What Li Yu wanted to see when he went to the University of Munich was naturally the famous winner of the first Nobel Prize in Physics, Roentgen, who discovered X-rays.
Röntgen is currently Professor of Physics and Director of the Institute of Physics at the University of Munich.
Compared with universities in China and the United States, these ancient universities in Europe are quite ancient. There are no clear walls to encircle the campus. You may come across a building belonging to a certain university in the city.
After all, these universities are too old, dating back five to six hundred years, and have grown into the city. Even many buildings, such as student dormitories and student cafeterias, do not belong to any university at all.
This is a bit roundabout. Another way to put it is that as long as you are in this city, any university can apply for a dormitory in a certain dormitory building, which means that the dormitory building will be occupied by students from different universities.
It can be understood that students from Lanxiang and students from Shandong University live in the same building. I teach you how to drive an excavator, and you teach me biomathematics. It is quite picturesque when you think about it...
The weather in Munich is better than that in northern Germany. Basically, the closer Europe is to the Mediterranean, the more suitable the climate is for human habitation.
It seems that the Germanic people were the "barbarians" of Europe in the past. They coveted the more comfortable lands in Europe and invaded southward.
It feels a bit like China's struggle against nomads for thousands of years.
But the results are different.
The changes at the University of Munich don't seem that big, and Li Yu is still relatively familiar with it.
As soon as I entered the campus, I remembered the feeling of eating sausages every day and the weird "German dumplings" when I was an exchange student at the University of Munich. Even if 10,000 people voted, everyone would definitely say without hesitation that the Peking University cafeteria is better than the Munich cafeteria.
Several grades higher.
There's no comparison, it's just the difference between ordinary people and chefs. Germans, like the British, really don't know how to cook.
Röntgen looked very familiar to Li Yu. After all, he was a figure whose portrait could be hung on the wall of the university.
Li Yu found the Department of Physics easily, but when he was about to enter, he was surrounded by several people.
It looked like they were students at the university. They discussed:
"Look, he's an Oriental!"
"Japanese?"
"It doesn't look like it. Japanese people seem to wear kimonos that are very tacky and cumbersome, and they also have weird samurai hairstyles on their heads."
"It's not even like Chinese people. Chinese people have a pigtail on the back of their head, which is equally ugly."
Several people laughed and continued to taunt:
"Whether they are Japanese or Chinese, backward countries are all the same."
"By the way, what are they doing here? They look very young, so they can't be students?"
"Don't be ridiculous! Orientals can't even understand the four arithmetic operations, so why are they still studying in college?"
…
Lu Bicheng didn't speak German and didn't understand what was being said, but Li Yu understood it and said casually: "We come from China, a country of etiquette."
Li Yu's words are striking.
Several students were surprised when they heard his fluent German: "Really a foreign student?"
Before Li Yu could answer, a strong voice suddenly came from behind:
"Even the humblest slave in Rome did not feel proud when talking about the glory of Rome. At that moment, he seemed to have become the master of Rome!"
Germany has always been known as the Holy Roman Empire and considers itself the orthodox successor to the glorious Rome of that time.
Li Yu turned around and said, "Mr. Roentgen!"
Of course several students knew Roentgen and immediately greeted him.
Röntgen snorted coldly and said to the students: "It's really shameful!"
Hearing his reprimand, several students felt a little uncomfortable: "Mr. Professor, why did you reprimand us for no reason?"
Röntgen was still angry: "Do you really think you are superior to others? In fact, you are nothing!"
The students were frightened and asked: "Mr. Professor, you..."
Roentgen pointed at Li Yu and said: "Do you know who he is? How dare you make fun of him! I'm afraid your combined knowledge cannot reach his heels!"
The students were even more confused: "Who is he?"
Röntgen said: "He is the most dazzling new star in today's scientific world, Li Yu who is proficient in the most cutting-edge physics, mathematics, and astronomy!"
The students looked at each other: "Oh my God, it's him!"
"This! I'm so sorry, we thought you were just a stupid... oh, just an ordinary Oriental."
Li Yu didn't want to get involved with them too much and ignored them. He directly said to Röntgen: "Mr. Professor, I take the liberty of disturbing you."
Röntgen turned sideways and said, "Please come in."
Roentgen is now a highly respected person in the entire European scientific community, and his attitude is in sharp contrast to that of several ignorant students.
Li Yu walked directly into the research room without looking back.
Several students stood there, dumbfounded.
