Reborn and become a Great Scientist

Chapter 260 208 The Hysterical Landau

One day in the summer of 1926.

Sulian, Leograd.

Auditorium of Sulian Academy of Sciences.

Chen Muwu stood in the center of the podium, and Kapitsa stood on the interpreter seat on the side of the podium.

The second lecture of his trip is coming to an end.

"...

"To sum up, I think Einstein's theory of relativity is completely in line with ****.

"The last thing I want to say is that during the two weeks since I came to Leugrad, I have been warmly received by the teachers and students of the university, and I have also visited every corner of the university.

"In order to prepare for today's lecture, I went to the university library many times these days to look for materials. There, I accidentally saw an article written by Timiryazev, a professor of physics at the Capital University of Mozambique. It's called "Einstein's 'Special and General Relativity'".

"I don't know what is the connection between this professor and the well-known agronomist and biologist Clement Dimiryazev in Sulien.

“And I am just a physics practitioner, not a professional philosopher, and may not have a deep enough understanding of the content of Professor Dimiryadev’s article.

“However, I personally disagree with some of the physics views in Professor Dimiryadev’s article.

"He said that 'the theory of relativity is the mathematical expression of Machism' which, in terms of physics, 'is not immediately acceptable to the sound mind'.

"Professor Timiryazev also gave specific reasons for his point of view. He vowed that all the conclusions drawn from Einstein's theory that are in line with reality can be obtained by using the information that people can touch in daily life. Theories that contain absolutely nothing incomprehensible are clearly demonstrated in simpler ways, and in these theoretical methods absolutely contain nothing that is so mystical and unintelligible as the theory of relativity.

"I think what Professor Timiryazev said is a little too big.

"I personally would like to know how to calculate the precession of Mercury at perihelion without using the principles of relativity, and how to explain the light deflection observed by Professors Eddington and Campbell during the two total solar eclipses. Phenomenon.

"If anyone in the audience of this lecture can prove it for me, I think I can offer him a small reward. For example, a hundred pounds prize, or I can also give this person to me in my place. A genius who solves problems, please go to Cambridge University in the UK and provide him with a doctoral qualification in the Cavendish Laboratory.

"This reward of mine is valid for a long time..."

In the auditorium of the Surian Academy of Sciences, Chen Muwu's words at the end of the lecture were translated into Russian by Kapitsa and caused an uproar in the audience.

Three good friends from the Physics Jazz Club of Lezhigrad University also obtained tickets for the lecture through some means. They were sitting in the last few rows of the auditorium at this time.

Gamow touched the drowsy Lang beside him with his elbow and said, "Dao, don't sleep."

Landau opened his sleepy eyes in bewilderment: "I originally thought that Dr. Chen, as a Nobel Prize winner in physics, must have a high-level lecture when he gives a lecture in the Academy of Sciences, but I didn't expect that today's lecture is not interesting at all.

"Although the two-week courses he took in the university were also boring, at least the content of the courses was serious knowledge, but there was too much mathematics in it, as if he was a professor of mathematics. Changed to talk about physics.

"Of course, his level of mathematics is quite sufficient for him to be a professor of mathematics at Capital University of Mozambique.

"I don't know why he is in the Academy of Sciences today, talking about something more boring than when he was in class.

"I don't know Professor Timiryazev who teaches physics. As his nickname says, this man is just the 'son of the monument'. Mo Capital University became a professor of physics. Does he have any outstanding achievements in physics? One of the most well-known identities of Professor Timiryazev in China is that he often advertises that he is a friend of Gorky.

"I really don't understand why Dr. Chen would shoot at such a person. Einstein's theory of relativity is a beautiful, great and correct theory. Is there any doubt about it?

"When he heard the barking of a stray dog ​​on the road, Dr. Chen chose to lower himself and bark at the stray dog ​​twice. Why bother?"

Landau, whose sleep was disturbed, was very angry, and he fired with all his might.

