1900: A physics genius wandering around Europe

Chapter 218 Academic and Applied Physics

There are only 10 months until the first Bruce Conference on October 30th.

The physics community has begun to stir and everyone is busy.

Participants in the conference need to prepare report materials and discuss physics from a high perspective.

This is not a private party where you can do whatever you want.

The whole world is paying attention to this conference. If a concept is explained incorrectly or a very low-level speech is made, it would be a laughing stock.

Therefore, even Nobel Prize winners have to prepare their content carefully from now on.

As for those physicists who did not attend the conference, some were busy working on their own experiments, while others stopped to rest for a while to see if this conference would bring any inspiration to their research direction.

As for physicists like Professor Case, they are more concerned about how many new topics the conference can bring to train students.

They have given up on going any further.

It is more reliable to educate students honestly.

Because now there is more and more knowledge of physics.

Given their age and energy, it is too late for them to start learning from scratch.

As physics develops more and more cutting-edge and in-depth, teaching and research have gradually separated.

In the time of Newton and even Maxwell, there was no foundation or research for so-called physics.

Students learn the latest things and do research in class.

However, nowadays, with the explosion of knowledge, it is difficult for undergraduates to produce earth-shaking results.

Because you have to learn a lot just for the basics.

For example, if you want to study the theory of relativity, you must at least learn the three major theories of classical physics.

Even decades later, if you want to do some research, you will not only have to learn the three major theories, but also relativity and quantum mechanics.

A person's most creative time is wasted on learning this kind of existing knowledge.

But you have to learn it, otherwise you won’t even be able to get started.

This is also why physicists in later generations are basically old men with white beards, and you rarely see young people.

And now is the best era for modern physics.

All the truths are beginning to emerge slowly, and young people actually have more opportunities than old people.

Because they will not be bound by classics, nor will they regard Newton and Maxwell as authorities.

Especially geniuses like Heisenberg, Pauli, and Dirac, who grew up listening to relativity and quantum mechanics.

Newtonian mechanics? It's too old. I won't learn it!
The above is the situation in academic physics, but in the field of applied physics, the logic is completely different.

For applied physics, in this era, Newtonian mechanics and Maxwell electromagnetism are far more important than relativity and quantum mechanics.

After all, we can’t invent satellites or spaceships now, so there’s no need for such high-end things.

Watt, Edison, and Tesla are all representatives of applied physics.

When physicists discuss academics and rankings, they generally do not consider applied physics.

But this cannot obscure their value, especially to human development.

Although the physical knowledge used by applied physicists is already available, the products they create have profoundly changed the world.

In the early 20th century, the pinnacle of applied physics was Marconi's radio.

On October 1909, 10, the ninth Nobel Prize was announced.

Among them, the winners of the Nobel Prize in Physics are: Marconi and Braun.

The award was given for his contributions to the development of wireless telegraphy.

London, Marconi Wireless Telegraph Co.

Marconi's face was full of disbelief. Just now, someone from the Physics Nobel Prize Committee called him and he thought it was a scammer.

He was overthinking it. Scammers these days can't afford to use the telephone.

Marconi couldn't understand how he could win the Nobel Prize in Physics when he was not even a physicist.

As the boss of a technology company, he certainly knows the importance of the Nobel Prize in Physics.

The Dutch company Philips, thanks to its association with Bruce, transformed itself from an ordinary company making light bulbs into a world-renowned technology company.

Now Philips' products are synonymous with technological power.

Especially the radio, which actually used its own radio technology, made Marconi feel that big companies were wealthy and powerful.

The radio application was developed so quickly.

However, he changed his mind and felt that he was also relying on Bruce.

So he quickly packed up his things and rushed to King's College London without caring about the congratulations from his colleagues.

Under the guidance of Delia, Marconi met Li Qiwei.

He knew that Li Qiwei was preparing for the meeting, so he didn't dare to disturb him easily.

Marconi said excitedly: "Professor, I have good news to tell you. I won this year's Nobel Prize in Physics!"

Li Qiwei pretended to be surprised, then patted him on the shoulder and said, "You deserve it, Marconi."

"Your radio is a great invention that will change the future of mankind."

Li Qiwei looked at the cheerful Marconi and felt very happy inside.

Of course he knew that Marconi would win this year's Nobel Prize in Physics, and he also had a vote for it.

Since he became the first Nobel Prize winner in Physics, the Nobel Prize Committee has invited him to be a nominee for each subsequent selection.

Li Qiwei also basically followed the history and did not deliberately make any changes.

In fact, even if he wanted to, it would be useless because he only had one vote and could not change the general trend.

Otherwise, Leonard would not have won the fifth Nobel Prize in Physics.

At this time, Li Qiwei smiled and joked: "Marconi, you are now a Nobel Prize winner in physics. Are you here today to attend the first Bruce Conference?"

Marconi quickly waved his hands when he heard this, "No, no, no, professor, you misunderstood me."

"I know my level very well."

"Your theory of relativity is so confusing that it makes my head hurt, but I still don't understand it at all."

