If the knowledge system of modern physics is described with an intuitive object, then it would be more appropriate to describe it with buildings of various sizes.
Each building represents a theoretical system of physics, and each floor of each building represents a field or direction.
However, only four of these architectural histories can be called mansions!
Classical mechanics, electromagnetic theory, relativity, quantum mechanics.
Since the knowledge system of modern physics is mentioned, the evaluation of physicists is naturally indispensable.
As for the classification of great physicists in history, Wang Donglai also has a rough standard in his mind.
If it were Wang Donglai in his previous life, he would definitely not be able to do this.
However, with extraordinary abilities such as the [Memory Palace], he can make accurate evaluations.
To single-handedly guide the construction of a building, he can be said to be the founder.
There are only three physicists at this level, namely Newton, Maxwell, and Einstein.
The next step is to play an important role in the completion of a certain building or to carry out important overall optimization of it after its completion, or to lead the completion of a relatively important building other than the four buildings. It can be said to be a master.
Typical physicists include Galileo, Thomas Young, Faraday, Lorentz, Bohr, Schrödinger, Heisenberg, Dirac and others.
If Einstein did not create the theory of relativity, he could still be evaluated at this level based on his contribution to quantum mechanics alone.
There is another person at this level, and that is Mr. Yang.
In 1954, Yang Lao and Mills collaborated to propose the famous Yang Mills theory.
Three years later, Li Zheng won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his 'parity non-conservation theory'.
The standard model established by Mr. Yang directly connected the previously isolated floors of the quantum mechanics building. In terms of contribution, he can definitely be evaluated as a master figure.
Currently, there is a very important thing in the world of physics, which is to break the barriers between the quantum mechanics building and the relativity building and merge them into a new building.
In today's world, if any physicist can accomplish this and have it verified experimentally, he will become the fourth ancestor after Einstein.
After the Grandmaster, there is the Master.
The evaluation criteria for a master is that he can be called a master if he plays a certain role in the completion of a certain building or adds a new floor to a building.
For example, Eddington and Schwarzschild, these two are the founders of quantum chromodynamics and quantum electrodynamics.
After the master, there is the expert.
The evaluation standard is simpler, that is, someone who builds a new room on one floor of a building is an expert.
As for most physicists in today's physics community, let alone experts and masters, according to Wang Donglai's theory, they can at most be regarded as doing it in a certain room on a certain floor of a certain building. Apprentice engaged in decoration.
Therefore, when the large collider discussion initiated by high-energy physics was in full swing on the Internet, it attracted the attention of people from all walks of life.
Mr. Yang spoke out!
As early as 2012, Mr. Yang had opposed the construction of a large collider. The budget for the large collider at that time was 200 billion.
In this year, European scientists discovered the 'Histig' particle at the Large Hadron Collider. This strange particle that can give other particles mass is closely related to the origin of matter, dark matter and the evolution of the universe. .
Because of the results, many domestic scientists have proposed the idea of building a circular electron-positron collider in order to accurately study Sisg particles.
However, after this suggestion was put forward, it was clearly opposed by Mr. Yang.
The reason for the objection is simple, that is, China’s most urgent need is to cultivate high-level basic physics talents. It has the largest population in the world, but there are very few talents in the field of physics.
Spending a huge amount of money to build a large collider has not brought as much benefit to the development of domestic physics as imagined, and the gain is far less than the cost.
Amid Mr. Yang’s objections, the matter was shelved.
However, Wang Yifang never gave up on this.
Just after he was elected as an academician, he immediately mentioned it again.
This time, with the momentum of becoming an academician, the legitimacy of building a large collider has also been greatly improved, and the momentum is even greater.
Mr. Yang is already very old and rarely appears in front of the media.
This time the opposition was not expressed directly in front of the media, but an article was published through personal channels.
"It is not appropriate for China to build a super-large collider today"
In the article, Mr. Yang listed several valid reasons.
For example, learning from the failed experience of Bald Eagle in building a large collider cost more money than imagined.
