"Preparation" before success
Bohr was a slow-moving but attentive child in his childhood. He is good at all subjects in school, especially physics and mathematics. He also loves literature, but his native language is hard to learn. He worked hard to overcome this difficulty all his life and spent a lot of time copying manuscripts over and over again, whether it was scientific papers, speeches at conferences or letters to friends. This reflects Bohr's urgent demand for accuracy and his strong desire to convey as much information as possible in his works. In order to cultivate Bohr's practical ability, his father bought lathes and tools for him. The ingenious Bohr quickly mastered the metalworking technology and dared to repair everything that was damaged. When the clock or bicycle at home was broken, Bohr repaired it himself.
football anecdotes
Bohr soon became the star goalkeeper of the University of Copenhagen Football Club after he entered the University. He used to absently guard the goal on the football field and rehearse formulas on the doorframe with chalk. Bohr later entered a scientific research institution and devoted himself to the study of atomic physics, but he still remembered his beloved football. In his spare time, he often took football as a rest and became an out-and-out "scientist star". However, he was also distracted. According to the historical records of Danish AB team, in a match between AB team and German Tevida team, the Germans shot from the outside, but Bohr was thinking about a math problem next to the post.
an enemy and a friend
Bohr and Einstein met in 192. That year, the young Bohr gave a lecture in Berlin for the first time and forged a friendship with Einstein for 35 years. But it was after they met for the first time that they disagreed on their understanding, and a lifelong debate ensued. As long as they meet, they will argue with each other. In 1946, Bohr wrote an article for the collection commemorating Einstein's 7th birthday. When the collection was published, Einstein wrote a long answer at the end of the collection, sharply refuting Bohr and others' views. Their debate lasted for 3 years until Einstein died. However, the long-term debate has not affected their deep friendship at all, and they have always cared for and respected each other. Einstein should have won the Nobel Prize long ago, but because many people were biased against the theory of relativity at that time, it was not until the autumn of 1922 that he was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics last year and decided to award Bohr the Nobel Prize in physics this year. These two decisions were published at the same time. Einstein was on his way to Japan at that time, and was informed of the award when passing through Shanghai. Bohr was deeply uneasy about Einstein's long-term failure to win the Nobel Prize, fearing that he would win the prize before Einstein. Therefore, Bohr was very happy when he learned the news. Write to Einstein on the journey immediately. Bohr is very modest. In his letter, he said that he was able to make some achievements because Einstein made a fundamental contribution. Therefore, Einstein was able to win the Nobel Prize before him, which he felt was "great happiness". Einstein answered Bohr's letter immediately after receiving it. The letter said: "I received your warm letter shortly before I left for Japan. I can say without exaggeration that it makes me feel happy like the Nobel Prize. You are worried about getting this bonus before me. I find your worry particularly lovely-it shows Bohr's true colors. "
About the oxygen mask
During World War II and the post-war German occupation of Denmark, Heisenberg went to Copenhagen to meet Bohr, that is, Copenhagen. The contents of this talk are different from each other, and they are still in dispute, but what is certain is that Heisenberg's words made Bohr very angry and damaged their friendship. In order to avoid being detained by the Germans, Bohr was forced to flee Denmark in 1943, go to Sweden by boat, and then arrive in London by a small plane. In order to avoid being found, the plane should fly very high. It is said that Bohr forgot to wear an oxygen mask because he was absorbed in thinking; Another way of saying this is that Bohr's head is too big and the mask size is not appropriate, which makes Bohr lose consciousness in the air. In early 1937, Niels Bohr, his wife Margaret and his son Hans Bohr visited the United States. In early February, Zhou Peiyuan, then in the United States, was entrusted by Peking University and Tsinghua University to invite Bohr to visit China. On February 27th, Professor Wu Youxun from Tsinghua University, Peiping called Bohr (transferred to Berkeley, California, USA) and invited him to visit Peiping. On March 11th, Wu Youxun called Bohr again and invited him to visit China. On March 27th, Cai Yuanpei, Li Shuhua, Jiang Menglin, Mei Yiqi, Luo Jialun and Sun Hongfen, leaders of Academia Sinica, National Peiping Research Institute, National Peking University, National Tsinghua University, National Central University and China Education and Culture Foundation, jointly issued a formal invitation letter, inviting Bohr to visit China. On April 1th, Wu Youxun, Tsinghua University of Beiping State, wrote to Bohr again and invited him to visit China.
on April 3th, 1937, Bohr wrote back to Wu Youxun, thanking him for the invitation from China universities and scientific institutions, and informing him that he would arrive in Shanghai on May 2th and stay in China for two or three weeks. The topics of the lecture in China are "Nucleus" and "Causality in Atomic Physics". On May 7th, Bohr wrote to Wu Youxun again, saying that he had received an invitation from Zhejiang University, so he wanted to include his trip to Hangzhou in his travel schedule in China. On May 7th, Wu Youxun replied to Bohr, and sent him the draft schedule of Bohr's trip in China, asking for his consent.