Gamow, who was scolded head and face for such an innocent disaster, had a bit of aggrieved expression on his face, but he still kindly reminded his friend: "Did you hear the last words of Dr. Chen? He said he could provide a doctor to Cambridge University." The opportunity to study abroad in the University’s Cavendish Laboratory, as long as you can calculate the precession of Mercury at the perihelion without using the method of relativity, or you can calculate the light deflection during a total solar eclipse.”

The matter of studying abroad can attract Gamow, who has always wanted to study abroad like Kapitsa, and Landau, who thinks that Su Lian's physics level is too poor.

Although the moon in foreign countries is as round, the level of physics in foreign countries is really high.

But Landau knew that the two questions raised by Chen Muwu were the two earliest examples that proved the correctness of general relativity.

It is difficult to find a reasonable explanation using other methods than the theory of relativity.

Dr. Chen made it clear that he was ridiculing Dimiryadev in public.

His two questions had no solution at all, and the two rewards he proposed, one hundred pounds and the opportunity to study abroad at Cambridge University, were just a gimmick to attract attention and should not be taken seriously.

Landau felt that Gamow next to him was a little childish, how could he even believe such nonsense?
But even if the question had no solution, Landau didn't want to admit that he couldn't give the answer.

So he said a little arrogantly: "I didn't fall asleep, I just didn't like the boring lectures, so I just closed my eyes and rested in my seat.

"If the reward given by Dr. Chen is something else, I would still be interested in writing and counting.

"But study abroad at Cambridge University? In my opinion, don't even count it, just forget it. Dr. Chen, who has the highest level of physics in Cambridge University, you have seen his real situation in the past half a month, but you Er. This kind of school can't arouse my desire to study abroad at all."

After finishing speaking, Landau leaned against the backrest behind him again, and closed his eyes coolly.

It is a pity that there are no female classmates around him from the same department or school, only two witnesses, Gamow and Ivanenko.

He pretended to be big but failed to attract the attention of the opposite sex. This still made Landau feel a little uncomfortable.

Not only the trio of Landau, Gamow, and Ivanenko were shocked by the topics and rewards proposed by Chen Muwu, but those who had a little background in physics in the audience were all shocked by Chen Muwu's sudden mention of this matter. I was taken aback.

But after reacting, they all realized that Chen Muwu was mocking Timiryazev like Landau.

Only a few people who didn't react took Chen Muwu's promise seriously.

There is an opportunity to study abroad at Cambridge University, and I have to try what I say.

Even the Crown Prince of Sweden, who came specially to listen to Chen Muwu's lecture today, couldn't help but ask the staff around him to record Chen Muwu's two questions.

Wait for an opportunity to send a telegram to China, asking the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm to see if there is any good answer to Dr. Chen's question.

It is best for them to calculate a result within a few days and send the answer to the embassy in the capital of Mozambique by telegram.

In this way, I can have a common topic with Dr. Chen on the train from the capital of Mozambique to the Far East.

The commotion caused by the questions and rewards gradually subsided in the auditorium.

The instigator, Chen Muwu, then continued to finish the speech.

"I heard that Professor Dimiryadev also had this argument, that is, although Einstein himself did not carry out any active attack on the principles of materialism, the theories he proposed have been adopted by the bourgeoisie and their intellectuals in various countries. used by molecules.

"It is also said that Professor Timiryazev is a fan of Sir Newton and a strong supporter of classical mechanics.

"But I think Professor Timiryazev may not know such a thing, that is, in addition to being a great physicist, Sir Newton also served as Director of the Royal Mint for 30 years .

"During this period, Sir Newton accomplished another major event besides making private visits in disguise, sneaking into bars, and cracking down on prisoners who minted counterfeit money in the UK.

“He unintentionally adjusted the exchange ratio between silver and gold too low, causing silver coins to gradually withdraw from circulation in the British market. Because of this accident, the entire United Kingdom actually adopted the gold standard, and passed it in the following decades. The "Gold Standard Act" was passed and became the first country in the world to implement the gold standard system.

"Since then, countries all over the world have followed suit, and it was not until the just-concluded World War that they gradually abandoned this currency system that had been in place for 200 years.

"But! Not long after the end of the World War, just last year, the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Winston Churchill, in order to restore the glory of the British Empire, announced that Britain would re-implement the gold standard system that was abandoned during the war.

