1900: A physics genius wandering around Europe

Chapter 247 Superconductivity is questioned? Li Qiwei takes action!
The superconductivity phenomenon is like a hurricane, instantly creating huge waves in the ocean of physics.

When the paper was published, the first reaction of most physicists was that it was impossible, absolutely impossible.

This is totally contrary to common sense.

According to the explanation of classical thermodynamics, the resistance of metals is caused by thermal motion.

When electrons move in metal atoms, they collide with metal atoms in thermal motion, so their energy is reduced, which manifests itself macroscopically as resistance.

If the temperature drops to absolute zero, the thermal motion of all atoms stops, and of course there is no resistance.

But now Bruce's PhD thesis shows that at 4.19K and below, the resistance of mercury becomes completely zero.

This is simply like a fairy tale!
4.19K and 0K are not the same concept or level at all.

Many people think that the experiment was done wrong or there was a measurement error.

"Professor Bruce is a little anxious. This kind of experimental result that obviously goes against logic should not be published."

"I saw this passage in Bohr's notes, but I didn't expect Professor Bruce to actually do it. I thought he was just saying it casually."

"How can resistance be zero? The most important thing in physics is perfect phenomena!"

"It's probably an experimental error. The resistance just became very small, and the instrument didn't measure it."

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Many physicists have publicly stated that there must be problems with Qian Wu's discovery of superconductivity.

Of course, the bigwigs have not spoken publicly yet, because they are cautious and must repeat the experiment first.

University of Berlin, Institute of Physical Chemistry.

Thermodynamics master Nernst was directing his students to repeat Master Qian Wu's experiment.

He said angrily, "I asked you to do this experiment, but you forgot about it."

"I really don't know what to say."

"A result that shocked the academic world slipped away from you quietly."

It turned out that at the first Bruce Conference, Ridgway had suggested that Nernst measure the simple properties of matter at extremely low temperatures.

Because the specific heat of solids is difficult to measure and is far less simple than resistance.

But apparently Nernst didn't care.

And now, the discovery of superconductivity was like a heavy hammer hitting his heart.

Nernst now prayed that no one would see this passage in Bohr's notes, otherwise he would definitely be called stupid.

Several doctoral students were trembling with fear, not daring to say anything back, but they complained in their hearts:
"You just said it casually, and we are exhausted."

"I can't even finish my own research, so how can I have time to do anything else?"

However, they certainly wouldn't dare to say it out loud.

I installed the experimental equipment diligently and prepared to repeat the low-temperature resistance experiment of mercury, tin and lead.

With the reference of Master Qian Wu's paper, the experiment proceeded quickly.

As the current leader in the field of thermodynamics, Nernst's laboratory has the world's most advanced resistance meter.

However, the test results still made him unbelievable and excited!
The resistance of the metal really drops to zero!
Of course, there is another possibility.

That is, the resistance is not actually zero, but extremely small, so small that it exceeds the limit of the instrument and cannot be measured by the instrument.

But it makes no difference anymore.

Physicists are not mathematicians and do not need to pursue mathematical limits and perfection.

For the property of resistance, there is not much difference between 0Ω and something close to 0Ω.

The rest is left to theory.

Now that the superconductivity phenomenon has been discovered, the next step is definitely to study its mechanism.

A dozen days after the superconductivity paper was published, Nernst's team published a repetition of Qian's experiment in a German academic journal.

The paper confirms with absolutely precise data that metal resistance does become zero at extremely low temperatures.

Nernst publicly supports superconductivity!

boom!
The physics community went crazy.

As a big shot who attended the first Bruce Conference, Nernst was even more authoritative than Ridgway in the field of thermodynamics.

With his guarantee, there will definitely be no problem with the experimental results of a small resistance measurement.

Although some physicists have raised doubts, believing that the resistance may be too small to be measured.

But Nernst replied: "The resistance meter in my laboratory can measure the order of 10^-15."

"I think this order of magnitude is no different from zero."

"Of course, maybe in the future, there will be more advanced resistors."

“But I think it still can’t measure the resistance of a superconductor.”

In real history, even in Ridgway's time, there was no consensus on whether the resistance of superconductors was strictly zero or infinitely close to zero.

Some physicists have conducted experiments in which electric current can flow continuously in a superconductor.

The current has learned. After two and a half years of not running, there is still no sign of weakening.

According to the most accurate data, the resistance of a superconductor is less than 10^-21.

This is a level that cannot be any smaller and is not much different from zero.

Of course, there is a problem of circular reasoning here.

However, all this does not affect the practical application and great significance of superconductivity.

Nernst's paper was like a reassurance, allowing Teacher Qian Wu and the other two to breathe a sigh of relief.

Li Qiwei was calm and composed, as if everything was under his control.

This made Master Qian Wu and others extremely envious.

"When will we be able to have the professor's state of mind, without any disturbances?"

Bohr and others envied him.

With this, three members of Teacher Qian Wu's group have met the requirements for doctoral graduation.

Simply envious of others.

At this time, Li Qiwei said: "Fifth Division, Huzhou, Huaining, you should not relax just because you have discovered the superconductivity phenomenon." "There are still many unknown problems that need to be solved."

