Chapter 441 Microcrystalline Theory! Shocked the whole audience! Why did glass turn into crystal again?
Li Qiwei's words made everyone present excited.
Everyone wanted to know what theory Professor Bruce would come up with.
This is not only an admiration for Li Qiwei, but also everyone hopes to find their own research direction based on his work.
Just like the clue to the fourth quantum number in the German speech.
"Professor Bruce never disappoints."
"Even he is not sure about this issue. If I could figure it out, wouldn't I be more famous than Professor Bruce?"
Hearing such remarks, Wu Youxun smiled helplessly.
He explained to the international students:
"Haha, this kind of thinking is a bit ignorant."
"The essence of the problem of light transmission in glass is still within the framework of quantum theory."
"It's just that we don't have suitable research tools for the time being."
"Just like we know that the speed of a cannonball, after it exceeds the first cosmic speed, can move in a circle around the earth without falling."
"But, can you make such a cannonball now?"
Wu Youxun's explanation made many people suddenly realize.
The overall operating logic of this world is built on pillar theories such as quantum theory and relativity.
But when it comes to a certain phenomenon or object in the world, a new theory needs to be derived based on the pillar theory.
This is also the dividing line between genius physicists and ordinary physicists.
The former is responsible for opening up territory and expanding the territory, while the latter is responsible for governing the country and ensuring peace.
But now, everyone looked at the man on the stage.
He is Almighty!
At this time, Li Qiwei slowly said:
"Compton believes that the probability of electrons encountering photons is different based on the different structures of metals and crystals."
"But this statement is not suitable for amorphous glass."
"So, Professor Millikan proposed the concept of transition threshold based on his work."
"But it still has problems."
"And the core of the problem, in my opinion, is actually just one."
"That is: Why are diamonds and glass both transparent, but one is crystal and the other is amorphous?"
"So, I have a bold guess."
At this point, everyone present instantly became excited and stared at the stage without blinking.
"First of all, I recognize Professor Millikan's theory."
"Expand it a little bit."
"The existence forms of electrons in metals and electrons in crystals are different, resulting in different absorption abilities of photons."
"And based on the results, it must be that the threshold of crystals is higher and that of metals is lower."
"If we assume that this theory is correct."
"Then there is only one answer."
Immediately, Li Qiwei stretched out a finger, Dahuang Prisoning Heaven Finger, a finger that shook the sky!
"That is: glass is also a crystal!"
boom!
When Li Qiwei finished saying this.
The venue fell into deathly silence!
Everyone was stunned and looked in disbelief.
"Ah! What's going on! Didn't Professor Bruce just say that glass is amorphous?"
"Who can tell me, did I hear it wrong?"
"This problem is really full of twists and turns!"
While most people are still shocked, many people have gradually come to understand.
"Professor Bruce combines the views of Professors Compton and Millikan."
"The core of Compton's point of view is that solids have different structures and different abilities to absorb photons. Metals and crystals are different."
"The core of Professor Millikan's point of view is that there is a threshold for solid absorption of photons. Metals and glasses are different."
"But Professor Millikan could not include crystals."
"So Professor Bruce combined the two into one: metals and crystals, there is a threshold for absorbing photons, and glass is a crystal."
"Only in this way can the logic make sense."
"But in this case, Professor Bruce's view is even more problematic."
"Because glass is not a crystal!"
Understanding Wang's analysis suddenly made everyone present realize.
At this moment, everyone understood the key to this issue.
But they couldn't understand how Professor Bruce could reconcile the two contradictory conclusions.
Millikan and Compton were also shocked.
The other party said more than ten minutes ago that glass is amorphous.
However, now, it is also said that glass is a crystal.
This also confused the big guys present.
If it had been anyone else on the stage, he would have been called a fool.
"You are contradicting yourself!"
"It's so trivial!"
However, that is Professor Bruce, the world’s first scientific person!
Even if he is really wrong, the first thing the bosses think about is not to question, but to consider whether there is any profound meaning in it.
Therefore, the two believed that Professor Bruce would never be unaware of such an obvious loophole.
Haier on the side couldn't help but asked:
"Professor Millikan, what's going on?"
"I heard you right."
Millikan had regained his composure. His eyes were deep and he said in a calm tone:
"Don't worry, Professor Bruce will explain it clearly."
Li Qiwei had a panoramic view of everyone's expressions.
