In fact, the construction of the Large Strong Particle Collider not only involves the Chinese physics community, but the entire world's physics community has a history that can be described as entangled with Mr. Yang Zhenhuan.
In the 19th century, due to a series of major scientific theories such as quantum mechanics and relativity, as well as the discovery of atomic nuclei, protons, neutrons, electrons, radioactivity, etc., people further understood the microscopic world and realized that atoms are composed of nuclei and smaller electrons.
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In the early 1860s, with the study of particles in cosmic rays and the development of particle accelerators, people further understood that there is a more basic structure inside neutrons and protons.
In addition to the smaller elementary particles 'quarks' that make up neutrons and protons, there are also various W bosons, Z bosons, Higgs bosons and other elementary particles.
Atomic nuclei, protons, neutrons, electrons, quarks... these things can be said to be the golden light shining in the sky of physics, like a golden rain of bright stars,
Such a great period is unprecedented in the history of science. However, the noisy prosperity of the moment will eventually burst and wither like a bubble, and the carnival will be followed by desolation.
After this golden age of physics, mankind has made almost no major physical discoveries in physics, and the most important formulas in physics have not been updated for almost half a century.
Gradually, everyone discovered that what should be discovered has been discovered. Going forward, it will be difficult to find a breakthrough in high-energy physics.
"Perhaps, humans need more powerful experimental equipment to open a window."
This was the mainstream voice among physicists at the time.
But at this moment, Yang Zhenhuan said "the party is over".
And the timing of this sentence is very subtle.
Because at that time, the United States was under construction of the Superconducting Super Collider SSC project, and had invested more than 2 billion meters of gold to dig a huge tunnel.
But at this time, the factions in the physics community represented by Yang Zhenhuan had doubts about the prospects of the high-energy collider, which attracted the attention of the United States. Coupled with the increase in the cost of the SSC and the global economic crisis at the time, this led to the failure of the second-generation collider.
The project worth more than one billion meters of gold was completely aborted.
In the follow-up, many people have heard of the grievances between Mr. Yang and the domestic collider field in the early 20th century.
Because of this incident, he also formed a considerable relationship with the domestic high-energy physics community.
But putting aside those grudges, Mr. Yang definitely has a long-term vision.
In the physics community after the early to mid-20th century, except for a very small number of microscopic particles such as the Higgs boson, no particles that could shock the entire world have been discovered.
If Xu Chuan had not been reborn and had already made certain achievements in sterile neutrinos and dark matter in his previous life, he probably would not have chosen to start the construction of the Large Strong Particle Collider after the completion of controllable nuclear fusion technology.
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After all, high-energy physics has not been able to see too far into the future before now. The standard model has been basically perfected, and everything that should be discovered and can be discovered has been found. However, there is not even a trace of things that have not been discovered, such as supersymmetric particles.
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With such a slim future, it is too risky to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in the collider field to gamble.
Although scientists can all be called gamblers, why should a "developing" country take the lead in something that involves the future of physics for all mankind?
As for now, the situation is different.
Sterile neutrinos have been discovered, and their existence opens up a broader world of physics and faces a more distant future.
With this advantage, Xu Chuan has no reason to give up the opportunity to occupy the high ground of physics, let alone give up these successes to others.
.....
After listening to Mr. Qiu's words and seeing that the old man was fine, Xu Chuan felt relieved.
He smiled and asked: "Mr. Yang, just be fine. What advice did he ask you to give me?"
Qiu Chengtong thought about it and said with a smile: "It's not about the collider and high-energy physics."
After a pause, he took out a letter from his breast pocket, handed it to Xu Chuan, and said, "Read it yourself. The old guy was worried that I would distort his meaning, so he wrote a letter to you specially."
Xu Chuan took the letter, opened the light yellow envelope, and took out two thin pieces of letter paper.
[Academician Xu Chuan, hello, see Xin’an.]
[I thought about writing this letter for a long time, and finally decided to put some pen and ink. There is no need to say more about the pleasantries, I will go straight to the point. 】
[The fate of the domestic high-energy physics community is now in your hands. Whether the construction of the Large Strong Particle Collider will be a disaster or a blessing is all in your mind. Even though it may open a whole new world in the future, but
If this world is not controlled or led by us, it is equivalent to paving the way for others.】
[I have been preventing the country from building a collider, not only for economic reasons; but also because our country’s share of the world’s important high-energy physicists is less than 12%. You are outstanding, too
A top physicist, but physics is not mathematics. It cannot be supported by your own strength.】
[If you just want to do your own research on this collider, I have nothing to say. You can handle it however you want. But if it is for the development of the country and the development of physics, I would recommend
You accommodate physicists and institutions from other countries.]
[Their participation will indeed take away part of the collider's time and achievements, but the changes it will bring are significant. The country needs such a group of top physicists to cultivate more talents of its own, and it also needs.
.....]
【......】
Xu Chuan read the two-page letter for a long time.
This chapter is not over, please click on the next page to continue reading! After the last sentence came into view, he smiled, folded the letter, and put it in his pocket.
The old man, who is probably still lying in bed recuperating from illness, has thought too much about the development of the domestic physics community and the country.
Even for this kick-off meeting and seminar, he specially wrote a letter to be brought here, fearing that he would lead the development of physics astray.
"What did the old guy write in the letter?" Qiu Chengtong asked curiously.
Xu Chuan raised his eyebrows and glanced at him. This old man was a bit curious.
Smiling, he said: "I have some suggestions about the arrangement of the strong collider."
Hearing this, Qiu Chengtong shrugged and said: "Forget it, I don't care about your physics world, just go ahead and take your time."
