The TV series version of "The Three-Body Problem" is being released, involving a lot of scientific knowledge such as astronomy and physics, and in order to ensure true and accurate expression, some experimental equipment is also live-action shooting. The scene of Yang Dong's Liangxiang accelerator for particle experiments in the play is filmed in the first large scientific device in the mainland - Beijing Positron Collider (BEPC) National Laboratory, which is one of the eight major high-energy accelerators in the world, the first high-energy accelerator in the mainland, is an important large scientific device for high-energy physics research, and is the only large-scale electron-positron collision experimental device in the world to study τ-millet physics near the production threshold of τ leptons and millet particles.
Yang Dong works in front of the collider
What is a collider? It is also called particle accelerator, which is a collision tool designed by scientists in order to better observe tiny atoms and particles, in this tool, change the magnetic field and the intensity of electricity, to achieve the fastest speed, two streams of particles collide, so as to put together new particle forms in the process of impact.
The principle of the particle collider is very simple, which is equivalent to after the two cars collide, people can know what the car is made of by looking at the debris at the scene of the accident. The general principle of the particle collider is the same, that is, a collision, as we all know, molecules are made of atoms, atoms are composed of nuclei and electrons, atomic nuclei are composed of protons and neutrons, protons are composed of quarks, scientists let these particles collide, and then check the residue of the "car accident" scene to find new substances.
Large collider in Europe
In 2012, Europe's Large Proton Collider discovered the Higgs particle, filling an important part of the Standard Model of physics, and won the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics, which is regarded as the source of matter mass.
The mainland does not currently have a large collider, but some academicians call for national investment, planning to invest 200 billion to build a large collider similar to Europe, this plan also has scientists with different views, supporting academician experts believe that the mainland to build this collider, can allow scientific research to catch up with the thirty-year process, but another group of physicists are opposed.
Yang Zhenning gave three reasons for opposition:
First, thankless. At the beginning of the 21st century, the United States united nearly 40 countries, invested nearly 10 billion US dollars, and gathered more than 2,000 top scientists around the world. Only one experiment was carried out, and there were no more results. And the cost of maintenance after the experiment is again astronomical.
Second, money should be spent on the blade. China is in the midst of rapid development, and more investment is needed in various basic science fields. Instead of spending on a project that I don't know if it's worth it, it is better to allocate to areas that are more needed, spend this 200 billion on the blade, national defense, medical care, economy and people's livelihood, be responsible to the people, and bring more benefits to the people.
Third, China is very short of first-line physics talents. "Science has no borders, but scientists have a homeland." China currently has less than 1% of the world's top physicists, so what is the point of hard work to create it and no one will use it? Make wedding clothes for others for nothing.
In May 2020, Wang Yifang, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, revealed the latest scientific research progress of the positron collider (CEPC) in an interview, saying that the development results of the first batch of key equipment have been unveiled, some of them have met the design index requirements, and the overall work is advancing according to the plan. I hope that China will produce results soon.
Bibliography:
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