Today's speech should leave a deep impression on them.
He smiled slightly and continued:
"I believe many people are eager to ask."
"Why do I contradict myself?"
“One moment it is said that glass is amorphous, and the other moment it is said that glass is crystalline.”
"But actually, this is just a different perspective from my description."
"Let me give you an example."
"There was an ancient and wealthy kingdom, and the king had a beautiful princess."
"The king is so fond of his daughter."
"When he knew that the princess liked diamonds the most, he bought all the diamonds in the country and gave them to the princess."
"The princess was very happy after getting these diamonds."
"She wanted to build herself a diamond castle."
"So, the king gave the order."
"Hundreds of craftsmen, after dozens of days and nights of hard work, finally completed the construction of the Diamond Castle."
"The entire castle is made of diamonds and is not doped with any other materials."
"It shines beautifully under the sunlight."
"When the princess saw it, her smile was as bright as a flower. She couldn't wait to tell her father the news and let him come to visit."
"However, as she ran, she accidentally bumped into a castle pillar."
"Boom!"
"The entire diamond castle collapsed and turned into a chaotic pile of diamond ruins."
"The princess is very sad."
"When the king heard about this, he comforted his daughter and said:"
"Don't be sad, my baby, just rebuild these diamond ruins into castles."
"End of story."
After the story was told, everyone in the venue opened their mouths even wider.
Besides being confused, I am still confused.
There's something wrong with the style of painting.
Isn't this a science lecture? Why has it turned into a fairy tale?
However, the eyes of Millikan and other big bosses sparkled.
They seemed to understand something.
Geniuses such as Compton and Wu Youxun also had flashes of inspiration.
"I understand, macro and micro!"
Yu Qingsong wanted to ask: Brother Wu, what do you understand?
Isn’t Professor Li just telling a story?
Wu Youxun said enviously:
"The principal's idea is so unreasonable!"
"I'm so impressed."
Everyone who understands understands, but even those who don’t understand can’t figure it out.
When everyone was confused and the boss admired him, Li Qiwei explained:
"In this story."
"A diamond castle is like a crystal, it is neat and orderly."
"The diamond ruins are equivalent to amorphous glass, it is chaotic and disorderly."
"However, whether it is crystal or amorphous glass, they are all composed of small diamonds."
"This small diamond is a crystal."
"It's just that the diamond ruins it consists of have become amorphous."
"That's my guess."
"Although glass is amorphous on a macroscopic level, on a microscopic level, its interior is composed of tiny crystals."
"I vividly call this theory [microcrystalline theory]."
"According to the theory just mentioned, there is a threshold in crystals."
"Although glass as a whole has no threshold, the countless microcrystals inside it have their own thresholds."
"The thresholds of countless microcrystals are averaged together, and they can be regarded as the threshold of the amorphous glass."
“That’s why glass can transmit light just like real crystals.”
"This is my analysis of the reasons why glass transmits light."
hiss!
The venue fell into silence again.
The microcrystalline theory completely shocked everyone.
Such a genius idea is simply unpredictable.
"Oh God! The microcrystalline theory is so amazing!"
"Professor Bruce is really scary!"
"Is this the charm of science?"
"The analysis by Professor Bruce, Professor Millikan and others is really wonderful."
"Their dialogue opened up a new theoretical direction."
"Crystallography will definitely develop by leaps and bounds in the future."
Yu Qingsong finally understood after listening.
Immediately, he was completely impressed by Li Qiwei.
He stared blankly at the figure on the stage, with an idiotic smile on his face.
He was extremely lucky that Professor Li was from China, from the same ethnic group and the same country as him.
"I will always follow Professor Li's footsteps!"
Compton, Wu Youxun, Hubble and others had fiery eyes.
Professor Bruce comes back strong and his strength has not fallen.
At the age of 40 this year, he is in his prime in the world of physics.
The other party will definitely create greater brilliance in the future.
Hale and other astronomers are now extremely convinced.
"Professor Bruce's astronomy paper will definitely shock the academic world."
With this kind of insight and imagination, Hale felt that Professor Bruce would be a top figure in any field he studied.
Millikan's frown finally relaxed.
For a physics master like him, he will still be ecstatic when he sees a difficult problem solved, even if it is not his own achievement.
Although Li Qiwei's microcrystalline theory is just a guess.
