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Chapter 359: The Signal in the Void (Part 1)

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The mesmerizing scene before him captivated Tang Rui.

Regrettably, it was just a fleeting moment before the image vanished.

The experiment failed.

The specific reason was that, during the moment of dimensional reduction, annihilation occurred.

The annihilation of positrons and electrons led to a quantum leap in the energy level of the photon.

Not only did the experiment fail, but the equipment was also damaged.

It might have been just two electrons, but such lab equipment is exceptionally precise.

The energy released by the annihilation of matter and antimatter directly destroyed the sensors and the magneto-optical trap equipment.

“Red Lotus, display the previous image of the photon’s dimensional reduction again,” Tang Rui instructed, unconcerned about the damaged equipment and eager to revisit the astonishing scene.

“Of course, Master,” replied Red Lotus.

With a swish, the big screen displayed the image of the photon transforming into a light wave, and the 2.5-dimensional form of the positron and electron reappeared before him.

Even upon viewing it a second time, the scene still left Tang Rui in awe.

The microscopic world is indeed fascinating.

“Red Lotus, print this photo and copy the experimental data from before,” Tang Rui ordered.

“Understood, Master.”

Taking these items, Tang Rui left the room and had Red Lotus inform all the scientists about a report meeting he wanted to convene.

Upon learning of Tang Rui’s planned report meeting, the scientists at the experimental base abandoned their research and hurried to the multifunctional hall where the meeting was to be held.

After all, Tang Rui’s reputation was not just that of Crimson Corporation’s CEO or a weapon development expert.

In the scientific community, he was a prominent figure, especially renowned for his achievements in electromagnetics, unmatched by any contemporary physicist.

Not to mention his role in averting the black dwarf star disaster, where he single-handedly saved human civilization.

His reluctance to appear in public and his disdain for hassle were the only reasons he wasn’t more visible.

Otherwise, his influence in the scientific world would undoubtedly be unrivaled.

When he announced a report meeting, everyone who could attend rushed over.

This was no exaggeration.

Half an hour later, Tang Rui arrived at the multifunctional hall and projected the 2.5-dimensional photo onto the big screen.

“This is a photograph of the structure of a photon and its internal positron and electron when its speed is infinitely close to zero, transitioning from three dimensions to two dimensions,” he began, immediately captivating the audience with this revelation.

Dimensional reduction! The term stunned everyone.

As they looked at the photo on the projection screen, their eyes lit up with excitement.

To the layperson, it was merely an extraordinary photo.

But to these physicists, it represented a gateway to the microscopic world, a crucial piece of knowledge for their research.

Based on this photo, they could verify numerous theories and propose many hypotheses.

“Professor Tang, may I ask if the photon has a rest mass when it becomes two-dimensional?” a trembling physicist inquired.

This question was of paramount importance.

If the photon’s rest mass were not zero, many existing scientific theories would have to be overturned.

“Firstly, it is only infinitely close to being at rest, but not actually at rest. According to the experimental data, even when the photon becomes two-dimensional, it is not stationary. Furthermore, when complete dimensional reduction occurs, the positron and electron will annihilate each other, so the photon’s rest mass essentially does not exist,” Tang Rui answered without minding the interruption to his report, aware of the critical nature of the question.

“Thank you very much for your answer, and I apologize for interrupting your presentation.”

“It’s alright. The issue of the photon’s rest mass is actually the main reason for the failure of this experiment. Since the photon’s rest mass is zero, the moment it comes to a rest, it completely annihilates. So, this experiment only achieved a quasi-2.5~dimensional state, not a true two-dimensional reduction of the photon,” Tang Rui explained, elaborating on his previous experimental steps and the changes in various physical quantities based on the data.

More valuable than the results of the experiment were these data, as they recorded the physical changes in the photon’s energy level during its transition from three dimensions to two dimensions.

The physicists listened intently, enraptured.

Many experienced revelations, as previously incomprehensible issues became clear upon seeing these data.

Of course, these data also raised many more questions.

After Tang presented the entire experimental data, he opened the floor for questions.

“Professor Tang, I would like to ask, does the photoelectric effect still exist when the photon becomes two-dimensional?” another scientist inquired.

This question also took Tang Rui by surprise.

Frankly, it was a crucial question, as it touched upon fundamental issues of wave-particle duality and the photoelectric effect.

A two-dimensional photon is a light wave, so the issue of the particle nature of light, as demonstrated by the photoelectric effect, becomes a significant problem.

“Sorry, I cannot answer that question, as this experiment did not truly achieve a two-dimensional state. Similarly, under the conditions at the time, it was impossible to conduct an experiment to test the photoelectric effect of photons in a quasi-2.5-dimensional state. If the photoelectric effect occurred, the photon’s energy level would increase, ending its two-dimensional state. That is, unless we can now make photons two-dimensional and verify the photoelectric effect in that state..”