On Sunday, May 2th, 1937, at 4: p.m., Mrs. Bohr and her son Hans Bohr arrived in Shanghai by passenger ship, and were warmly welcomed by Ding Xielin, director of the Institute of Physics of Academia Sinica, and celebrities in Shanghai's scientific community. Stay at the Garden Hotel.
At 1: am on May 21st, Ding Xielin accompanied Bohr and his son to visit the Institute of Physics. In the afternoon, he accompanied Bohr to Shanghai Jiaotong University to talk about "nuclear nucleus". After the speech, Li Zhaohuan, president of Jiaotong University, hosted a refreshment. At 7 pm, Ding Xielin, director of the Institute of Physics of Academia Sinica, and Zhuang Changgong, director of the Institute of Chemistry jointly hosted a banquet for Professor Bohr, his wife and son at Xinya Restaurant in North Sichuan Road. Ms. Gu Jinghui from the Institute of Physics (she is the first female doctor of physics in China) was present.
At 1: am on May 22nd, Ding Xielin and Yang Zhaolian accompanied the Bohr family to visit the downtown area of Shanghai. In the evening, a banquet was hosted by Chinese Physical Society, Chemical Society and Chinese Science Society.
On May 23rd, the Bohr family, accompanied by Hu Gangfu, Dean of College of Arts and Sciences of Zhejiang University, left for Hangzhou by train at 8: 25. Arrived in Hangzhou at 12: 3, and was welcomed by Professor Zhang Shaozhong, head of the Department of Physics, He Zenglu, Hsin P. Soh, Wang Ganchang and other physicists, and stayed at Xiling Hotel. Visit the West Lake in the afternoon. At 7 pm, President Zhu Kezhen hosted a banquet in Dahua Hotel. Zhu Kezhen was unable to attend because of something, and was presided over by a philosopher (probably Zheng Xiaocang).
At 9: am on May 24th, Mrs. Hu Gangfu, Hsin P. Soh, Wang Ganchang, He Zenglu, Zhang Shaozong and Mei Guangdi accompanied the Bohr family to visit West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Longjing, Eighteen Rivers in Jiuxi and Pagoda of Six Harmonies. At 5 pm, Bohr gave a speech entitled "Nucleus" in the College of Arts and Sciences of Zhejiang University. The lecture lasted about one and a half hours, and the meeting was presided over by President Zhu Kezhen. Hu Gangfu made a brief introduction.
At 7: 3 p.m., Zhu Jiahua, Chairman of Zhejiang Provincial Government (and his wife Zhu Chengpeifen), hosted a banquet in the provincial capital for the Bohrs and their sons. Zhu Kezhen, Cheng Yuanfan, Mei Guangdi, Lou Guanglai, Hu Gangfu and Zheng Xiaocang were invited to accompany us.
During Bohr's visit to Hangzhou, Wang Ganchang and Hsin P. Soh discussed many physical problems with him. Wang Ganchang once asked him what caused the shower phenomenon in cosmic rays. Bohr replied that the problem had been clarified. This phenomenon is caused by electromagnetic interaction. From 1927 to 1937, Bohr and Einstein had been arguing about the interpretation of quantum mechanics for ten years, with three climaxes in 1927, 193 and 1935. In Hangzhou, Hsin P. Soh asked Bohr point-blank what he thought of the great debate. Bohr answered bluntly that he was right and Einstein was wrong on this issue. The experimental confirmation of quantum "entangled state" more than 4 years later proves that Bohr is indeed right.
On May 25th, at 8: am, the Bohrs went to Shanghai by train, and He Zenglu, Wang Ganchang and Hsin P. Soh accompanied them to Chang 'an Station to say goodbye. The Bohrs had lunch and dinner in Shanghai, and at 12 o'clock in the evening, they went to Nanjing by train. Ding Xielin went to the station to say goodbye to Bohr.
On the morning of Wednesday, May 26th, the Bohrs arrived in Nanjing. Wang Yi Hou, Secretary of Academia Sinica, and Professor Zhou (probably Zhou Tongqing) from National Central University met at the station. Cai Yuanpei, President of Academia Sinica, left a welcome letter on May 24th, stating that he was deeply sorry that he could not welcome you at the station because he was not in Nanjing, and hoped Bohr would enjoy his short stay in Nanjing.
During his stay in Nanjing, Bohr gave a lecture entitled "Nucleus" in the Science Museum of Central University, gave a lecture on "Causality in Atomic Physics" in Central University, visited ming tomb and Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, visited several research institutes of Academia Sinica, attended several activities, and had an exchange with President Luo Jialun of National Central University and Professor Zhao Yuanren from the Institute of History and Linguistics of Academia Sinica, and visited Jinling Women's College.