But it certainly goes deeper than his own and Compton's answers.
Moreover, this theory has more reference significance for the composition and structure of matter.
The key is the other person's unrestrained thoughts that make people admire them.
Millikan sighed.
After normal people know that glass is amorphous, they will definitely not continue to think about it, but will regard it as a condition. But Professor Bruce is different. He will go further and think about its internal problems.
Suddenly, Millikan thought of the annual meeting of the Royal Society.
Li Qiwei's Tai Chi yin and yang diagram amazed everyone.
"Is this also a certain thought originating from China?"
In this regard, Li Qiwei said: This is really not the case.
In real history, in 1921, the Russian physicist Lebedev proposed the "Crystal Theory".
This theory holds that glass is composed of countless "crystals" dispersed in an amorphous medium.
There is no clear line between the two.
In 1932, the British physicist Zaharie Assen proposed the famous "Irregular Network Theory".
This theory holds that the microstructure of glass is: the arrangement of atoms is long-range disordered and short-range ordered.
The two theories appear to be the same, but are actually slightly different.
The crystallographic theory focuses on describing the microscopic inhomogeneity and order of glass.
The random network theory focuses on describing the macroscopic statistical uniformity and disorder of glass.
The microcrystalline theory proposed by Ridgway is actually a combination of the two theories and the energy band theory.
This is also the glass structure recognized by later generations.
Of course, using this structure to explain the light transmittance of glass is not necessarily correct at present.
It's just a possibility.
The transparency of glass is still an unsolved mystery!
So, Li Qiwei continued:
"First of all, the microcrystalline theory is just a guess on my part."
“We still don’t know the right answer to the question of glass transparency.”
"As I said at the beginning of my talk, we know nothing about glass."
"I think everyone should have no objections now."
"As for the final answer to this question, leave it to those who truly love glass."
"Perhaps one day in the future, one of you here can explain this problem perfectly."
call!
Everyone present breathed a sigh of relief.
The wonderful debate just now left people breathless.
Twists and turns, all linked together.
Everyone feels a different kind of exciting pleasure.
This is the charm of scientific confrontation.
It’s a collision of the world’s brightest brains.
Although even Professor Bruce doesn't know the final answer.
But no one thinks that the other person is bad because of this.
On the contrary, his image in the hearts of everyone has become taller and taller.
Because the other party does not rest on its laurels, but is always challenging himself and the highest peak of science.
This is the role model of the world's first scientific man.
The meaning of this speech is countless times more important than the answer itself.
Li Qiwei then said:
"The purpose of talking about the light transmission problem of glass is to tell you."
"If you want to make a difference in science, always stay curious."
"The complexity of this world far exceeds human imagination."
"Although quantum theory and relativity are the two pillars of modern physics."
"However, our understanding of the world is still only a glimpse."
"Not even a dime."
"So in this case, do we have to be pessimistic?"
"No!"
"On the contrary, we should be more optimistic."
"Because this means that there are infinite possibilities for the future of mankind."
"Physics is the most important tool created by humans to understand the world."
"Based on physics, chemistry was born and mechanics was born."
"Similarly, astronomy was also born."
"Astronomy and physics are very closely related."
"In my opinion, astronomers are actually physicists who study the universe and stars."
"Both share a basic set of theories."
"That's why I like astronomy."
“Because of the professional counterpart.”
There was a burst of understanding laughter from the audience.
"General relativity gives astronomers a powerful theoretical tool."
"And my upcoming paper will also prove that atomic science can also be used in astronomy."
Wow!
Li Qiwei's last words caused an uproar in the venue.
This is even more shocking than the glass problem just now.
Because this is the first time Professor Bruce has publicly stated that he will publish a paper in the field of astronomy.
All the people in the field of astronomy present went crazy.
"Oh! God! Professor Bruce finally officially set foot in astronomy!"
“What’s more, he even had to publish the paper himself!”
"This is definitely a major event in astronomy."
Yu Qingsong was so happy that he almost jumped up.
This will be the best opportunity for him to communicate with Professor Li.
He was instantly confident about his future.
Chinese literature will surely take off!
"Let's see if the astronomers of Sakura Kingdom dare to look down on the astronomers of China in the future."
Eddington perked up instantly.
Although the debate just now was very exciting, it did not arouse his interest.