Xu Chuan: "..."
You, the old man, just said that you are a physicist, so you are staying out of it?
Perhaps because he didn't get enough of the melon, Qiu Chengtong ignored Xu Chuan and strolled into the infield with his hands behind his back, leaving Xu Chuan to greet the others in the hall.
...
The auditorium was crowded with people.
Physics scholars and representatives from physics institutions from all over the world have already taken their seats.
Before the opening ceremony officially started, many physicists and students who came with their tutors and professors to see the world were discussing.
"I just saw a big boss when I entered the door, guess who it is!"
"who?"
"Professor David Gross!"
"Isn't that right? Didn't you say that CERN and China are competing? Why did this CERN chairman come here?"
"Who knows? Maybe you came here to watch a joke?"
"Your news is late. Professor Gross left the position of director of CERN in the first half of this year. Now a woman is taking the post. She seems to be Professor Gwendolyn. This time the top physicist came here
Most of them come here in their own name, and there seem to be very few top physical institutions."
Hearing this, the scholar next to him muttered.
"I really don't understand why political things should involve pure academia! Competition is all that matters. Why should something like the construction of the Large Strong Particle Collider, which is beneficial to all mankind, be done like this?"
"Pure academia? Stop making trouble. Where can there be a pure academia now? Academics have always been linked to scientific research and have never been separated from the support of the national government. It is purely your own imagination. The real
When competition starts, who cares whether you are pure or not."
"Hey, man, don't be so pessimistic. Competition is not without its benefits. At least we now have two large strong particle colliders, right? I heard that this plan in China will be built to 100 Tev. I really look forward to it.
You can find something!"
...
Along with the exchange and discussion among the audience and scholars, the time also pointed to nine o'clock.
On the stage, dark lights came on.
The noisy chatter disappeared, and everyone unconsciously stopped talking and looked towards the stage.
Under the gaze of everyone, Xu Chuan, dressed in formal attire, walked from behind the scenes to the stage.
Facing the eyes of countless viewers in the audience, he had a smile on his face, held the microphone in his hand and tried the sound check before speaking. The clear and steady voice spread throughout the entire auditorium at this moment.
"First of all, welcome to everyone who came to participate in the exchange report. I am very happy to see you at today's kick-off meeting and seminar."
"As you can see, today's meeting is about the construction of the Large Strong Ion Collider. I believe that for the physics community, this is a day worthy of being engraved in history and a day worthy of commemoration."
"Because of it, it will change the entire world of physics!"
After a slight pause, Xu Chuan glanced at the audience, raised his voice, and continued:
"In this era full of competition and conflict, I can see so many old and new friends here, especially those familiar figures. I know that in the face of those distant futures and the development of academics, we have never changed.
!”
"Science is the common wealth of mankind, and the task of a real scientist is to enrich this treasure trove of knowledge that can benefit all mankind!"
"I believe that at least most of the scholars here have the same views as me. Even though they come from different countries, different regions, and different races."
"At least today, we stand together for the future of mankind!"
"Although the future may seem far away, in fact it has already begun. I believe that one day the world will have no boundaries, no boundaries, no prejudice, no contempt... the human heart will be the only pass!
"
Standing on the reporting platform, facing the gaze of countless pairs of eyes in the audience, Xu Chuan continued his speech smoothly and clearly.
"...Many discoveries in the field of particle physics have changed people's understanding of the universe, but there are still many mysteries in the universe that need to be revealed, such as the nature of dark matter, the asymmetry between matter and antimatter, and the mass of neutrinos
etc."
"Unraveling these mysteries is our mission and the mission of all mankind."
"Here, on behalf of China and the Chinese academic community, I would like to welcome scholars from all over the world to come here for academic exchanges, cooperation, and to explore the mysteries of the universe together."
"Here, on behalf of China, the Chinese physics community, and the scholars who are here today, I would like to send my most sincere and warmest blessings to the Circular Super Particle Collider, a project of the century."
"I also hope that in the future, it can replace our eyes to see more mysteries of the universe and witness a future era!"
After the last stimulating words, Xu Chuan bowed deeply to the many scholars in the auditorium to show respect.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! In the auditorium where scholars from all over the world gathered, thunderous applause sounded like a tide, one after another, as if it would never stop.
.......
In the lecture hall, Professor David Gross, who was sitting with Witten, clapped his hands, smiled and said to Edward Witten, who was sitting next to him: "You have admitted a good student."
Witten clapped his hands and applauded, and said with a smile: "He is probably the most outstanding student I have ever taught in my life, and it will be difficult for anyone to surpass him in the future."
Gross smiled and shook his head and said, "I don't just mean academic stuff."
After a slight pause, he looked at the man walking off the stage, and continued: "Except for the things we can all see, in terms of politics, ideas, future and other concepts, he is probably the closest to
My ideal person."
"No matter what the purpose, what kind of views. At least in such a fierce competition, he is still willing to make efforts and changes for the world to come together, and is also willing to give scholars from other countries a chance to share the collider.
Opportunity."
"Otherwise, he is fully capable of putting everything away and playing with himself, isn't he?"
"And no one is more familiar or knowledgeable about sterile neutrinos and dark matter."
As the former chairman of CERN, he has devoted great efforts to the development of physics. Whether it is the LHC open to the world or opening up deeper international cooperation, he has made great efforts and contributions to this during his tenure.
He even lost his position as chairman of the CERN Board of Directors because of his opposition to CERN's competition with China.
But this still cannot change his views and actions on things that need to be faced by all mankind.
And today, he saw another like-minded 'fellow Taoist'.
