A Man of Science and Engineering in Troubled Times Wandering in the Late Qing Dynasty

Chapter 262 Slaves and Masters

What Li Yu wanted to meet when he came to the University of Munich was naturally the famous first Nobel Prize winner in physics and Roentgen who discovered X-rays.

Roentgen 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 is no clear wall to enclose the campus, and you may come across a building belonging to a certain university in the city.

After all, these universities are too old, and they have grown into the city for five or six hundred years.Even many buildings such as student dormitories and student canteens do not belong to any university at all.

It’s a bit convoluted to say so. Another way to put it is that as long as it is in this city, any university can apply for a dormitory in a certain dormitory building, that is, students from different universities will live in the dormitory building.

It can be understood that the students of Lanxiang live in the same building as the students of Shandong University. I will teach you how to drive an excavator, and you will teach me bio-mathematics. Thinking about it, it is quite picturesque...

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 belonged to the "barbarians" of Europe in the past, coveting the more comfortable land in Europe, and invaded south.

It feels a bit like China's struggle against nomads for thousands of years.

But the result is not the same.

The changes at the University of Munich do not seem to be that big, and Li Yu is still familiar with it.

As soon as I entered the campus, I remembered that when I was an exchange student at the University of Munich, I ate sausages every day and had that weird "German dumpling".Even if 1 people voted, everyone would say without hesitation that Peking University canteens are several grades higher than Munich canteens.

There is no comparison, it is completely the gap between ordinary people and chefs.The Germans, like the British, really can't cook.

Roentgen's appearance was very familiar to Li Yu, after all, he was a figure who could be hung as a portrait on the university wall.

Li Yu found the Department of Physics with ease, but just as he was about to enter, he was surrounded by several people.

It seems that they should be students in the university. They discussed:

"Look, it's an Oriental!"

"Japanese?"

"It doesn't look like it. The Japanese seem to wear a very rustic and troublesome kimono, and they also have a weird samurai hairstyle on their heads."

"It's not like the Chinese. The Chinese all have a pigtail behind their heads, which is equally ugly."

Several people laughed and continued to taunt:

"Regardless of Japanese or Chinese, backward countries look the same."

"By the way, what are they doing here? They look very young, so they can't be students?"

"Stop joking! Orientals can't even understand the four arithmetic operations, so they still go to university?"

……

Lu Bicheng didn't know German and didn't know what to say, but Li Yu could understand and said casually, "We come from the land of etiquette, China."

Li Yu's words are smack in the middle.

Several students were surprised when they heard his fluent German: "Are you really an international student?"

Before Li Yu could answer, a strong voice suddenly came from behind:

"Even the humblest slave in Rome didn't feel proud when he talked about the glory of Rome. At that moment, he seemed to be the master of Rome!"

Germany has always been known as the Holy Roman Empire, and it considers itself the orthodox successor of the glorious Rome.

Li Yu turned his head, "Mr. Roentgen!"

Several students of course knew Roentgen and greeted him immediately.

Roentgen 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?"

Roentgen was still angry: "Do you really think you are superior? In fact, you are nothing!"

The students asked in fear, "Mr. Professor, you..."

Roentgen pointed to Li Yu and said, "Do you know who he is? How dare you speak out and ridicule him! I'm afraid your combined knowledge can't reach his heels!"

The students were even more confused, so: "Who is he?"

Roentgen said: "He is the most dazzling new star in the scientific world today, Li Yu who is proficient in cutting-edge physics, mathematics, and astronomy!"

The students looked at each other in blank dismay: "My God, it turned out to be 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 too entangled with them at all, so he ignored them and said directly to Roentgen, "Professor, please excuse me."

Rontgen turned sideways and said, "Please come in."

Roentgen was now a man of great prestige throughout the European scientific community, and his attitude was in stark contrast to that of several ignorant students.

Li Yu didn't even look back, and went straight into the research room.

Several students stood in place, dumbstruck.