Because that belongs to the category of theoretical and experimental physics.
But now, Professor Bruce finally gets to what matters most to him.
In fact, Eddington knew about this as early as the previous internal meeting of the Quantum Institute.
But he didn't know exactly what Li Qiwei's paper was about.
"This time, Professor Bruce should reveal it."
At this moment, Haer, Hubble, Shapley, Curtis and others all looked excited.
They finally heard Professor Bruce's affirmative answer.
And it seems that this paper will be a combination of physics and astronomy.
The big guys can't wait.
Haer was impatient and couldn't help but ask:
"Professor Bruce, would it be convenient to reveal in advance what direction your paper is about?"
"I just want to prepare in advance, in case there is another debate, I don't want to be left in the dark after asking all the questions."
The big guys laughed.
Li Qiwei also smiled slightly. He glanced around and said domineeringly:
"My thesis will explain the energy source of stars."
boom!
It was a short sentence, but everyone present was stunned.
Haer, Eddington and others couldn't believe their ears.
"Oh my God! It's actually this topic."
"Professor Bruce's attainments in astronomy have reached such a terrifying level."
"This is too scary!"
"Did he really theoretically prove the energy source of stars?"
At this moment, all the astronomy experts present were collectively shocked.
This answer is really shocking!
As the most important celestial body to mankind, the sun has been burning for countless years.
It is precisely because of it that the rich and colorful earth world exists and the birth of human beings.
In a sense, the sun is the true home planet of mankind.
Humanity's understanding of the sun can be called an epic of ups and downs.
But until today, astronomers still know very little about the sun.
In addition to using telescopes to observe the sun's surface, all that's left is to analyze the sun's spectrum.
Through spectroscopy, humans know what elements the sun is made of.
What are the contents of these elements and so on.
But the biggest problem has always troubled mankind.
So how do these elements keep the sun burning forever?
If only humans could master this power.
That's simply unimaginable!
Eddington even forgot to breathe.
He recalled the scene when he and Professor Bruce returned together after the inaugural meeting of the International Astronomical Union.
The other party said that they might study the energy issues of stars.
Eddington was very excited at the time, but he felt that Professor Bruce might just dabble in it.
It wasn't until he participated in another internal meeting of the Quantum Institute that he confirmed that Professor Bruce was really studying the issue of stellar evolution.
However, just a short time later, the other party actually solved the problem.
Eddington had no doubts about Ridgway's words.
Because he knows that man has this strength!
“I came to the right place for this trip to the United States!”
Haer has been trying to calm down his emotions.
This news had a huge impact on him.
He needs to digest well.
As a big figure in the field of astronomy, he knows what this paper will mean once it is published.
Stars are the most common and important celestial objects in the universe.
At least half of all astronomers study stars.
The composition and structure of stars, the luminescence patterns of stars, the number of stars, etc.
But among these research fields, the energy source of stars is definitely the most cutting-edge and important one.
Because it relates to the nature of stars.
Just like the most important part of a car, it must be the engine, not the iron casing.
Only by understanding the energy source of stars can astronomers further study the deep secrets of stars.
Unfortunately, this question is too difficult.
The surface temperature of the sun exceeds 6000°C, and no matter can get close to it.
It is impossible for humans to observe the sun up close, so they naturally have no idea what is happening inside the sun.
Therefore, while Haer was shocked, he was also extremely curious.
"Professor Bruce is a recognized theoretical physicist."
"He studies astronomy and will definitely not do experiments."
"So what theory does he rely on to study the energy problem of the sun?"
"General Relativity?"
"Impossible!"
"General relativity considers the overall motion of celestial bodies."
"There is nothing it can do about the internal structure."
"Is it quantum theory?"
"That's impossible. Stars like the sun have nothing to do with quantum."
Haer really doesn't understand.
At this moment, he didn't even have the intention to continue listening.
My mind is full of thoughts about thesis.
Li Qiwei looked at everyone's surprised expressions, but he did not continue to explain his thesis.
"Next, like you, I am most looking forward to the great debate in astronomy."
"As for my paper, it will be published after the debate."
Shapley and Curtis breathed a sigh of relief.
"Not bad! Not bad!"
"Professor Bruce doesn't bother to upstage the big debates."
Soon, Ridgway ended his speech.
Everyone stood up, and thunderous applause resounded throughout the venue.
(End of chapter)