The group arrived in San Francisco in late June, and after a short rest, they rushed to UC Berkeley to visit John? Professor Martin.

In addition to the courtesy visits, Sun Yuanqi also had a purpose, that is, he hoped to leave one or two students to follow Professor Martin to participate in the topic of "radioactive decay mode", so that students could get in touch with the forefront of the world's science and technology at close range, and bring a sail to the scientific development of the motherland in the future.

Hearing that Sun Yuan was coming to visit, Professor Martin came to the school gate early to wait, and rarely put on a formal dress and tie. After hugging and greeting, Professor Martin rubbed his hands together with excitement and smiled happily like a child: "Yank, you're finally here!" You know, every year I look forward to this day sooner than my kids look forward to Christmas! Professor Rutherford and I have some questions in our research, and we are about to ask you for advice! ”

"Thank you! I think I'll be here for a while and talk to you about that. Sun Yuanqi also smiled and said, "But before that, I have one more thing to trouble you, that is, I hope you can allow my students to stay here and participate in the research as your assistants." ”

"There is no problem!" Professor Martin agreed, "If they stay, I will apply for a salary as a research assistant." Since it's Yank your students, I'm sure their performance will surprise everyone. ”

Sun Yuanqi arched his hand at Professor Martin and expressed his gratitude with oriental etiquette: "In this way, thank you so much!" Rest assured, my students are much smarter than I am! ”

"That couldn't be better!" Professor Martin laughed.

"When the working conditions of our Jingshi University improve, you and your students are also welcome to exchange and work!" Sun Yuanqi did not forget to promote his school and extended an olive branch to Professor Martin.

"Okay, I'll definitely go then." Professor Martin happily accepted the invitation.

As the two walked towards the campus, Sun Yuanqi said: "I have been away from the United States for nearly a year, and I am a little unfamiliar with the current research dynamics - you know, the Far East is a little backward after all, and the news is not so well-informed. If not, can you give me an overview of that? ”

As a solid scientific researcher, I will spend half of my working time in the laboratory, and the other half of my time reading relevant papers and literature, so as to ensure that I can keep abreast of the research progress of my peers. The diligent Professor Martin is naturally no exception, and when he saw Sun Yuanqi asking, he crossed his fingers and introduced to Sun Yuanqi: "If you want to talk about the biggest thing in the scientific community from last year to this year, it is naturally inseparable from you and me. That is, the light you proposed has wave-particle duality, and I am fortunate to prove it experimentally. This achievement topped the list of the world's top ten science news in 1902, and was even selected as one of the top ten news in the United States. ”

Sun Yuanqi said with a smile: "We have an old Chinese saying, called 'It is difficult to know, but it is difficult to do", which means that it is easy to know, but it is very difficult to do. So, this achievement is mainly due to you. ”

Professor Martin went on several more points, including the publication of Gibbs's "Fundamentals of Statistical Mechanics" and so on.

Sun Yuanqi pretended to be unintentional and asked casually: "You have proved the thesis I mentioned in the article "The Photoelectric Effect: From Phenomenon to Essence", is it that the academic community has also begun to be skeptical of my other papers, and the intensity of the attack is much smaller than before?" ”

Professor Martin nodded: "Yes, I remember that there was a review in the issue of Science where your paper was published, criticizing your theory as 'completely untenable'. It's only been three years, and the experiment has proven you right. So now, when everyone reads your paper again, they will be cautious, at least not dare to rely on subjective assumptions to speak arbitrarily. In addition, there are many researchers who are interested in your paper and are actively researching it! ”

Sun Yuanqi didn't feel a move in his heart, and hurriedly asked, "Oh? What are the papers? ”

Professor Martin thought for a moment and said, "Overall, your paper on the structure of the atom is of the most interesting to everyone, and it is estimated that hundreds of related research articles have been published in more than a year; followed by dozens of articles on nuclear reactions; As for the theory of relativity and quantum mechanics, I am afraid that ordinary researchers will not be able to read it, let alone be interested. On the contrary, the famous German scientist Planck has written several articles that agree with some of the points in your article. ”

Sun Yuanqi relieved his heart at this time. But after thinking about it, I also feel that I am too suspicious: not to mention that the neutron has just been discovered by myself and Professor Martin, and everyone's understanding of the neutron is still in the obscurant stage; Not to mention whether the scientific community will not be able to find a stable source of neutrons for a while; Let's just say that the idea of building a cyclotron particle accelerator is still only in Chinese, and Europe and the United States have no chance to see it, let alone the rest?

If you can't accelerate an overweight neutron, you can't use it to bombard metal; Without bombarding metals, it is impossible to find heavy nuclear fission; Without the discovery of heavy nuclear fission, it is unlikely that a chain reaction will be discovered to create one of the two theoretical pillars of nuclear weapons. - The other is the familiar mass-energy equation. - As long as Sun Yuanqi does not specify the next few steps, but allows the scientific community to develop, I am afraid that each step will take at least several years.