China is still only a developing country, with poor per capita GDP data and many problems that need to be solved urgently.
The large collider project will squeeze funding for other basic sciences.
After giving the reasons for his opposition, Mr. Yang also mentioned in the article why many high-energy physicists actively support the construction of a super large collider.
High-energy physics is an emerging field after World War II. It has made brilliant achievements in the past seventy years, but there are still problems. Therefore, many physicists believe that the existence of supersymmetric particles is just a conjecture without any experimental basis. They hope to use The Maximum Collider discovered this conjectured particle.
Secondly, it is the construction of the super large collider. If it can really advance high-energy physics a big step forward, it will have real benefits for all human life.
Finally, the Huaguo Institute of Physics and High Energy has been established for more than thirty years. However, more than thirty years later, among the world’s important high energy physicists, China’s share is less than 1%. One or two, after the construction of the super large collider, its operation and analysis will most likely be dominated by a large number of non-Chinese people. When results appear and the Nobel Prize is won, the winner will most likely not be Chinese. Being a Chinese physicist is equivalent to making wedding clothes for others in vain.
Mr. Yang said it very directly, without being secretive.
At his academic status and age, there really is no need to think too much.
In writing this article, it can be seen that I have a public heart.
At the end of the article, Mr. Yang proposed two other research directions for high-energy physics research besides building a large collider.
Looking for new accelerator principles and finding beautiful geometries, as studied by string theory.
Research in these two directions is low-cost research, economical and in line with the general trend of economic development in today's world, effectively reducing the financial investment pressure in high-energy physics research.
To be honest, when I saw Mr. Yang’s article.
Wang Donglai shook his head and said with a smile: "Mr. Yang is really a kind person. If these people on the Internet knew about the chain reaction caused by supporting the construction of the Beijing Collider, they would not know what the reaction would be."
After sighing, Wang Donglai let go of the matter.
The controversy over the large collider also shifted all the criticism originally focused on Wang Donglai to Mr. Yang as he spoke out against it.
The presence of such a physics boss brought the matter to the attention of higher-level leaders.
So, it didn’t take long after Yang Lao’s article appeared. A piece of news came from the capital.
The relevant departments will invite 11 relevant experts to hold a meeting and conduct a show of hands vote to express their opinions on the construction of a large collider.
In short, the leader will listen to the experts' suggestions, but the experts will need to make a show of hands vote.
Eleven experts will decide whether to build a large collider.
When the news came out, there was immediate speculation in the academic community about which experts would be selected.
Academicians Yang Lao and Wang Yifang are bound to be selected.
The rest of the nine-person list is difficult to guess.
However, no one expected that Wang Dong would be included in this list.
Beijing.
In the conference room of the relevant unit, everyone in the meeting glanced at Wang Donglai intentionally or unintentionally.
Everyone here knows the debate between Academician Wang Yifang and Wang Donglai at the symposium.
At this time, together with Mr. Yang, there were already two people with firm objections.
At the same time, Wang Donglai was selected as an academician because of his achievements in the field of mathematics, not physics.
No matter how you look at it, it doesn’t match the theme of this symposium.
So, everyone was confused as to why Wang Dong was chosen to participate in this discussion and vote by show of hands.
However, no one asked about this doubt.
Soon, the leaders arrived and the symposium officially began.
“Today’s matter is very simple. We are all experts in high-energy physics. Regarding the construction of the large collider, on behalf of the higher authorities, I am here to listen to your thoughts and ideas. Everyone can speak freely.”
“This is just an academic discussion symposium, not a dispute over lines. I hope everyone can speak honestly and enthusiastically!”
The leader did not waste any nonsense and immediately set the tone of this symposium. .
Academician Wang Fangfang was not polite and was the first to speak out, saying: "Leader, Academician Wang Donglai is not engaged in high energy physics research. I think it is inappropriate to choose this person to participate!"
I have to say, Wang Donglai is not engaged in high energy physics research. Academicians on one side are brave.
As soon as he opened his mouth, he questioned Wang Donglai’s appearance.
