Chapter 53 Graduation Thesis
On the afternoon of January 1, Li Qiwei found Professor Case and asked him to be his mentor and to finalize graduation arrangements.
Although he often went to Cavendish, he was still a student of Trinity College after all. When it came to graduation, he had to find professors from the college.
The undergraduate graduation time at Cambridge University is generally at the end of June, but students must submit their thesis in January, wait for review, and then defend it.
Similar to China, after students present their research results, their supervisors or other professors will ask questions, and after the defense, the school will award the degree.
Unlike other students who were racking their brains and trembling with fear, it was Professor Case who was nervous about Li Qiwei's graduation defense.
"Bruce, don't write your graduation thesis too profoundly, otherwise I won't even understand it and you'll become a joke in Trinity College."
Li Qiwei didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Professor Case, don't worry. My graduation thesis is based on some thoughts on the photoelectric effect. It doesn't involve any new research."
After saying that, he handed over the written paper, which was more than 50 pages long. He wrote it during the time when Wang Luyao and others were here.
Professor Case took the heavy paper, opened the title page, and saw the title: "Some Thoughts on the Wave and Particle Nature of Light."
He nodded slightly. Good, the topic was understandable. The nature of light has been discussed for hundreds of years. It is a good topic. Now he can rest assured.
Then he added, "That's good. Your paper review will be waived. You should prepare well for the defense in June."
"Dean Sanders wants to make your graduation defense more grand and make it a model for Trinity College, which will help improve its reputation and recruit students."
Li Qiwei was stunned. "Professor, what is the specific form?"
Professor Case said casually: "Oh, then we will invite teachers and students from Oxford University, University College London, University of Glasgow, University of Manchester and other schools to come and listen to your graduation defense together."
"As for Cambridge University, it is estimated that more than half of the teachers and students will participate. After all, you are now known as the number one genius in physics." Professor Case winked mischievously.
Li Qiwei was stunned after hearing this. He thought the defense was just a formality, but he didn't expect to be treated as a mascot again.
And that number one genius, I don’t know which tabloid said that, they are simply putting him on the spot.
His future mentor, Thomson, discovered the electron and denied the theory that atoms are indivisible, breaking the atomic theory that had dominated the West for 200 years. Despite such achievements, no one called him the first genius.
There are also radioactivity, X-rays, etc., which are epoch-making discoveries.
My theory has not been fermented for a long time and cannot reach that level. Besides, there is no end to physics, and the most taboo is arrogance. It seems that someone is fanning the flames.
However, Li Qiwei was able to stay sober and didn't think about it any more.
As for Sanders's approach, Li Qiwei could actually understand him. After all, after graduation, he was a member of the Cavendish Laboratory, which was equivalent to changing a college. Sanders must have tried every means to squeeze out his surplus value.
This old guy has little academic ability, but he is an expert in administrative methods and human nature. No wonder he can become the dean.
However, Li Qiwei didn't care. He had survived the quantum theory conference, so why would he be afraid of a small undergraduate thesis defense? By then, it would probably be the audience in the audience who would be trembling.
After finalizing his graduation plans, Li Qiwei came to the Cavendish Laboratory as usual.
As soon as he entered, he heard Rutherford and Wilson laughing, so he walked over and said, "Oh, guys, what are you laughing at? Is there any major breakthrough?"
Wilson saw Ridgway coming and quickly pulled him over and said, "Hey, Bruce, guess what Rutherford found?"
Li Qiwei asked knowingly, "Is there a major breakthrough in the study of radioactivity?"
Rutherford smiled in a very handsome manner, and said slowly in a bass voice, "Bruce, you are really as good as a god. Yes, my experiment proved the nature of radioactivity. I named it [Radioactive Half-Life]."
"And the experimental results show that the so-called alpha rays are helium ions, which are very different from X-rays."
Ridgway immediately became interested. Thomson had recommended Rutherford to go to Canada and the topic given to him was to study the radioactivity of "uranium salts".
That’s right, it’s the element needed for an atomic bomb: uranium.
Since the Curies discovered the radioactivity of radium two years ago, physicists have found that the heavier the atom, the stronger its radioactivity. Therefore, uranium, as the heaviest known natural atom, has been studied in depth by physicists around the world.
Everyone wants to understand why matter becomes radioactive.
Now, this major achievement has finally been achieved by Rutherford.
Historically, Rutherford won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for this achievement (a physicist winning a chemistry prize is commonly known as cross-disciplinary law enforcement, which is terrifying).
From this we can see how important it is for students to have a good topic given by their supervisor.
And then Rutherford would bombard the gold foil with alpha particles, discovering the existence of atomic nuclei, and then discovering neutrons.
Finally, bombarding uranium atoms with neutrons will produce a nuclear fission reaction. This is the timeline of the second theoretical basis of the atomic bomb.
Rutherford was in a very good mood. He had already begun to organize the experimental results and write the paper.
Li Qiwei wanted to build a good relationship with him and learn more about uranium to prepare for the future. So he asked, "Rutherford, where are you going to publish your paper?"
Rutherford was stunned. "I haven't thought about that yet. I originally planned to publish it in the German Annals of Physics."
Li Qiwei said arrogantly: "There is no need to go far away. Why don't you publish it in Nature? From now on, Nature will be the official journal of our Cavendish Laboratory."
"Besides, I am the editor-in-chief of Nature. I will arrange a big cover for you. Such an important discovery must be publicized in a high-profile manner."
Rutherford didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This junior fellow apprentice had so many clever ideas, but he didn't object.
Although he was a Canadian academician, Canada at that time belonged to Britain and was just a dominion.
There seems to be no problem in submitting to a British journal.
In the following period, Rutherford quickly wrote the paper and published it in Nature together with Ridgwell's photoelectric effect, which immediately caused a sensation in the physics community.
If quantum theory is a high-end purely theoretical research that not many people can participate in, then radioactivity is a down-to-earth experimental research that anyone can try.
In particular, the nature of radioactivity had been proven, and everyone had theoretical support. Countless physicists began to study the radioactivity of more elements in an attempt to discover new phenomena.
It would be best if it could be like X-rays, which not only have physical significance but can also be applied in reality, benefit mankind and make money by the way.
There is no way. Not everyone is a big shot. Ordinary physicists also need to make a living, so of course they have to find a field where they can easily produce results.
For a time, Rutherford's fame even overshadowed Ridgway, and the name of the Cavendish Laboratory became known to everyone.
The main reason is that Rutherford is a Westerner and Ridgwell is an Oriental. The reason is so simple.
Of course, the happiest person was Sir Lockyer. Now Nature has become the first holy journal in the hearts of scientific workers.
Publishing a paper in Nature means fame, status, and of course, titles, money, and so on.
Countless young scientific researchers are flocking to it. Even if they do not expect to be published in the main journal, they are satisfied with being published in a subsidiary journal.
During this period, Li Qiwei has to review a manuscript almost every few days.
He was so excited as he read it that he suddenly thought that he should also publish a Chinese scientific journal, or one that specifically introduces relevant Western technologies.
However, all this can only be carried out after He Yujie and others return.
Thanks to [Shui Han Tian Mie] for the monthly recommendation ticket, thank you boss. Thank you to all the new and old book friends for the recommendation ticket.
(End of this chapter)