After sitting down, Röntgen was still a little apologetic and said: "When I first arrived at the University of Munich, I embarrassed my husband. It really makes me and the entire university full of apologies."
Li Yu smiled and said, "Professor, you don't have to be like this. I don't take it to heart."
If you had a glass heart, you probably wouldn't have survived at the beginning of the 20th century.
Röntgen said: "Sir, you are indeed young and promising, with a broad mind. Only a scholar like you can overcome obstacles in science."
Li Yu said: "Professor, I have a great reputation. I forgot to ask you, how did you recognize me so quickly?"
Röntgen said: "I don't like to go out, but that doesn't mean I don't know the world. And I often look at photos and I can always see people's faces very accurately. Although your hair has changed a lot, your eyebrows are not the same as those in the previous newspaper images."
I can tell the difference at a glance."
"So that's it," Li Yu said, "The professor has a good eye."
Röntgen asked again: "Why did you come to Munich so quickly?"
Li Yu told Röntgen about participating in the rally.
Röntgen smiled and said: "Young people are indeed energetic."
Li Yu saw that Röntgen's office was filled with experimental equipment, so he also asked: "Professor is still doing experiments?"
"Yes," Roentgen said, "X-rays are a very interesting and unknown thing. I still have a lot of related research to do. I have read your paper and it is very insightful."
When Li Yu came to this world, the first paper he published was about X-rays, which attracted widespread attention.
Li Yu said: "Professor is an expert in this. I am really flattered by what you said."
"The method you proposed is very good and goes straight to the essence," Röntgen said, "but I'm curious, why didn't you continue this very promising research? Is it because of the limitations of the experimental equipment?"
Li Yu said: "This was indeed the case before."
Roentgen said: "If this is the case, you can use my equipment, and I am willing to share the laboratory with you for free."
Li Yu quickly said: "Thank you very much, Professor. In fact, Mr. Siemens also set up a laboratory for me in Berlin. There is no shortage of equipment."
Roentgen said: "In this case, I think you can continue to publish greater papers."
Roentgen inspired Li Yu, who almost forgot that he could conduct some in-depth exploration of X-rays.
In any case, X-ray related research is currently a hot topic, and Li Yu happened to have a good idea, which was to use experiments to confirm his original conclusion in that paper, that X-rays are a kind of electromagnetic wave.
I know the method very well, and I mentioned it in my paper at the beginning, which is to use the neatly arranged atoms in the crystal to conduct diffraction experiments.
Diffraction is a unique property of waves. If we can create experimental images, it will be a sure thing in an instant.
——It is definitely a Nobel Prize-level experiment.
Li Yu said: "I will carefully consider your words and conduct relevant experiments."
Anyway, the single-photon test has been done, and the X-ray diffraction test of electromagnetic waves cannot be difficult for Li Yu.
Moreover, Li Yu knew more about the Bragg equation that was key to this experiment, that is, the important equation about wavelength and atomic spacing in the crystal.
Seeing Li Yu deep in thought, Röntgen paused for a while and then said: "It seems that it won't be long before I can see an amazing result in the newspaper."
Li Yu said: "The professor has too much confidence in me."
Röntgen said: "I have studied your paper carefully. Although some mathematical contents cannot be fully understood, I have always had a physical intuition and can feel that you seem to be suppressing yourself. I can't be sure why, but I miss you.
You can release it to your heart’s content, I like to see shocking things in science the most.”
Germans are generally conservative and rigorous, but they are very exploratory when doing scientific research.
Li Yu cupped his fists and said, "Thank you very much, Professor, for your teaching."
Röntgen was stunned for a moment: "Is this Chinese etiquette?"
Li Yu smiled and said: "Yes, it is an expression of high respect."
Röntgen actually learned to clasp his fists: "It also expresses my respect."
When leaving Röntgen's office, Li Yu happened to bump into those students again. They had just finished class. When they saw Li Yu, they immediately stepped aside and cast respectful glances.
Li Yu didn't feel very good, but just took it indifferently.
Dignity is sometimes very worthless, but sometimes it is also the hardest to earn.
Lu Bicheng asked: "Are we going back to Berlin now?"
Li Yu said: "Don't worry, we have already arrived in Munich, why not stop by Bern."
"Bern?" Lu Bicheng had never heard of this place name.
Li Yu said: "I want to go to the patent office there to register a patent."
Lu Bicheng wondered: "Why go there?"
Li Yu said: "Because one of the most 'powerful' patent officers in the world is in Bern."
"So powerful, he must be someone like Professor Roentgen we met today, right?" Lu Bicheng asked.