"How could I ever hope to attend such a high-end physics conference?"

"Even if you asked me to go, I would definitely refuse. I don't want to be the first Nobel Prize winner in physics to be laughed at."

Li Qiwei laughed out loud when he heard this. This Marconi is really a wonderful person.

In fact, the reason why the eighth Nobel Prize winner in Physics, Lippmann, won the award was the same as Marconi, that is, applied physics.

Lippmann won the award for inventing color photography using interference phenomena, which seems to be a little simpler than radio.

Why did Ridgway invite Lippmann but not Marconi?

Because color photography was just one of Lippmann's achievements.

His most important achievements were in the field of academic physics, including Lippmann's interference law.

Moreover, his research scope was very broad, including fields such as electrothermal and optics, and he was a recognized authority in the European scientific community at that time.

He is somewhat similar to Lord Kelvin, both of whom are the pinnacle representatives of classical physics.

Lippmann also donated the capillary potentiometer he invented to the French Physical Society free of charge.

If he patented this invention, he could become an instant millionaire.

It is this spirit that makes him a highly respected figure in physics.

Therefore, there is still a big difference between him and Marconi.

Apart from radio, Marconi had no academic achievements.

At this time, Li Qiwei suddenly thought of something and asked, "Marconi, how is your wireless telegraph machine being improved?"

“Have all the previous problems been resolved?”

Hearing this question, Marconi immediately perked up: "Professor, I followed your suggestion and used the newly invented triode."

"Now wireless telegraphs can be made smaller and more powerful."

"It is expected that the official product will be ready before June next year."

"I have received many orders from the military now."

“But their requirements are higher and they need to add some other functions.”

Li Qiwei nodded, very satisfied.

When he was in China, he always kept an eye on the situation in Europe.

When the triode was first invented, he wrote to Marconi, telling him that this was a technology that would be very useful to him and asked him to study it carefully.

Marconi was indeed a radio genius. In just two or three years, he was about to produce a formal product.

This product is not the previous test machine, but a product to be sold externally.

Li Qiwei felt a lot more relieved. By next year, he would be able to remotely control the country using wireless telegraph.

At that time, I will put one here, one in Borneo, and one at home in Guangzhou.

Finally, I have some experience of the future.

"Marconi, you did a great job."

"I think you have the potential to surpass Philips in the future with this product."

This is what Li Qiwei really meant.

The radio pie is just too big.

As the founder, as long as Marconi runs the company normally, the company's future prospects will be limitless given his reputation.

With Li Qiwei in this life, there are so many products that can be produced.

It just so happened that Pioneer Investment Group also invested in Marconi's company.

By helping Marconi, Li Qiwei was also helping himself.

He has a vision for future generations and naturally looks favorably upon radio.

But Marconi didn't. Although he knew that radio was important, he would never think of mobile phones, satellites and other things.

So Marconi was very shocked. He didn't expect that Ridgway would attach so much importance to radio.

If anyone else had said this to Marconi, he would have scoffed.

But it's different for Li Qiwei.

A person's identity can determine the future of a technology.

In the future, Li Qiwei's words may even change the fate of billions of people in the world.

Marconi is now very glad that he went to attend the meeting in Brussels.

Otherwise, it is highly likely that his fate will be that his company will go bankrupt and he will have no choice but to go back to being an idle rich second generation.

In his own estate of several hundred acres, he planted flowers and grass, flirted with maids, achieved nothing, and regretted it for the rest of his life.

"Professor, don't worry, I will definitely follow your instructions and continue to improve the company's research and development capabilities."

Suddenly, Marconi said flatteringly: "Well, Professor, can I also authorize the use of your patent like Philips?"

Li Qiwei smiled and said, "Just go talk to the people from the Vanguard Group and tell them that I agree."

Marconi was overjoyed.

Now everyone in the technology industry knows that Professor Bruce’s patent is a treasure trove and a goose that lays golden eggs.

Countless companies dream of working with Li Qiwei.

As long as a company can bind a patent and develop a good product, it will stand out and lead the trend.

Philips' story inspires all entrepreneurs.

Li Qiwei also suddenly found it very interesting.

I originally just wanted to reach the top in academic physics, but I didn't expect to change the world of applied physics by the way.

Decades later, perhaps half of the world's high-tech companies will have his patents, and that would be a lot of money.

After Marconi left, Delia came in.

As she packed her things, she secretly looked at Li Qiwei.

During this time, she also learned about Li Qiwei's identity as a millionaire.

I couldn't help feeling a little lost.

Why is such a handsome, talented, gentlemanly, young and rich, perfect man married?

Delia thought that she had very good conditions, especially her appearance and hardware, which were definitely outstanding.

But Professor Bruce was never like other greasy old men who always looked for opportunities to take advantage of her.

He is well-mannered and upright.

Delia envied Professor Bruce's wife immensely. She must be the happiest person in the world.

Because several times, she saw him looking quietly towards the east with love in his eyes.

(End of this chapter)