After the discovery of the chain reaction, there are also major thresholds such as uranium enrichment and controlled release of atomic energy that need to be crossed. Even the United Kingdom, the most powerful country in the world now, will need about 20 years to mobilize the whole country to do this. This is still when the goal is clear and the path is clear!

At this time, Professor Martin smiled and said, "Your work is more important than your thesis." I don't need to say much about the importance of Principia Chemistry, because it has rewritten the theoretical foundations of chemistry as a discipline. Even the last time you gave a lecture at the American Chemical Society, "Introduction to Chemistry", it has now become a must-read for chemistry departments in universities in Europe and the United States.

"The book "Basic Principles of Atomic Physics and Some Frontier Problems", I, who is engaged in chemistry, have read it several times, and I think it is a must-have book on the desk for those who study physics, right?

"Your monograph on wireless communication systems is our textbook for physics at UC Berkeley. According to them, the book is the bible of wireless communications, and all practitioners must and must read it thoroughly.

"By the way, you also have a book on electronic computers, and I've seen no less than ten researchers in the newspapers expressing their determination to build such a machine in the coming period. It has been reported that they are preparing to establish the American Computer Society in the east. Because they know that you will come to the United States for a certain period of time every year, they have repeatedly postponed the founding date just to wait for you to come so that they can elect you as president! ”

Sun Yuanqi touched the soft stubble on his chin and said with a smile: "It seems that I haven't published any papers since last year, which is a good idea!" It's only right to stop for a while and write a few books. ”

Professor Martin stopped, looked at Sun Yuanqi seriously, and sincerely persuaded: "Yanke, around the age of thirty is the most creative stage of life, if anyone wants to miss this golden stage, they are destined to regret it for life!" As one of the world's most outstanding young scientists, you have made profound research in physics, chemistry and other fields, and have made a series of important achievements. There is reason to believe that as long as you continue to work hard and give full play to all your abilities, the achievements you have made will definitely surpass your predecessors and become an eternal monument in science, and your name will be forever engraved in history.

"Right now, you're putting too much energy into building schools and neglecting scientific research. Although education is also an important cause, I believe that you are not irreplaceable in education! However, your role in the development of science is unique and irreplaceable! If you'd like, I can apply for a faculty position at UC Berkeley right away! In fact, whether it is Yale, MIT, or even Cambridge, Oxford, and Göttingen in Europe, as long as you want, you can get a position with a salary no less than that of the president of the United States, which is enough for you to engage in scientific research with peace of mind and wealth. You know, there is no Newton after Newton! ”

Yes, there is no Newton after Newton. Who knew that Newton would only be smashed once in his life by a lucky apple?

Between 1665 and 1667, there was an epidemic of plague in London, and the University of Cambridge was temporarily closed. During the 18 months he spent on his home estate escaping the plague, Newton did great fundamental research in mechanics, astronomy, mathematics, and optics, giving birth to almost all the intellectual foundations to which he made significant contributions throughout his life, including calculus, the law of gravitation, and the theory of color. Since then, Sir Newton has only been able to spin around the cosmic motive force except for his important position in the Royal Mint, and there has been no outstanding achievement.

As a member of the tens of millions of crossing troops, Sun Yuanqi has every reason to conclude with his rich experience that Comrade Newton is not only a great physicist, mathematician, and thinker, but also an outstanding crossing man!

Although Sun Yuanqi can feel the sincere friendship of Professor Martin, it is impossible for him to let go of his attention and devotion to the school with the trust of the students. Even if he would rather give up his scientific honor, he must protect this university that has forged his own painstaking efforts! Therefore, for good intentions, you can only understand it.

After nearly a week at UC Berkeley, Liu Bin, Zhou Zongwu, and Sun Yuanqi embarked on a train across the American continent to Yale University, thousands of miles away.

Compared with the reception of Professor Martin at UC Berkeley, Yale University's reception of Sun Yuanqi was much more grand: President Smith? Mr. McKar personally stepped in, Yale University's most influential leader, Elijah, chairman of the Professors' Association? Newman, Alumni Association President Sam? Pike was on the right and left, and as for the professors and students, it was even more innumerable.

According to the usual practice, Sun Yuanqi had to report to the school the work of the Element Laboratory the previous year the next day, and by the way, plan the scientific research plan for the next period of time. In the past year, the laboratory has successfully completed the discovery and determination of this new element, and the participants are naturally happy. Sun Yuanqi also struck while the iron was hot and said: "Since 1900, the laboratory has successively discovered three new elements: radon, lutetium and protactinium, and has made a series of achievements, which have attracted the attention of the international scientific community. In the new work year, our goal will be to work on cyclotron particle accelerators! ”

Sure enough, Newman, the president of the Faculty Association, pretended to be writing hard, the president of the alumni association, Pike, was expressionless, and the president, Mr. McCal, was playing with the cigar in his hand.

After a while, Mr. McKar looked at Sun Yuanqi: "Oh, cyclotron particle accelerator, I think it should be a scientific instrument." But what does it have to do with the Elemental Labs? ”