The leader was not surprised. He glanced at everyone and explained aloud: "Academician Wang Fangfang and Academician Wang Donglai only study mathematics, but mathematics has extremely common and important applications in many fields. I The same is true for large collider, so Academician Wang Donglai’s opinion is also very important.”
“In this symposium, the leaders also want to hear Academician Wang Donglai’s opinions on the construction of large collider in the field of mathematics. Opinion! ”
Hearing this, although Wang Fangfang was a little reluctant, he still nodded in approval.
Ignoring this matter, Wang Yicong began to tell his own point of view.
“Our country’s economy is developing rapidly. In terms of cutting-edge scientific and technological research, we also need a far-sighted strategic vision. The research of high-energy physics is of unparalleled importance to all mankind. Our goal is to revitalize China. , we cannot lag behind the international level in the field of science.”
“Eye. Although we have not become a developed country and there is a shortage of scientific research funds, this is not an obstacle. "
"The best time to plant a tree is ten years ago and now, and build a large-scale collision now. Machinery is our best opportunity and will be the lowest cost in the next ten years.”
"The construction of a large collider will immediately make our country a world-class scientific research center. According to my experience in Europe, with this world-leading large collider, it can attract thousands of physicists and researchers from around the world. Study and work here ”
“The importance of top talent. It goes without saying that the arrival of physicists in China for so many years will greatly promote the development of high-energy physics in China.”
“With our country’s population base and unique home field advantage. "
“Practice is the best teacher, and this is especially true for physics. If students in our country do not have to go abroad to study, they can come into contact with the world’s top physicists and researchers, and there are also top Experimental learning with instruments will promote the development of domestic physics and give the country We have cultivated a group of top physics talents.”
“From this perspective, we have paid a financial cost, but what we have gained is thousands of physicists and researchers from all over the world doing academic research in China. , and can also train the next generation of physics students.”
“Talent is priceless, and its value cannot be measured. Once our research produces results, or we cultivate a Chinese version of Einstein, we will lead the world in the next era of high-energy physics. "
"The advantage this brings will be something that no amount of money can buy."
"Leader, I'm finished!"
Finished. , Wang Fang sat down.
Obviously, Wang Yifang came prepared this time, answered some questions in the arena, and gave reasons for cultivating talents.
I have to say that this statement does make sense.
Several of the other experts present looked in agreement, obviously moved by Wang Yifang's words.
After Wang Yifang finished speaking, it was time for Mr. Yang to express his opinion.
However, Mr. Yang did not speak, but said to Wang Donglai: "Xiao Wang, why don't you come and talk about it!"
Wang Donglai was not restrained, and when he heard Mr. Yang Saying this, he nodded immediately.
Shi Shiran stood up, looked around at everyone, and then said aloud: "Lao Yang and I have spoken a lot about the objections to the large collider."
"Here, I don't want to Repeating these objections, I would like to talk about others."
"The importance of the study of high-energy physics to all mankind. , This is a matter of benevolence and wisdom, and I will not comment.”
“I just want to say that when the Beijing Collider was built, scientific research funds were in short supply, and semiconductors and domestically produced large aircraft were stopped. Research and development.”
“Now, the importance of semiconductors needs no introduction.”
"No one knows which direction the future era will develop."
"Tens of thousands of laboratories and research institutes around the world are studying biology, artificial intelligence, particles, and materials. Utilization of research resources. ”
“No one can tell in which field a qualitative breakthrough will occur one day, triggering the beginning of a new era. ”
“Our country’s economy is developing rapidly, and there is a lot of money in the market. Didi Dache can spend tens of millions every day to seize the market, and Taotian Group can spend tens of billions to acquire a company.”
“Then why should we only focus on scientific research funds? We can obtain scientific research funds through cooperation with enterprises or sponsorship.”
"In a word, the national scientific research funds are responsible for the bottom line, and we advocate that comprehensive, more cutting-edge and expensive projects can be financed through market-based means." (End of Chapter)