On May 28th, Mr. and Mrs. Bohr and their son left Nanjing for Peiping by train at 7: 45 am.
at 1: 55pm on Saturday, May 29th, Bohr and his party arrived at Qianmen Station in Beiping, and were warmly welcomed by famous people in the cultural and educational circles, such as Wu Youxun (Zhengzhi), Dean of Tsinghua University Science College, Rao Yutai (Shuren), Dean of Beiping Research Institute, Li Shuhua and Sun Hongfen, Director-General of China Education and Culture Foundation. Stay in Room 51, Beijing Hotel. I visited Beihai Park in the afternoon.
At 9: am on May 3th, Wu Youxun accompanied the Bohrs and their sons to visit the Temple of Heaven. After lunch, he accompanied them to visit the Forbidden City. At 7 o'clock in the evening, the National Tsinghua University, the Board of Directors of China Culture and Education Fund, the National Peiping Research Institute and the National Peking University jointly hosted a banquet for the Bohrs and their sons, and set up a staff club of Songgongfu Peking University.
On May 31st, at 1 am, Professor Rao Yutai from Peking University accompanied the Bohr family to visit Jingshan. At 3 pm, Bohr gave a speech entitled "Nucleus" in the lecture hall of Peking University School of Science. Before the lecture, Bohr visited the physics laboratory of Peking University. In this room, Wu Dayou, Zheng Huachi and others have done spectral experiments to study Raman effect, and found two very similar spectral lines when measuring the spectrum of benzene, one is strong, while the other is weak. When Bohr saw the spectral photos, he expressed great appreciation to Chinese physicists for being able to take photos that required hundreds of hours of exposure time at that time. Have tea and coffee in the garden after the speech. Then take photos with Jiang Menglin, president of Peking University, and physicists and mathematicians in China.
From June 1st to June 6th, Bohr visited the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Ming Tombs, the Great Wall and other places of interest. Accompanied by Wu Youxun, he visited the laboratories in Zhao Zhongyao and Huo Bingquan, Tsinghua University, and had dinner at the home of President Mei Yiqi. He also visited Beiping Research Institute, Institute of Static Biology, National Beiping Library and other institutions, gave a lecture on "Causality in Atomic Physics" at Peking University School of Science, participated in several activities held by China's scientific, educational and cultural circles, and had exchanges with many people in the scientific and cultural circles, such as Ceng Zhaolun, Xiong Qinglai and Hong Qian.
On Monday, June 7th, Bohr gave another informal speech and participated in the discussion at Peking University. After that, Bohr and his wife were invited to Jiang Menglin, the president of Peking University, for lunch. In the evening, the Bohrs went to Shanhaiguan by train and then transferred to the Soviet Union.
When Bohr was in the United States before he came to China, Kodak Film Company gave him a small film machine and color film (which was not for sale at that time). Bohr took pictures on the train on Luhang Road, when he visited the West Lake, Yuefen and Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou, the Ming Tombs and Sun Yat-sen Tombs in Nanjing, and the Ming Tombs in Beiping. In Peiping, I also filmed a wedding reception with a sedan chair. What is particularly precious is that the film records the scenes of He Zenglu, Wang Yuchang and Hsin P. Soh, professors of Zhejiang University, eagerly bidding farewell at Chang 'an Station in Zhejiang Province. This is probably the earliest color film shot in China (existing in the Danish Bohr Literature Museum).
During Bohr's visit to Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing and Peiping, it was reported in Shanghai Ta Kung Pao, Hangzhou Southeast Daily, Nanjing Central Daily and Peiping Morning Post. After Bohr left China, on July 1, 1937, No.3, Volume 16 of Xueyi magazine published two articles, Professor Bohr's speech by Dai Yun-rail and Bohr's and Quantum Theory by Shi Yanhan. Dai Yungui's article called Bohr "the pioneer of atomic physics in the 2th century" and introduced Bohr's two lectures at Nanjing Central University. Shi Yanhan's article called Bohr "one of the greatest physicists in the world today".
One month after Bohr left Beiping, the Lugouqiao incident happened, and China entered the eight-year arduous War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the subsequent three-year civil war. During this period, Bohr had little contact with China, only Zhang Zongsui (son of physicist and philosopher Zhang Dongsun), Hu Ning (physicist), Luo Zhongshu (dean of the School of Arts of West China University, philosophy consultant of UNESCO) and other scholars had contacts. Zhang Zongsui, in particular, worked in the Bohr Institute for the longest time, had the longest contact with Bohr, and established a profound and touching friendship with the Bohr family.