious about where Chen Muwu was recently, what he was doing, and why he had always been so mysterious.
So he asked these two questions to Rutherford. Unexpectedly, as soon as he heard his beloved disciple's name, the expression on his old father-in-law's face immediately became very alert.
"Ralph, what are you doing asking about this when you have nothing to do?"
Fowler was shocked by his performance and could only tell the truth. Someone came to Cambridge University from Germany to find Chen Muwu, and this was Hilbert's intention.
"Oh, Germans...mathematicians..." Rutherford deliberately prolonged the endings of these words to show his attitude, "Then please tell the other party tomorrow. Unfortunately, Dr. Chen has recently Not being at Cambridge University, and not being able to come back for a while, he couldn't do it.
“But we can’t let others go in vain, right?
"You can ask him by the way tomorrow if he has any other arrangements at Cambridge University. If he wants to study physics and do experiments in the Cavendish Laboratory, he can come to see me tomorrow and let James make arrangements for him. into a group.
"If he doesn't want to study physics and wants to continue studying mathematics, he can follow you. I can find a connection and introduce him to Russell."
Rutherford refused the meeting between von Neumann and Chen Muwu, and deliberately ignored the two questions his son-in-law had just asked.
Although Fowler was more curious, since his father-in-law had already said so, he could no longer ask further.
The next day, Fowler visited von Neumann at his address in Cambridgeshire.
He informed the other party that Dr. Chen was not at school, and von Neumann had a visible expression of disappointment on his face.
He also found a place for himself in his heart: Little Chen Muwu, he must have had a premonition that he would come to Cambridge University, so he ran out in advance.
"Professor Fowler, when will Dr. Chen come back?"
"This... to be honest, I also want to know." Fowler couldn't give an answer to this question, so he simply changed the subject and asked another question to the other party, "By the way, Dr. von Neumann, there are other One thing, Director Rutherford asked me to ask for your opinion.
"Dr. Chen is not here, and you will not go back to Germany for a while. So during this period, what kind of work do you want to do at Cambridge University?
“If you want to study physics, we can help you get into a group in the Cavendish Laboratory;
"If you want to study mathematics, then we can also help you contact the Department of Mathematics at Cambridge University..."
"Thanks for your kindness, Professor Fowler, I think I'll choose to study physics."
Von Neumann's eyes rolled in his heart and he wished he could go up to the sky.
Where are you from, buddy? Who are you studying mathematics with?
How can the current mathematics level of the University of Cambridge compare with that of the University of Göttingen?
Whether it's Fowler or Russell, even if you add Eddington, all the famous mathematicians at Cambridge University together, I'm afraid they can't even compare with a hair of my own teacher Hilbert.
Why didn't I just stay in the Institute of Mathematics and come to your less prestigious mathematics department?
However, the Cavendish Laboratory is said to be the most famous physics laboratory in the world, and it is also Chen Muwu’s home base, where he was born when he first entered the academic circle.
Although he was lucky enough to defeat his teacher in mathematics, he was also lucky enough to be ahead of himself and publish a paper proving the equivalence of the two mechanics.
But if I can achieve some world-shattering results in physics experiments in the Cavendish Laboratory, will it mean that I am tied with Chen Muwu in the confrontation, and I will avenge my teacher and the entire mathematical world?
So von Neumann resolutely chose the first option proposed by Fowler.
"Okay, Dr. von Neumann, please come with me to the Cavendish Laboratory. Director Rutherford wants to meet you and arrange your tasks in the laboratory in the next few months. .”
Fowler knocked on von Neumann's door early in the morning and announced to him the "bad news" that Chen Muwu was not in Cambridge. At the same time, Chen Muwu, who was not in Cambridge, was reporting to him on the progress of the particle accelerator in Rutherford's office.
Cockcroft's mistake on the charge conveyor belt was made small by him.
Chen Muwu didn't say that due to early communication errors, the accelerator was delayed for several months because of a custom-made silk belt.
What he and Rutherford said was that because the last critical part was still a few months away, we tried to find a replacement.
Although the effect may not be good, it can advance the time a few weeks and test the level of the accelerator first.
If problems are discovered, you can take advantage of this time to improve them.
If everything is ok, we will replace it after the last part arrives, and maybe the acceleration voltage can be further improved.
What is the art of speaking?
Chen Muwu just turned a mistake into an innovation, which made Rutherford very happy.
The old man smiled widely. The more he looked at Dr. Chen, the more he liked him.
It has to be this great guy!
Even if he gets involved in politics, so what!
That is when people have enough spare time to learn, and in their spare time of studying, they can also come up with their own opinions through thinking.
If all the students in the laboratory could be as good as Chen Muwu, then Rutherford would be willing to be the first to move the CPGB headquarters to the Cavendish Laboratory, let alone participate in politics. Thumbs up!
Just as he was about to speak and praise this great boy, there was a knock on the office door again.
"Director, director, are you there?"
This voice is very familiar, it is my good son-in-law.
Rutherford was about to agree and let Fowler in.
Chen Muwu, who was very discerning, even got up from the sofa and walked towards the door.
Rutherford suddenly thought of what Fowler told him while listening to the radio last night.
It would be fine if he came alone today.
But if Fowler had brought the German who came to Cambridge University to find Chen Muwu yesterday, wouldn't the words he had given him before be betrayed?
"Ralph, I'm not here, please come back!"
Rutherford, who had no time to think, gave his answer.
But he was still a step late. The diligent and good student had already opened the door first.
(End of chapter)