After sitting down, Roentgen was still a little apologetic, and said: "When I first arrived at the University of Munich, I humiliated my husband. I really feel sorry for me and the whole university."

Li Yu said with a smile: "Professor doesn't have to be like this, I didn't take it to heart."

If it is a glass heart, I am afraid that it will not survive in the early twentieth century.

Roentgen said: "Mr. is indeed young and promising, with a broad mind. Only scholars like you can overcome obstacles in science."

Li Yu said: "Professor has a great reputation. I forgot to ask you, how did you recognize me so suddenly?"

Roentgen said: "I don't like to go out, but it doesn't mean I don't know the world. And I often look at photos, and I have always been very accurate in seeing faces. Although your hair has changed a lot, the eyebrows and eyebrows are not the same as those in the previous newspaper images. I can tell the difference at a glance."

"So that's how it is," Li Yu said, "Professor has good eyesight."

Roentgen asked again: "Why did you come to Munich so soon?"

Li Yu told Roentgen about participating in the rally.

Rontgen smiled and said, "Youth is indeed full of vitality."

Li Yu saw that Luntqin's office was full of experimental equipment, so he also asked, "The professor is still doing experiments?"

"Yes," Roentgen said, "X-rays are a very interesting and unknown thing, and 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 on X-rays, which attracted widespread attention.

Li Yu said: "Professor is an expert in this field, I am really flattered that you say that."

"The method you proposed is very good and directly hits the essence," Roentgen said, "but I'm curious, why didn't you continue this very promising research? Is it limited by the experimental equipment?"

Li Yu said: "It was true before."

Rontgen said: "If this is the case, you can use my instruments, and I am willing to share the laboratory with you for free."

Li Yu quickly said, "Thank you, Professor. In fact, Mr. Siemens also set up a laboratory for me in Berlin, and there is no shortage of equipment."

Roentgen said: "In this way, I think you can go on to publish even greater papers."

Rontgen inspired Li Yu, who almost forgot that he could do some X-ray in-depth exploration.

In any case, X-ray-related research is currently a hot topic, and Li Yu happened to have a good idea, that is, to use experiments to prove his thesis in that paper, that is, X-rays are a kind of electromagnetic waves.

The method is very clear to me. I also mentioned it in the 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 Potter. If the experimental image can be made, it will be a certainty in an instant.

——It is definitely a Nobel Prize-level experiment.

Li Yu said: "I will carefully consider Mr.'s words and conduct related experiments."

Anyway, the single-photon experiment has been done, and the X-ray diffraction experiment of electromagnetic waves is not difficult for Li Yu.

Moreover, Li Yu knew the key Bragg equation of this experiment better in his mind, that is, the important equation about the wavelength and the distance between atoms in the crystal.

Seeing that Li Yu was lost in thought, Roentgen paused for a while before saying, "It doesn't seem long before I can see an amazing result in the newspaper."

Li Yu said, "The professor has too much confidence in me."

Roentgen said: "I have studied your paper carefully. Although some of the mathematical content cannot be fully understood, I have always had a physical intuition. I can feel that you seem to be suppressing yourself. I am not sure why, but I miss you. It can be released as much as you want, and I like to see the shocking things in science the most."

Germans are conservative and rigorous on the whole, but they are very exploratory when doing scientific research.

Li Yu clasped his fists and said, "Thank you for your teaching, Professor."

Rontgen was taken aback for a moment: "Is this a Chinese etiquette?"

Li Yu smiled and said, "That's right, it's an expression of lofty respect."

Roentgen actually learned to cup his fists: "It also expresses my respect."

When leaving Roentgen's office, Li Yu happened to run into those students again. They had just finished class, and when they saw Li Yu, they immediately stepped aside and cast respectful glances.

Li Yu didn't feel very uncomfortable, but just took it lightly.

Dignity is something that is sometimes very cheap, but sometimes it is also the hardest thing to earn.

Lu Bicheng asked, "Are we going back to Berlin now?"