"You can think about it in a more divergent way. Since the resistance is zero, it means that the effect of the current has changed."

"Electricity and magnetism are one and the same. Will the intensity of magnetic induction change?"

“These are all very good research directions.”

In real history, in 1933, German physicist Meissner discovered another important property of superconductors:

When a metal is in a superconducting state, the magnetic induction intensity inside it is zero.

This means that magnetic fields cannot pass through superconductors at all.

Superconductors are 100% diamagnetic.

Physicists call the phenomenon of superconductors being completely antimagnetic the "Meissner effect."

Later generations determined whether an object was a superconductor by seeing whether it satisfied both zero resistance and the Meissner effect.

A conductor with zero resistance alone cannot be called a superconductor!

However, in this era, research has not yet reached this stage.

Teacher Qian Wu and others looked at Li Qiwei excitedly. Their mentor gave them a new direction.

Following such a mentor, I feel more motivated to do experiments.

At this time, Li Qiwei added:
"These days, I am also studying the mechanism of superconductivity theoretically and predicting its future research direction."

"I will publish it in the form of a short review, and by then superconductivity research will be a major feature of our King's School."

Everyone was excited after hearing this.

This is equivalent to them opening up a new field, just like Professor Roentgen discovered X-rays.

No matter who makes other achievements in superconductivity in the future, it will be inseparable from their contributions.

On September 1910, 9, Ridgwell published a signed article in Nature.

He was the first to explain the mechanism of superconductivity.

"I think superconductivity is a state of dynamic equilibrium."

"Professor van der Waals of the Netherlands once proposed that there is interaction between molecules." (Van der Waals force)

"But I think similar forces also exist between atoms."

"This force keeps the atoms from spreading apart, but holds them together in a fixed structure."

"Normally, atoms experience thermal motion, but as the temperature decreases, the thermal motion decreases."

"When the temperature is below a certain threshold, the force generated by thermal motion is lower than the interatomic force."

"At this time, the interatomic forces suppress the thermal motion, causing the atoms to enter a static steady state, thus producing the superconductivity phenomenon."

Then, Li Qiwei made a theoretical analysis:
"Therefore, I think high-temperature superconductivity is entirely possible."

"Existing superconductors need to be produced at extremely low temperatures, which limits their applications."

"But as long as we find the right chemical structure, the forces between atoms or molecules will be very strong."

"Then even thermal motion at high temperatures will be suppressed by this force, resulting in superconductivity."

Finally, Li Qiwei proposed the next research direction for superconductors:
1. Superconducting materials.

The superconductors discovered so far are all metal elements. So will alloys, metal compounds, inorganic substances, and organic substances also have superconductivity?

2. High-temperature superconductivity.

The ideal state is to find a superconductor at room temperature.

3. Superconductivity theory.

The theory of interatomic forces is only a macro summary, and more detailed principles need further in-depth research.

When Li Qiwei's paper was published, everyone was shocked.

Bruce actually proved the existence of superconductivity directly from a theoretical perspective.

While other research groups were still repeating Master Qian's experiments in an attempt to discover any anomalies, he had already explained superconductivity from a theoretical perspective.

Is this the strength of the world's number one physicist?
It's so scary!
At this moment, those who were skeptical of Li Qiwei had to admit a fact.

That is, although Bruce has not published any new results recently, his strength has not declined at all.

"My God, the superconductivity phenomenon has just been discovered, and Bruce has already paved the way for it."

"It's terrible, it's really terrible. If Bruce had discovered X-rays, there would have been no Lauer."

"From now on, all those who study superconductivity will have to do so under the shadow of Bruce's article."

But many people have raised questions. They are not questioning the correctness of the article, but questioning Li Qiwei's character.

"The superconductivity phenomenon was discovered by Bruce's students, but now he has published a summary, which seems to be stealing the students' achievements."

"Yeah, maybe Bruce is anxious because he hasn't achieved any results recently, so he wants to take advantage of his students."

Faced with these doubts and rumors, Bakla and others leaked the contents of the conference.

It immediately caused an uproar.

Only then did everyone realize that without Bruce, his students would have almost missed out on superconductivity.

It can even be said that Bruce was the discoverer of superconductivity.

Without his foresight, this experiment would never have begun.

Without his persistence, superconductivity would not have been discovered.

In a sense, superconductivity can be considered Bruce's achievement.

Just thinking about it makes it even more terrifying.

Bruce can now just think of a topic and give it to his doctoral students to work on, and he can get a Nobel Prize-level result.

Is there anything more outrageous than this?
He didn't even focus on superconductivity, but simply pointed out the direction.

Someone even joked: "If Professor Bruce had enough energy, he could probably win all the Nobel Prizes in Physics by himself."

Then, everyone thought of something even more incredible.

It seems that Bruce has never made any mistakes or missed any opportunities since his debut.

Quantum theory, relativity, prediction of the nature of X-rays, superconductivity.
Everyone couldn't help but wonder: Bruce, can't you be wrong?
(End of this chapter)