[Scientist Spiritual Education Base Tour] 8:
Wang Ganchang , born in Changshu, Jiangsu in May 1907. He is the main founder and pioneer of China's experimental nuclear physics, cosmic rays and elementary particle physics research, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the winner of the "Two Bombs and One Satellite" Medal of Merit, and enjoys a high reputation in the international physics community. He also served as Vice Minister of the Second Ministry of Machinery and Director of the Institute of Atomic Energy, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Association for Science and Technology, First Chairman of the of the Chinese Nuclear Society, and Member of the Standing Committee of the Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth National People's Congress.
missed Nobel Prize three times
Wang Ganchang missed Nobel Prize in Physics three times in his life. These three major discoveries that have been recorded in history are: neutron was discovered in 1931, neutrino was discovered in 1942, and anti-Sigma negative supernumer was discovered in 1959.
In the first half of 1931, an experimental report on bombarding the beryllium nucleus with some particles to produce strong penetration radiation was deeply impressed by Wang Ganchang, who was studying for a doctorate. He always doubted whether this particle had such a strong penetration force, so he twice suggested to his mentor Meitner to repeat the experiment with cloud chamber in order to figure out the properties of this particle, but it was not allowed. In early 1932, Chadwick of the UK completed the experiment using the method proposed by Wang Ganchang, confirming that this particle is a neutral particle flow, which is the well-known neutron. Chadwick won the 1935 Nobel Prize in Physics. Meitner felt deeply sorry for this incident, but Wang Ganchang was not upset. He just kept the lesson in his heart and warned himself to strengthen his scientific research propositions in the future.
Wang Ganchang (second from right) guided the work of KrF laser device (picture source from the Internet)
1947, Wang Ganchang proposed three methods to verify neutrinos and ideas for detecting neutrinos through fission in his paper. In 1956, American scholars completed the experiment of detecting neutrinos based on Wang Ganchang's concept and won the Nobel Prize in Physics. At that time, the country was poor and weak, so Wang Ganchang could only helplessly choose to "let others do it". Whenever he mentioned this, although his words were dull, he could not hide his regret.
In September 1956, as a representative of China, Wang Ganchang worked as a researcher at the Dubna United Nuclear Research Institute in the Soviet Union to engage in fundamental particle research. During his work in the Soviet Union, the physics team he led discovered the first time anti-Sigma negative supernumer , which pushed human understanding of the microscopic world forward and caused a sensation in the international academic community. Just when everyone hoped to see the birth of the new Nobel Prize, Wang Ganchang suddenly "evaporated" in the scientific community.
Dad is in the mailbox
1960, Wang Ganchang received a telegram from China and has since been "missed" for 17 years. At that time, the Soviet Union tore up the aid agreement, and my country's nuclear weapons research industry encountered serious difficulties. Faced with the urgent needs of the country, Wang Ganchang resolutely gave up his research direction and turned to the unfamiliar nuclear weapons research. "I am willing to promise the country with my own heart!" was his most sonorous answer. Since then, an old man named "Wang Jing" has become a deep in the desert. When his child was young, he always couldn't see his father, so he kept asking him where he was. The answer he got was always: his father was in the mailbox.
Early detonation tests were conducted at the foot of the Great Wall. Wang Ganchang and other older generation scientists led the staff to calculate data day and night, open up test sites, and conduct explosion experiments. He never talks about special things. He always visits the explosion site in person, shares the joys and sorrows with everyone, repairs experimental equipment, and stirs up the sludge that volatile gases together...
In 1980, Wang Ganchang gave a report at the Institute of Atomic Energy (Picture Source Network)
In order to adapt to the requirements of large-scale experiments, the experimental team came to the Qinghai Plateau where conditions were even more difficult. Because of the confidentiality requirements, he could only deceive his wife and said that he was on a business trip in Lanzhou.
He rarely lives in a comfortable warm building, but eats and lives with everyone, and often goes deep into the test factory to discuss problems with everyone; he cares about every step of atomic bomb manufacturing, and even the manufacturing of a small screw or the confirmation of a solder joint must be strictly checked to ensure that the test results are foolproof.Once, a group of detonators suddenly exploded during transportation. The colleagues were worried that they could not find the cause of the accident and were discouraged by the sudden failure. Wang Ganchang responded calmly and soon discovered that the accident was caused by static electricity. Everyone's repeated verification found that it was indeed the case.
At 3:30 pm on October 16, 1964, my country's first atomic bomb exploded successfully. On the other end of the mushroom cloud was an old man in his sixties, working hard on the ice and snow plateau and the Gobi beach.
Scientists have the motherland
When they were children, their grandmother always told historical stories to Wang Ganchang. What impressed him the most was the story of Yue Fei's loyalty to serve the country. In 1926, Wang Ganchang, who studied in the Department of Physics at Tsinghua University, witnessed the bullying of China by foreign powers in the "March 18th" tragedy, which made him deeply realize the importance of a strong country in science and technology. The tune of the Tsinghua school song "Self-improvement, self-improvement, and self-improvement when moving forever" lingered in his mind and could not be dissipated for a long time.
Symposium to commemorate the 110th anniversary of Wang Ganchang's birth (Picture source online)
1934, Wang Ganchang obtained his doctorate degree from University of Berlin, Germany. "China is so backward, you have no future when you go back." On his return, he politely declined his mentor's retention: "Although science has no borders, scientists have their own country! The purpose of my study abroad is to better serve my motherland."
As the oldest scientist on the Qinghai Plateau, he ignored hypertension and was not afraid of altitude sickness. He often started working in the early morning. He taught young people to go to difficult places to realize their life value and make sacrifices for the country when necessary.
Wang Ganchang's former residence
Wang Ganchang's former residence is located at No. 44, South Street, Zhitang Town, Changshu City, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province. It is an ancient building in the Qing Dynasty. It was a place where Wang Ganchang lived during his youth, covering a total area of about 1,071 square meters. The former residence has six major exhibitions, including the exhibition hall of Wang Ganchang's deeds, Wang Ganchang Youth Nuclear Science Popularization Hall, Scientist Spiritual Education, Science Popularization Corridor, and important photos and physical objects and cultural relics of Mr. Wang Ganchang's various periods. The door plaque "Wang Ganchang's former residence" was written by Mr. Li Zhengdao, the Nobel Prize winner in Physics.
Wang Ganchang’s former residence (picture source from the Internet)
The former residence is open to the public for free all year round, and receives about 400 teams from all over the country every year. A total of more than 150,000 tourists come to visit and study. It has been successively rated as the National Traditional Education Base of Jiusan Society, the National Scientist Spirit Education Base, the National Nuclear Popular Science Education Base, the Jiangsu Provincial Popular Science Education Base, the Jiangsu Provincial Scientist Spirit Education Base, the Jiusan Society Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee Ideological Education Base, and the Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit , etc. "Wang Ganchang's former residence" has become an important base for carrying out patriotic education, promoting the spirit of scientists, and practicing the core socialist values. (Guangming Daily All-Media Reporter Zhang Xiaohua Correspondent Yang Shunxi)
Source: Guangming.com