"This Churchill, he is quite hostile to your country's system. I remember that the great mentor Lie Ju once called him 'the greatest enemy of crispy goose'.

"Although Professor Timiryazev did not come to the scene today, I still want to apply his logic.

"Sir Newton was the actual inventor of the gold standard, and this Churchill was the advocate of the gold standard.

"It stands to reason that Churchill is even more bourgeoisie than the bourgeoisie that Professor Timiryazev said, so Sir Newton, who is highly respected by him, should also be criticized by him like Einstein?

"To make a digression, I think Churchill's move is completely out of character.

"Although I am not an economist and I don't know much about economics, I know that his economics mind is completely incomparable to that of Sir Newton, let alone Sir Newton, Churchill did not even have a degree from Cambridge University.

"The restored gold standard is destined to go on in the UK for a short time. Churchill will not only face the Waterloo of his political career, but may also have other more serious consequences."

After raising the question of "using the spear of the son to attack the shield of the son", Chen Muwu's second lecture came to an end.

He nodded and walked off the podium. The audience in the auditorium reacted differently.

Oppenheimer, who followed in the footsteps of Chen Muwu from England, had arrived in Sulian a few days ago.

He also appeared in the auditorium of today's lecture, drumming his hands harder than anyone else.

Although Oppenheimer didn't understand why Chen Muwu would associate the theory of relativity with such weird things, the last example he gave was really wonderful.

You know that Dr. Chen is not a person who swallows his anger. The British Chancellor of the Exchequer has been targeting Chen Muwu in the newspaper for not a day or two.

Dr. Chen's example today undoubtedly dealt a heavy blow to that little fat man.

To say that Churchill's economic acumen is completely incomparable with Newton's is hardly a boast.

After all, Newton is a famous stock god, and the South Sea Company is his lifelong enemy.

There is an unconfirmed tabloid theory that the gold standard introduced by Newton won the heart of the then British King George I, and then the king recommended a stock to Lord Niu of which he personally served as president on the board of directors. .

Then that stock did go up, but Mr. Niu...

However, this statement is mostly far-fetched by later generations. After all, George I couldn't even speak English, so how could he communicate with Newton?
Oppenheimer felt that Chen Muwu's method of cursing was really heart-wrenching. He didn't know whether reporters were present at today's lecture, whether it would be reported in newspapers, and whether British media colleagues would reprint it.

If the British don't know about this in the future, I will help Chen Muwu to promote it when I go to Cambridge University.

Being guessed by Oppenheimer, Chen Muwu got off the podium and walked to the lounge of the auditorium, where Yue Fei was already waiting.

"Dr. Chen, your speech is really good. To tell you the truth, many of our colleagues are opposed to Professor Timiryazev's treatment of Professor Einstein and the theory of relativity. You have spoken our heart out today.

"Dr. Chen, I have another unkind request. Can I reprint the full text of your speech in our country's newspapers? Everyone originally wanted to fight back against Professor Dimiryadev. This speech of yours is very important to our country's newspapers." It’s a very powerful weapon for us.”

Of course Chen Muwu was happy to see this, so he fully agreed to Professor Yue Fei's request.

It’s just that he didn’t expect that the newspaper that Yufei mentioned was not the journal of the University of Leograd, nor the journal of the Soviet Academy of Sciences, but the largest national newspaper with an editorial office in the capital of Mozambique.

In addition, Chen Muwu also said another thing to Yue Fei.

He was about to leave Su Lian soon, and this matter could not be delayed any longer.

In the afternoon after the lecture, Joffe sent someone to call Landau from the classroom to the office of the professor of physics at the University of Leugrad.

Many people have recorded in their memoirs that Landau yelled hysterically in this office that afternoon.

"What, what? You said that Dr. Chen intends to invite me to study at Cambridge University, and asked if I would like to go?"

"I am willing to go, I am willing to go, of course I am willing to go!"

"Who says I don't want to go? Gamow?"

"Oh, this man, really! Professor, he's joking, don't take what he said seriously! I'm willing to go!"

(End of this chapter)