"Well, he is still a temporary worker now..."
Although going from Munich to Bern is not as close as going to Zurich, it is not much further.
Switzerland is a country where neutrality and decentralization prevail, even within its own country. That’s why half a century ago, the capital was set in the small town of Bern. Firstly, it is located close to the center of the country, and secondly, it can balance other major cities and
The relationship between French-speaking and German-speaking areas.
It's almost a choice made after compromise and game.
However, in later generations, many people mentioned Switzerland and did not know much about Bern, and its reputation was far less than that of Zurich and Geneva.
Bern is generally a German-speaking area. If everyone spoke French, Li Yu would be mute when he arrived here.
Bern is a small city, so Li Yu asked around and quickly found the patent office.
Through the glass window, Li Yu recognized the iconic afro at a glance—young Einstein.
Li Yu is basically the same age as him, but Einstein's hairstyle is really trendy.
Li Yu swaggered in and came to Einstein's side. He found that he was fishing during working hours: he was secretly calculating with a pen, and a lot of content was about "light quantum". Next to him was a list that Li Yu published some time ago.
Photon experiment paper.
"Ahem!" Li Yu pretended to cough.
Einstein was so focused that he realized there was a person standing next to him. He hurriedly put the manuscript paper into the drawer, stood up and said, "Sir, do you want to apply for a patent?"
Li Yu held back his laughter and said, "That's right."
Einstein said: "May I ask what kind of patent it is, and whether there are relevant design documents and results demonstrations. This will be very helpful for the rapid approval of the patent."
"some."
Li Yu took out a suitcase, took out the design documents and the key connection part of the drive shaft differential, which is the section where the drive shaft connects to a pair of planetary gears.
Naturally, he couldn't bring a car directly over. This part can fully explain the operating principle of the differential.
Li Yu explained: "It is about a patent for a transmission shaft differential used in cars."
When Einstein saw a sample, he knew that it was easy to pass. Looking at the neatly organized design documents, he was even more confident: "The information provided by Sir is very detailed, and we will be able to complete the patent review soon. Please sit next to me for a while, and I will carefully review it first."
Take a look at the design documentation.”
Li Yu said: "Mr. Einstein, please excuse me."
Li Yu had some free time and sat aside.
Not long after, Einstein suddenly stood up from his seat and said loudly: "Yu Li?! No, Li Yu! Which Li Yu are you?"
Li Yu asked: "Which one are you talking about?"
Einstein looked at Li Yu and said, "With yellow skin and dark eyes, you have the characteristics of an Oriental. Could it be that you are Li Yu?"
Li Yu couldn't help it anymore and laughed and said, "That's the Li Yu."
"Oh! I never thought it was you who applied for the patent!" Einstein said ecstatically.
Li Yu said: "Why, you can be a patent officer, but I can't apply for a patent?"
Einstein said: "Of course! Your patent is very beautifully done, and it was approved very quickly after I submitted it to the leadership."
"Thank you, Mr. Einstein." Li Yu said.
"Let's not mention this matter for now. Please take a look at my calculation script." Einstein did not bother to make too many introductions and immediately pulled Li Yu to his seat.
He took out a stack of calculation scripts and said: "I have made initial progress, but I still have some confusion."
Although in terms of alphabetic calligraphy, Einstein's level is not as good as that of a Chinese named Li Yu, let alone those real calligraphers.
But in 2021, a 54-page manuscript of Einstein was auctioned with a starting price of 1.5 million euros and a transaction price of 11.6 million euros. It is true that every word is as expensive as gold!
Li Yu quickly saw the clues. He was using light quanta to explain the photoelectric effect. It was definitely the right way to go.
Li Yu said: "It's very complete, but some mathematical derivation is not concise enough, and there are some twists and turns."
Einstein said: "That's it. You saw it so accurately! I really regret that I always skipped math classes when I was in college."
Li Yu quickly put down the pen and completed the correct mathematical derivation. This was his strength and something that could be learned in normal courses in the physics department in later generations.
"You saved me a lot of effort!" Einstein felt that it was easy to talk to someone of his age like Li Yu.
Although Li Yu's status is actually not low now, Einstein has never paid attention to power or authority. He was like that when he was in school, otherwise he would not have angered many professors at the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. Give him one
I didn’t have anyone to write a job recommendation letter, so I ended up working as a temporary patent clerk after being unemployed for a long time.
But Li Yu doesn't have any airs, so getting along with him is easy.