Li Yu said, "Don't worry, we've already arrived in Munich, why don't we go to Bern by the way."

"Bern?" Lu Bicheng had never heard of this place name.

Li Yu said, "I'm going to the patent office there to register a patent."

Lu Bicheng wondered, "Why do you want to go there?"

Li Yu said: "Because the most 'powerful' patent officer in the world is now in Berne."

"If you are so powerful, you must be another person like the Professor Roentgen you met today?" Lu Bicheng asked.

"Well, he's still a temporary worker now..."

It's not as close as Zurich to Munich, but it's not that far away either.

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 city of Bern. Firstly, the location is close to the middle of the country, and secondly, it can balance several other major cities and French-speaking and German-speaking relations.

It is almost a choice after compromise and game.

However, in later generations, many people mentioned that Switzerland did not know much about Bern, and its reputation was far less than that of Zurich and Geneva.

Bern generally still belongs to the German-speaking area. If everyone spoke French, then Li Yu would also become a mute when he arrived here.

The city of Bern is very small, so Li Yu inquired all the way, and soon found the Patent Office.

Through the glass window, Li Yu recognized at a glance the afro in the logo—the 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, and found that he was actually fishing during working hours: He was secretly calculating with a pen, and the content was mostly about "light quantum", and there was a list published by Li Yu some time ago. Photon Experimental Papers.

"Ahem!" Li Yu pretended to cough.

Einstein was so focused that he realized that there was a person standing next to him. He hurriedly stuffed the manuscript paper into a drawer, stood up and said, "Sir, you want to apply for a patent?"

Li Yu suppressed a smile 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 display, which will be very beneficial to 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 transmission shaft differential, that is, the section where the transmission shaft is connected to a pair of planetary gears.

Naturally, it is impossible for him to bring a car site directly, and this part can fully explain the operating principle of the differential.

Li Yu explained: "It's about a patent for a propeller shaft differential used in automobiles."

Einstein knew that it was easy to pass when he saw the samples, and looked at the neatly organized design documents, which was even more impressive: "The information provided by Mr. is very detailed, and we will be able to complete the patent review soon. Please sit next to me, I will carefully Take a look at the design paper."

Li Yu said, "Mr. Einstein, please go ahead."

Li Yu took some time to sit 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: "Yellow skin and black eyes, the characteristics of oriental people, could it be that Li Yu you are?"

Li Yu couldn't bear it anymore, he laughed and said, "It's that Li Yu."

"Oh! I never would have thought that it was you who applied for the patent!" Einstein said ecstatically.

Li Yu said, "Why, if you can be a patent officer, I can't apply for a patent?"

Einstein said: "Of course! Your patent is very well done, and it will be approved soon after I submit it to the leader."

"Mr. Einstein is here." Li Yu said.

"Don't mention this in advance, just take a look at my calculation draft." Einstein didn't bother to introduce too much, and immediately pulled Li Yu to his seat.

He took out a stack of calculation drafts and said: "I have made preliminary progress, but I still have some confusion."

Although in the calligraphy of alphabetic characters, Einstein's level is not as good as that of Li Yu, a Chinese, let alone those real calligraphers.

But in 2021, a 54-page manuscript by Einstein was auctioned with a starting price of 150 million euros and a transaction price of 1160 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, which is the right way.

Li Yudao: "It's already very perfect, but some mathematical derivations are not concise enough, so I spared some twists."

Einstein said: "That's it. You are so accurate! I regret that I always skipped math classes when I was in college."

Li Yu quickly put pen to paper and completed the correct mathematical derivation. This is his strength, and it is also something that can be learned in the normal courses of the physics department in later generations.

"You have saved me a lot of effort!" Einstein felt that he could speak easily with Li Yu, his peer.

Although Li Yu's status is actually not low now, but Einstein has never paid attention to power and authority. There is no one who writes a job recommendation letter. After being unemployed for a long time, I can only be a temporary worker patent officer.

But Li Yu has no airs, so it's easy to get along with him.

(End of this chapter)